r.^L'of. §rom f#e feiBrarp of (professor §k _ ■••/ REVELATIO BEING AN ESSAY TOWARDS SETTING IN A TRUE LJGHT THE MAJESTY, GLORY, LIFE AND EXCELLENCY OF THAT SACRED BOOK, ACCORDJNG TO THE SPIRITUAL INTENTION THEREOF; AS IT IS ADAPTED TO THE CHURCH OF GOD, AND NOT TO THE WORLD. WITHOUT ANY REGARD TO THE OPINIONS OF EXPOSITORS; BUT SIMPLY ATTENDING TO THE LIGHT OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, AND THE ANALOGY ONE PART OF THIS PROPHECY BEARS TO ANOTHER. 7 By JOHN JOHNSON, Author of the Riches of Gospel Grace opened. WARRINGTON, Printed by William Eyres; And fold by 8. Crane, Bookfeller, Liverpool; B. Law, Bookfeller, Ave-Mana Lane, London ; and the Author. M D C C LXXIX. * . PREFACE. IN the gofpd of our Lord Jefus Chrift the deep counfels of God are revealed, his will made known and his eternal purpofes brought forth to light- and the unfearchable riches of grace, which from the beginning of the world had been hid in God, and keot fecret in the bofom of Divine Love, are opened in the cleareft light, and manifefted in the higheft glory that is poffible for human creatures to behold, whilft in a mortal ftate. And the defign is, to raife the moft exalted ideas of the glory, excellency and perfedion of God, in the hearts of all that receive this gofpel in truth, that pof- fibly can be conceived by finite beings; and through the knowledge of Himfelf, which is life eternal, to blefs them with the higheft felicity that is compatible with created nature to enjoy. Therefore the difcovery of this profound myftery of God, and of the Father, and of Chrift, in whom are hid all the treafures of wifdom and knowledge, was not to be performed in a weak or contemptible manner, nor delivered with ambiguity or uncertainty, but with the moft ftriking majefty, and inconteftable demonftration. a But IV PREFACE. But fome will object, that the teftimony is not fa undeniably clear, but that there be many who difpute the authenticity of the Scripture. I reply, that there be many who reject the truth both of the Old and New Teftament, and deny their divine authority, is a thing too well known j but it is as well known to all that pay due attention to the word of God, that no humble foul that has the love or the fear of God, can be of that number. Nor does any one difpute the truth of the re- cord that God gave of his Son, but fuch whofe minds are fwelled with pride, whofe hearts flame with enmity againft God, and whofe confciences are feared with a hot iron, arid are pari feeling ; for the word of God, in the Scriptures, is delivered with fuch irrefiftible evidence, that it is impoflible for any rational man to attend to it with a honeft intention, but his heart mull be convinced of the infallible truth, the fuperlative excellency, har- mony, confiftency, and uncontrollable majefry thereof, John xii. 48. This tranfcendent, glorious heavenly light, is the light of God himfelf, proceeding from the Father of lights ; and it cannot be communicated through any other medium, but in the Son of his love, who is the brightnefs of his glory, and the exprefs image of his perfon. He alone is the word of God ; and all that is written in the Holy Scriptures, is no other than Chrift himfelf, in that mode manifefting his glory to us. The Word was made jflejh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory. This is that fun of righteoufnefs, who, when the fulnefs of the time was come, arofe unto us, with healing in his wings : or in other words, He was made •f a woman ; God was manifejl in the fieftu And fo in- effable" PREFACE. v effable is the glory of this fun, that the reflection of his brightnefs gave fuch a luftre, as caufed the day-fpring from on high to vifit us, or the rifing dawn of a glo- rious morning gradually to advance upon us, for four thoufand years before he made his actual appearance in our horizon. For all that is written in the Old Teftament, was delivered by the dictation of the Spirit of Chrift, and written concerning himfelf, i Pet. i. n. iii. 18, 19, 20. Luke xxiv. 27. And before the writing of the Scriptures, during the longevity of the fathers, when the long continuance of the meflengers to whom the word of God was delivered, made them living oracles, and rendered writing unnecefTaryj ftill, all that God fpake to any of his fervants, was in relation to the Holy Seed, Gen. iii. 15. ix. 16, 26. xii. 3. And after- wards, when it was the good pleafure of God to com- mit his will to writing, it came in fuch clearnefs, at- tended with fuch majefty, and before fuch numbers of witnefles, that all the wit and malice of men was not able to refift the undeniable fact, to deny the truth, qr invalidate the infallible evidence. And the Lord continued to fend his prophets, one in one age, and another in another, ftill fpeaking the fame language, and teftifying of the fame Holy One, the Mefliah that was to come, the Spirit of the Lord ftill confirming their words with tokens of his power; which, with the purity of the language, the majeftic ftyle, the profound wifom, and the invariable confift- ency that appears through the whole, proves it to be impoflible that it fhould have proceeded from any comr a 2 bination ri PREFACE. bination of men ; for it bears all the chara&ers of divine perfection, and cannot poflibly be difputed by any that read it with fincere attention. All that is written in the Old Teftament came by the fame Spirit, pointed to the fame things, and is given as a foundation of the higher glories, which now appear with more abundant clearnefs in the New Tefta- ment, Ifa. xxx. 26. Thofe were the excellent dawn- ings of the morning, giving notice of a more perfect day that was approaching, Heb. xi. 13, 39, 40. but now the fun is rifen indeed, and we enjoy the perfect light of the brighteft day ; in comparifon of which, the former light which ihined in the Old Teftament is called darknefs ; not that it was darknefs, but real light, only as compared with the more effulgent glory, 2 Cor. iii. 10, 11. 1 John ii. 8. All the prophefies in the Old Teftament, all the types and fhadows in the law, and all the various appearances in which God was pleafed to manifeft himfelf to his people in the former days, were directions to lead us to Chrift alone, and in every thing terminated in him, Rom. x. 4. Gal. iii. 24. Col. ii. 17. Heb. ix. 11, 12. And now the Holy One being come to his temple, and manifefting his ful- nefs of grace and truth in the glory of the New Tefta- ment, all thofe former things give place ; as the moon, the ftars, and the twilight, all difappear when the fun afcends to his meridian glory. Now, whatever was in- tended by the things that went before, has its perfect ac- complishment in Emanuel, the Lord of glory. All that was declared in the Old Teftament, is perfectly veri- fied in the New ; and all the glory that mines in the New Teftament, is clearly witneffed and firmly efta- blifhed PREFACE. vii blifhed by the Old : and they are now no more two Teftaments, but one record which God gave of his Son ; like one houfe, of which the Old Teftament is the foundation, and the New Teftament is the fuper- ftructure j or one tree, of which the Old Teftament is the root and ftem, and the New Teftament is the branch and the fruit. The truth of God in Chrift is perfect unity, 2 Cor. i. 19, 20, Thus the declaration of the whole will of God being compleatly formed into one perfect Teftament, it is one entire chain of truth, one uninterrupted ftream of blefT- ednefs, one perfect path of righteoufnefs and peace, one glorious mining light, that fliineth more and more unto the perfect day. In this perfect: fyftem of holinefs, light, and truth, the glory of the Godhead mines forth in the utmoft fplendour, magnificence, glory, and ex- cellency, that ever appeared to created beings, or that poffibly can be accommodated to mortal intellectuals. For God., who com??ianded the light to Jhine out of darknefsr hath Jhined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge cf the glory of God, in the face offefus Chrijl. In thefe holy oracles are reprefenetd to us, the eflen- tial attributes of Divine Perfection; and though it is impoflible for us to comprehend any one of thefe attri- butes, yet we may apprehend fo much of them, as may lay a foundation for our ample fatisfaction, refpecting all the further declarations which the Lord God is pleafed to make of himfelf unto us, as every work, counfel, or blefling that proceeds from God muft de- pend on his effential perfection. And in this facred word is clearly held forth to us, the myftery of the a 3 Divine via PREFACE. Divine Will, as it centers in the efTential attributes of JEHOVAH; even the paternal counfels and purpofes of God, which from eternity he purpofed in himfelf; in which were contained a perfect plan of all the works that God would perform, and of all the goodnefs that he has mewed, and that he will fhew to the univerfal creation in general, and to his church in particular, through time and toeverlafting. In thcfe two points of light, that is, the eternal perfections of his cffence, and the immu- table counfels of his will, we, according to his infalli- ble word, behold the Father. This Holy Teftament opens to us the great myftery ofgodlinefs; God revealing himfelf in our nature, or all the perfection of the Father manifeft in the Son : here we behold the deep counfels of God brought forth to light; all the fulnefs of the Godhead dwelling in the man ; the higheft delight of the Father, and the life of all his chofen : thus he is perfectly qualified to ftand a mediator between God and man, having the perfection of both natures in himfelf. The Father gave him to his church in all his divine fulnefs, Eph. i. 22, 23. and he gave them to him in all their fin and mifery, John xvii. 6. Here was the trial and the proof of the love of the Father and of the Son ; God is love. The chil- dren were involved in fin, wrath, and condemnation; from which, unlefs they were delivered, they muft be feparated from him for ever ; and as the wages of fin is death, there could not be any deliverance, but by his dying for them ; his love could not bear a feparation ; but as he had all power, wifdom, and holinefs in him- felf, he was able to redeem them, and this he was pleafed to do, though the ranfom muft be his own life. And PREFACE. ix And we are diftin&ly informed how the Father made him to be fin for us; how he bare our fins in the deepeft of fufFerings ; how he made an end of fins, and brought in everlafting righ teou fne fs ; and how he was raifed again for our juftification : yea, we are further affured, that this fame Jefus who poured out his foul unto death for us, is now afcended into the higheft glory of the Father, where he now appears in the prefence of God for us. Our high-prieft to make us accepted, Eph. i. 6. our advocate to maintain our caufe, i John ii. i. our. intercefTor to obtain all bleffings for us, John xiv, 16. and our fore-runner to give us accefs to the bofom of the Father, Heb. vi. 19, 20. And the riches of grace and glory revealed and com- municated to God's ele£t in the gofpel, by the fpecial power of the Holy Spirit, proceeds from the Father and the Son ; and is of the fame nature with that eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifefted to us by the Son : and every believer dwells in God, and God in him, and has fellowfhip with the Father and the Son, 1 John i. 3. iv. 16. being made partakers of the divine nature, 2 Pet. i. 4. and filled with the fulnefs of God, Eph. iii. 19. that is, fo far as is com- patible with creaturefhip, or as can be conveyed into earthen veffels; therefore, what the children of God enjoy of the fulnefs of Chrift, is as far above that vague empty child's play, which, by profeflbrs of every denomination, is commonly called religion, as heaven i» above the earth. * The Holy One of God having glorified the Father upon earth, and finifhed the work which God gave a 4. him * PREFACE. him to do ; and being exalted at the right hand of God, afcended into the higheft glory of the Father ; and having all power in heaven and in earth given into his hands ; he now fends down the word of his grace, the gofpel of our falvation ; a meflage worthy to proceed from the Father of lights, to be fent by the Lord of glory, and to be communicated by the Spirit of holinefs: for this gofpel contains fuch light, truth, love, grace, peace, falvation, felicity, and eternal glory, as cannot fail to give new life to every one that receives it ; but it is never received into the heart, but by the power of the Holy Ghoft, even by the fame Almighty God in his divine infpirations, making the word of his grace effe&ual to the foul, Acts xvi. 14. 1 Thefl". i. 4, 5. For the Holy Ghofl is the very fame God with the Father and the Son ; their different relations to the church, and different modes of manifeftation and com- munication makes no difference in their divine effence; Thefe Three are One. The gofpel is the word of God, revealing the Father and the Son j and the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, fealing the in- struction to the hearts of his people. The Spirit of God puts no ideas into the heart, diftin£t. from what he has indited in the Scriptures ; he never fpeaks of himfelf, but guides our hearts into the light and truth of that which is already fpoken by the Lord in the word of his grace, John xvi. 13. And this he never does in an enthufiaftic way, by darting fudden thoughts into the mind, raifing extraordinary impulfes, pufhing the mind into extafies, agitating the paffions, &c. Thefe things proceed from the frame of a perfon's natural conftitu- tion ; but to excite and encourage thefe agitations in ourfelves or others, from a conceit that they are the operations PREFACE. XI operations of the Spirit of God, is a fedu&ion of fatan. The Spirit of Chrift opens our hearts to attend to the gofpel of the Son of God ; bows our wills to receive it with meeknefs ; gives us to fee its excellency ; infpires us with earneft defire to enjoy the bleffings ; feafons our hearts with deep reverence of God ; lays us low in deep felf-abafement ; and excites in us true lively gratitude for all thefe rich bleffings vouchfafed unto us, &c. He caufes the word of life to take place in our inward man with power, fo that we believe with all our hearts, love with all our fouls, and fubmit with all our powers : all thefe impreflions, and whatever fpiritual operations or bleffings we feel or enjoy, are naturaly felt and per- ceived in the heart to proceed from the word of his grace, and from thence alone. No fpiritual bleffing ever comes to any foul but by the word of God, this is the fword of the Spirit, and he never makes ufe of any other inftrument in his work upon the foul ; this every believing foul under heaven does certainly know, for it is impoffible for any one to receive any thing of an heavenly nature, but what he receives in his under- Handing ; therefore he muft be as fenfible of the re- ceiving of it, from whence, and in what way he re- ceives it, as ever child upon earth was fenfible how he received natural food : but as a child does not receive all the bleffings of nature at once, neither does a child of God receive all the bleffings of the fulnefs of Chrift as one tranfient a& or operation ; for the Lord gives his word line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, as they are able to hear it, till they grow up from new-born babes and little chidren, to young men and fathers, I Pet. ii. 2. 1 John ii. 12, 13, 14. The Xll PREFACE. The gofpel is a perfect: looking-glafs, and the Spirit of truth enlightens the underftanding to fee it in its true light, as it comes from God ; therefore whatever foul receives the gofpel in the power of the Holy Ghoft, cannot remain in darknefs, but mull verily fee himfelf to be what he is. He firft fees himfelf to be a finner, in a Hate of pollution, death, wrath, and mifery ; and fo long as he continues to be guided by the Spirit of God into the truth of the gofpel of Chrift, he never will imagine himfelf to be any other than a finner, till the Lord has fo enriched him with his grace, that he has actually made him a faint : he cannot poffibly be in the dark, whether he is in Chrift, or out of Chrift, if he be guided by the true light ; he never is in doubt about it, whether he is in a ftate of life, or death; for he certainly knows he is in a ftatc of death, and he never fancies himfelf to be in a ftate of life, until he is truly made alive in Chrift ; and then he can have no doubt of it, for he enjoys it in the true light. If a man thinks him- felf to be fomething, when he is nothing, he is in dark- nefs ; and if he knows not what he is, he is in darknefs : nor is fuch a foul in the way of ever coming to light ; for if a perfon knows not where he is, he cannot tell which way to go : neither does fuch a foul ever take the leaft ftep towards God j what he does is to deceive him- felf, and to perfuade himfelf to be a real fool, and to fancy that he now is in a ftate of life, and that he does not want to have the door opened, but that he is already- entered ; and though his confeience, at times, convicts him of his hypocrify, he finds fome means to fmother it, and goes on to perdition between doubting and falfe hope. The PREFACE, m The fincere foul, fo long as he remains fhort of the true peace with God, may have a thoufand doubts and fears whether he ever may attain to it; but he cannot be fo foolifh to be uncertain whether he enjoys forgive- nefs of fins, fo long as he finds the curfe of the law wounding him, and the wrath of God, for fin, lying upon his confcience ; but he continues fearching, com- paring, and meditating in the word of God, with earnefl: crying, prayer, and fupplication, that the bleffings of the gofpel of grace may be communicated to his foul ; and, the Lord ftrengthening him, this purfuit he never ceafeth, till he arrives to fuch clearnefs of underftand- ing, fuch ftrength of faith, and fuch Sowings of the love of God, through the virtue of the blood of Jefus, that he enjoys perfect peace of confcience, full remiflion of fins, j uftification in the fight of God, and compleat deliverance from the dominion of fin in his foul. Then, and not before, he calls himfelf a believer; for a man is not to be denominated a believer, merely becaufe he be- lieves, with the devils, that there is one God, James ii. 19. nor becaufe he believes, with Simon the forcerer, with a fpeculative faith, that the report of the gofpel is true, ASts viii. 13. but when his foul is truly rifen with Chrift, through the faith of the operation of God, fo that he can fay, without wavering, I know whom I have believed ; I live by the faith of the Son of God ; the law of the Spirit of life, in Chrifl fefus, hath made me free from the law of fin and death. And forafmuch as this grace is communicated to the foul, in the perfect flaming love of the Father, in the perfect effulgent light of the Son of God, in the invincible power of the Holy Ghoft, and in the infallible truth of the word of everlafting life, it is impoflible that foul fhould be at uncertainty refpedt- ing *iv PREFACE. ing his eternal falvation. For in the Spirit of Jefus he has digged deep, and built his houfe upon a rock, which is fo eftablifhed in the abfolute perfection and immuta- bility of the Holy One, that neither fin nor death, earth nor hell, men nor devils, can fhake the foundation of his faith, Luke vi. 48. and every one that is born of God, is fo eftablifhed, Mat. xvi. 18, After the foul is born of God, eftablifhed in the faith, and bleffed with the joy of falvation, the Scrip- ture abounds with promifes of higher glories, through the baptifm of the Holy Ghoft ; which promifes are of fo rich a nature, that none of the prophets or faints under the Old Teftament ever could attain to the enjoy- ment of the blefllngs ; for the Holy Ghoft, in that abundant fulnefs which is adapted to the New Tefta- ment, could not be given till the King of glory was feated on his throne ; but fince that glorious period, the promife ftands immutable to every one that believes on the Son of God, Ifa. xliv. 3. Joel ii. 28, 29. John vii. 38, 39. But this promife, in its true intent and extent, is believed by fo very few, that there is fcarce to be found a preacher, or a profeflbr in a thoufand, but what endeavours either to evade it, to explain away the life of it, or to reftrain it to fome few individuals ; fo that the true defign may be concealed, and feeking fouls may be baffled from expecting and waiting for the fulfilling of the glorious promife. But the efforts of thefe fons of darknefs cannot prevail againft one of the children of light; for no man can be a believer in the Chrift of God, according to New Teftament light, who does not believe in that efpecial branch of his character, He Jhall baptize you with the Holy Ghojl, and with fire. And if they PREFACE. xv they believe it at all, they believe it to be the fpecial power of the Spirit of God, to guide their fouls into the life and glory of the Father and the Son j and alfo that it is promifed to, and intended for, every believing foul under heaven : and if they believe this, they cannot ceafe to wait for it, by prayer and fupplication, till they do receive it, as the Lord gave direction, Luke xxiv. 49. Acts i. 4, 14. and no foul that afketh, fhall ever be denied, Luke xi. 13. Therefore, flnce the Lord afcended into glory, there has not been, or now is, or ever fhall be, till his fecond coming, a believing foul blefTed with the life of righteoufnefs, through faith in his blood, but who is, or fhall be, blefTed with the more abundant life of holinefs, through the baptifm of the Holy Spirit ; for the promife of the Father is made to all the fheep that follow Chrift, John x. 10. Ads ii. 38. This operation of the Spirit differs from regeneration, as that bleffing of nature, which brings a man to matu- rity, differs from that which brought him into the world. Nor is it given to bring the foul to faith in Jefas, re- miffionof fins, j unification, peace with God, and eter- nal falvation; for it is after the foul is blefTed with thefe that he receives the Holy Spirit of promife, Eph. i. 13. The baptifm of the Holy Ghoft relates to the opening of the deep things of God, and leading the foul to be- hold the rich glories of the heavenly kingdom, John xvi. 14, 15. Eph. i. 17, 18. iii. 16 — 19. When a foul is called out of darknefs into the king- dom of the Son of God, the word of truth is his di- rectory how to walk to the glory of God, and to his own XVI PREFACE. own edification ; for now, being become a follower of the Lamb, he mult walk as Chrift alfo walked. The firft thing commanded the difciples of Jefus is, that they openly confefs him before all men, Mat. x. 32. This confeflion is made with the mouth, Rom. x. 10. and ratified in the ordinance of baptifrn, John iii. 33. Confeflion with the mouth, unlefs it be confirmed by baptifrn, is like a deed drawn in writing, but not exe- cuted, fo bears no authority; baptifrn, without con- feflion, is like a feal put to a blank, and is of no fignifi- cation. But there is no reafon to think that ever any one did gladly receive the word of Chrift, and believe with all his heart, who was not immediately ready, fo foon as decency and order would admit, to make a public confeflion of his faith in Chrift, and to feal the truth of that confeflion, by being baptized in the name of the Lord Jefus. For every one that is born of God has the love of God fo powerful in his heart, that it is impoflible he mould be indifferent, concerning the will of God, what he is to do ; and the word directs him to be baptized in the name, that is, confefling the name of Jefus, Mat. xxviii. 19. Acts ii. 38. xix. 5. And it is fo plainly taught in the Scriptures, that it is impofli- ble for any one to fearch the Scriptures with a fincere heart, but he will plainly fee the command of Chrift, the defign and ufe of the ordinance, the perfons to whom, and the manner how it is to be adminiftered. The fecond thing which the difciples of the Son of God are commanded, is to continue fteadfaftly in the do&rine of Chrift; and this they gladly do with all their heart and foul, for it is by the word of his grace they have> PREFACE. XVU have received all the bleflings they enjoy; by this word, the fword of the Spirit, they overcome fatan and all ene- mies, Rev. xii. u. and it is by this word they live, for Chrift is their life, and all that Chrift is, is communicated by his word ; for as it proceedeth out of his mouth, it comes from his heart, and thereby his heart is conveyed, and thereby we live, Deut. viii. 3. By this word they have all their prefent comforts, Rom. xv. 4. and ex- pedl: all future bleflings during life, Col. iii. 16. and it is by this word of grace the faints are edified, and grow up in all things into Chrift, A£ts xx. 32. The third thing commanded by the Lord, taught by the apoftles, and pracxifed by the children of God, is the communion of faints, or fellowship in the Spirit one with another, Eph. iv. 3. For as the children of the kingdom are united to Chrift in one body, they muft of neceflity be members one of another ; fo that it is natural for them to love one another ; and fo the Lord hath commanded them, John xiii. 34. xv. 12, 17. 1 ThefT. iv. 9. And in this love they are made one fpirit in the Father and the Son, John xvii. 21, 23. and in this union they have mutual edification one with another, Eph. iv. 16. This union in the Spirit is the ground of all church fellowfhip, in which the difciples walk together and are ufeful to one another ; they teach and inftrucl:, they watch and care, they exhort and admonifh, they comfort and encourage one another ; and it is in confequence of this fellowfhip the gofpel miniftry is fupported, focial worfhip is main- tained, and regular order in the church is attended to ; fo that no man that is united to the Lord, can be dis- united from his church, 1 John v. 1. The xvni PREFACE. The fourth inftitution of the Lord in his church, is breaking of bread in the Lord's Supper. This is a figurative ordinance, as baptifm is, but with this dif- ference : baptifm is adminiftered to a fingle perfon ; this is a focial ordinance, wherein a number fit down toge- ther : the former is done only once, as it reprefents things which cannot be repeated a fecond time ; the latter is to be done often, as it reprefents things which have a conftant repetition, or are always continued till Jefus comes. And forafmuch as every difciple of Jefus is fo deeply interefted in the breaking of his body, and fhedding of his blood, and eats- his fkfh, and drinks his blood with fuch delight, that it is his very life and the joy of his foul; and confidering, that it is a command of the Lord of glory for our confolation and edification ; it is impoffible there fhould be a fincere follower of the Lamb upon earth, who does not gladly embrace this or- dinance if he has opportunity. The fifth appointment of the Lord in his church, is prayer and fupplication with thankfgiving. The chil- dren of God have received fuch rich blefiings from the Lord, that it lays them under the deepen1 obligation to render to God the glory due to his name, Heb. xiii. 15. and the fpirit of love, gratitude, and of glory refts upon them, fo that they cannot ceafe to praife the God of their falvation, Pfalm cxlvi. 1, 2. and the bleflings fet before them, which are yet to be enjoyed, are fo rich and boundlefs, even all the fulnefs of God in Chrifr, Eph. iii. 19. with fuch exceeding great and precious promifes to all that afk, Luke xi. 9, 13. John xv. 16. (with the fpirit of grace and fupplication refting on them, Zech. xii. 10.) that the faints can never ceafe to pray PREFACE. xix pray to their Father which is in heaven. And notwith- standing the abundant confolations with which the faints are blefTed, they muft have trials, temptations, and tri- bulations in this world, John xvi. 33. They have their weaknelTes and defects, which muft be difcovered to themfelves, that they may be humbled, and their faith tried, 1 Pet. i. 7. therefore they are taught prayer and fupplication in every thing, Phil. iv. 6. Luke xxii, 40, 46. The fixth thing which the Lord has commanded his difciples, is, upright, virtuous, humane, and perfect walking before all men, Mat. v. 16, 44, 45. for he can never be worthy to be called a chriftian, whofe conver- sation is not becoming a worthy man. It is true, mo- rality is not to be confounded with chriftianity, for it is jio part of it ; the one is as far above the other, as hea- ven is above the earth ; yet without morality no man can be a chriftian. A man, being a wife, fober, ho- nefiu good man, is not thereby conftituted a magiftrate; -and yet without thefe he cannot be fit for a magiftrate. And fo the Lord reafoned : If ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trufl the true riches ? But there be fome things commanded the difciples of Jefus, which may be called appendages of chriftianity, though they relate to external conduct, becaufe they go beyond any thing required by any other law ; as bearing infults patiently, loving enemies, praying for perfecutors, and giving alms to the moft undeferving, &c. not only to fulfil the law of equity, but to fhew the fpirit of love which is in our Lord and Matter, Mat. vi. 27—36. b The xx PREFACE. The feventh thing commanded the followers of the Lamb, is, to war a good warfare, to fight the good fight of faith, to refift the devil, to overcome the world, and repel every thing that exalteth itfelf againft the know- ledge of God ; or that has a tendency to excite evil principles or perverfe difpofitions in our minds, or to draw us away from the truth as it is in Jefus ; either to entangle our minds with any falfe doctrines, or to en- fnare us with any of the vanities of the world : which requires watchfulnefs and alertnefs, Luke xii. 35. and that we have on the whole armour of God, Eph. vi. 10 —18. as good foldiers following the Captain of our fal- vation, and marching in the ftrcngth of the Lord, be- caufe of our malignant enemies. For, between the feed of the ferpent and the feed of the woman there is fuch an enmity fixed, that a reconciliation is impoifible; therefore if any man profefs himfelf to be a believer in Jefus, the power of the enemy will be engaged againft him, Luke xxi. 17. 1 Pet. v. 8. fo that he can have no alternative or difcharge, but is certain either to conauer or die. Therefore it requires ftrong faith, warm love, deep humility, with willingnefs to deny himfelf, pa- tience to bear the crofs, zeal for the glory of God, with fervent prayer, and earneft wreftlings with God; that we may hold faft that which we have, and that no man take our crown. The glorious Lord having revealed by the prophets the coming of his Anointed, and the riches of grace and glory that mould then appear ; and their predictions being fulfilled in the perfon of the Son of God, and in the preaching of the gofpel of his grace; and the trans- actions of his life, death, refurrection, andafcenfion into glory, PREFACE. xxi glory, with the acts of his apoftles, and the fuccefs of the gofpel in their days, being faithfully recorded for our comfort and inftruction ; it was his pleafure, in one book, entitled The Revelation of Jefus Chriji^ to finifh his teftimony; wherein he is pleafed to advertife his church of all things necefTary for them to know, re- flecting all the difpenfations that fhould come upon them, to the end of the world. It is to the felect body, the chofen, the redeemed, the called, the fan&ified of the Lord, this prophecy is directed, as it relates to them alone ; and if any mention be made of the ftate of the nations, the powers of this world, national churches, or any thing civil or reli- gious that hath a dependence on worldly influence, it is only occafionally introduced, to illuftrate thofe things which immediately concern the church of the Firft- born, which is written in heaven. So far as the chil- dren of light might be affected by fuch things as pre- vailed in the world, they are noted in the general, that they might not think the trials ftrange ; that they might be upon their watch, to efcape the fnares ; that they might humbly fubmit to the afflictions, and patiently wait the times appointed of the Lord j and that they might rejoice to fee the words of God fulfilled, &c. But if we look for the fulfilling of thefe vifions in the reign of fuch an emperor, fuch a pope, fuch a king, or in fuch a particular nation, we {hall wander into a wild maze, and utterly lofe the clew whereby the Holy Spirit defigns to lead us. The church of Chrift was- never defigned for worldly empire ; and for a few ages ihe was in her proper place, in fubjection to the powers b 2 $f xxii PREFACE. of this world in civil matters. And out of this pofitlon the true church of God never did remove, for the real followers of Chrift never fought for earthly domi- nion ; nor is it poffible they ever fhould, fo long as their Lord declares, My kingdom is not of this world. But when falfe profeflbrs became numerous, the fpirit of the world prevailed among them, and they fet up an emperor of their own. This was the foundation of the greateft mifchief that ever came to the gofpel church, in any external difpenfation : the perfecutions under the heathen emperors were only whips, but this proved a deadly fcorpion. Not that this was the firft introduc- tion of the beaft of Antichrift, for he began to prevail in the days of the apoftles, i John ii. 18. and had made a great progrefs before this time, otherwife he had never had fuch fway in the world ; for it was not the real Chriftians, but the Antkhriftians, that fet up Conftan- tine. Hov/ever, this ftroke was a great augmentation of the power of Antichrift ; and from this time he con- tinued increafing in power, till he advanced himfelf to ibvereign dominion over the nations : for when he had power to fet up his deputy-king, the pope, and the na- tions willingly fubmitted to his government, it was then undeniable, that the reign of Antichrift (whofe fervant the pope is) was arrived to its height. Now it is very difficult to know the real fituatton of the true difciples of Jefus in thefe times, becaufe thofe that are called ecclefiaftical writers do not feem to have known any thing of the true life and fpirit of the gofpel, nor of the real lambs of Chrift, but only give us an ac- count how religion went on in the world, and how things were approved or difapproved among the nations, and PREFACE. xxiii ■and in the worldly church. But how things have been in every age with the children of light, nothing can be particularly known, only what may be gathered from the prophecies in the Scripture : and according to the foeft that I can gather, I think, from the time that for- mality and the fpirit of the world began to make great advances in the vifible church, till the time that falfe doctrine, falfe worftiip, fuperftition and idolatry, be- came irrefiftible, this to me appears to be a time of the greateft difficulty that ever the New Teftament church has been tried with ; for in the days of the apoftles there was fome degree of purity, and fince the beaft of Anti- chrift obtained full dominion, the church has had a fafe retreat in the wildernefs, and the dragon and his angels caft out into the earth ; but while the true chriftians continued embodied with the falfe, and the dragon and his angels maintained war in heaven, we may well fup- pofe it a dreadful conflict, the believers endeavouring td maintain the truth of Chrift againft a fuperior number, who were endeavouring to corrupt it, yet retaining fome hopes of prevailing, and not feeing their way clear ta quit the worldly church, until it was evident the Lord had utterly left the main body of profeflbrs, and then it was high time for all thofe individuals that feared God to leave them alfo. After this feparation, the dragon being caft out of heaven, and the true church taken into the protection of her Lord and Saviour, ftill the dragon remained in the earth ; the faints having left him and his feed toge- ther, there was none to moleft or oppofe his ravage. Then we have given us in this prophecy, a general hint of the progrefs of popery, in the darknefs of the bot- b 3 tomlefs xxiv PREFACE. tomlefs pit, the devouring locufts, and the king they had over them ; but no particular account what mould be tranfafted by any of their popes, forafmuch as what- ever was done among them could not affecT: the children of God, who have no connection with them. Then there is a general hint of the outrages of the Mahometan powers, under the fimilitude of four angels loofed : thefe appear to be railed up as a punifhment upon the falfe profefibrs of Chrift. Thefe are not much fpolcen of as deceivers ; as they do not profefs to believe in Chrift, they are not of Antichrift, whatever other deception may be among them : they are rather fpoken of as dc- ftroyers, to lay the earth wafte by an external plague, or overfpreading of armies ; and nothing appears pointed out diftinclly of their particular empires or governments, either of any particular ads of the immediate fucceflbrs of Mahomet, the Caliphs of Babylon, the Saracens, or the Turks, but all confidered as one body. After thefe, the papifts having to the utmoft of their power fhut up the Holy Scriptures from the people, we have a reprefentation of Chrift holding his Teftament open in his hand, to give light to the world: this was accomplifhed at the time called the Reformation, when many ftood up againft that impofition of the church of Rome, and maintained, that it was the right of all men to have the free perufal of the word of God ; and fince that time the blefling has been enjoyed in many nations ; this has been, and is, matter of re- joicing to the children of God. Notwithstanding I make no doubt, that wherever any of the children of God were, in any age or nation, the Lord would grant them his word, for he has bound himfclf by covenant, to PREFACE. Xxv to give it to all the true feed, Ifa. lix. 21. but perhaps they might obtain it with greater difficulty ; befide, it is now laid open to the world, that if any does not pay- attention to it, they are left without excufe. Not that the Reformation is of much fignification to the nations, only delivering them from popifh tyranny; but as to the benefit of the word of truth, the people in general appear as ignorant of it, and as unconcerned about it, as if they had never feen the Scriptures; and thofe that profefs to follow it feldom pay any regard to itf further than they imagine it fpeaks, or they can conftrue it to fpeak, according to the traditions they have already imbibed ; they fancy there was no church but the church of Rome, before the Reformation. It is true, there was no other church in this part of the earth that made a fhew in the world ; neither is there yet, for all the proteftant churches are no other than branches of the church of Rome reformed ; and reformation only alters the mode, it never changes the fubftance : there- fore, if the church of Rome be a falfe church, no church reformed from her, can be a true church. If any man be in Chrift, he is a new creature, not an old creature reformed ; the children of God are fpiritually gathered one by one, not brought in bodies together formed from the old rubbifh. The Lord has had a church in all ages, but (he has long been, and ftill is in the wilder- nefs; therefore, in thofe days flie was unknown to papifts, and to this day is as much unknown to pro- teftants. For the feven thunders uttered by the reformers, after the mighty angel (Jefus Chrift) had cried with b 4 a loud xxvi PREFACE. a loud voice, were forbidden to be written, becaufe they were of man, and not of the Spirit of God ; for had thofe men been true followers of the Lamb, they would have obeyed his voice ; Come out of her, my people : but they did not come out as Lot came out of Sodom, but flayed to reform the city Babylon, for which God had never given dire&ion ; and the nations they reformed only changed the mode, but continued ftill upon the fame foundation of national churches, or at leaft they retained many of the old traditions, like the nations whom the king of Aflyria placed in the cities of Samaria, 2 Kings xvii. 32, 33, 34. The children of light eat the word of life, and it is in their mouth fweet as honey, but their bellies are made bitter to fee the Holy Tefti- mony fo difregarded by the profeflbrs of the nations j and in the fame pofition as they were before, they muft prophefy again, the peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings, being governed by the fame carnal prin- ciples as they were. And it is by thefe bodies of people and nations we may expect the two witnefTes of God to be killed, which are no other than the teftimony of the Son of God and of the Spirit of truth; for among the papifts the teftimony is fo far banifhed already, that there appears very little left to be killed, nor even do they retain the dead bodies, or empty form of gofpcl truth : but thofe by whom thefe witnefles fhall be killed, will ftill retain fomething of the dead form of doctrine and worfhip; and Jhall not fuffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And we may obferve, the Holy One fware by Him that liveth for ever and ever, That there Jhould be time no longer $ or, that this fhould be the laft time of trial to the world, and PREFACE. xxvu and that there fhall be no other general revolution or manifeftation of God to the nations, till the feventh angel fhall found ; therefore we may conclude, that the protectants of all denominations will be the people, who, in the fpirit of the beaft. of Antichrift, by their dull and dry forms, and their carnal winds of doctrine, fhall make war, and fhall overcome, and kill the truth of the Son of God, and the teftimony of the Spirit of holinefs. Upon the whole we may obferve, that every pare of this prophecy is entirely directed to the faints of the Moft High, and nothing is contained therein, but what is for their benefit to know ; and the facts reprefented relate either to the bleflings of the gofpel, or the oppo- fitions which fatan makes againft the gofpel ; or elfe to the destruction of the enemies, and the happy confum- mation of the faints. And the war fo much fpoken of, is of a fpiritual or myftical nature j fatan going about in a religious drefs, to undermine or confound the truth of Chrift, to decoy the young lambs of Jefus, and de- ceive the world with a falfe Chrift. The malignant beaft has no refpect to kingdoms, empires, and worldly powers j thofe do not affect the children of light ; for all the potentates upon earth cannot bring one foul to Jefus Chrift, nor prevent one from coming to him. All the concern the faints have with them, is only to fub- mit to every ordinance of man, in civil matters; and pray for thofe in authority, that we, under them, may lead peaceable and quiet lives : for it may be in their power to moleft and perfecute, or it may be in their power to grant peace and liberty ; and they may coun- tenance and fupport falfe worfhip, but in the things of the- xxvni PREFACE. the kingdom of God it is impoffible they mould have any influence ; for Chrift hath faid, My kingdom is not of this zvor/d. Therefore nothing in the Book of the Revelation is intended as a defcription of any earthly powers or ftates, otherwife than as fome hints might be necefTary to iiluftrate the things relative to the fpiritual warfare of the church. Some fay the Book of Daniel is a key to the Revela- tion ; fuggefting as if they both related to the fame things, only that the Revelation is a more full and ex- tenfive opening of the prophecy of Daniel. But this is- utterly a miftake: for Daniel lived under the Old Tefta- ment, and his prophecies were adapted to the Old Tef- tament church, which was an external national church; but John lived under the New Teftament, and his prophecies are adapted to the New Teftament church, which is a living body, a fpiritual houfe. It is true, there is fome refemblance between them, but the real difference is this : the former reprefents the kingdoms and monarchies under which the Jewifh church fhould be exercifed ; the latter reprefents the falfe do&rines, falfe worfhip, and religious deceptions which ihould fpread their dominion in the world, by whom the dif- ciples of Jefus fhould be exercifed. Yet as all the Old Teftament was a fchoolmafter to lead us into the glory of the New, there be fome of the vifions in the Book of Daniel, which extend fo far as to the New Teftament times ; as alfo there be in the Book of Revelation fome references to the Book of Daniel: but their main defigns are quite different; only the laft chapter of Daniel is wholly applied to the times of the gofpel. It PREFACE. xxix It is eafy to fee that the vifion which Nebuchadnezzar faw, as recorded in the fecond chapter of Daniel, related to earthly power and dominion, and began with Nebu-- chadnezzar himfelf, pointing out the four monarchies which fhould be in the world ; and the laft of thefe fliould continue (though in different forms ; legs, feet, . and toes of the image), till Chrift fhall eftablifh his king- dom over all nations. This therefore exifts to this" day ; for the remains of the Roman empire has long been divided into ten toes, as it now is, and fhall fo remain till the kingdom of Jefus fhall root it out. And the vifion which Daniel faw, as it is recorded in the feventh chapter, is only the fame thing reprefented under differ- ent figures, and began with the Babyloniih monarchy. Thefe four beafts are called four kings, though they proceeded from fix nations ; for the AfTyrians and Chaldeans were two nations, but forafmuch as the former laid the foundation of the latter, Ifaiah xxiii. 13. and the latter took away his power, and feized his do- minion, they are counted as one monarchy. Likewife the Medes and Perfians were two nations, but as the former laid the foundation of the latter, and they reign- ed in the fame power, they are only counted as one monarchy. And after them the Greeks and Romans ; refpecting the laft of which, the vifion is continued till the kingdom fhall be given to the faints. And here the divifion of the Roman empire is reprefented by ten horns of the beaft ; and then a little horn arofe, which evidently bears the characters of the pope of Rome : and it is well known that after he afcended his throne, three powers were overturned through his influence, till he obtained dominion. The xxx PREFACE. The vifion contained in the eighth chapter verV plainly reprefents the united kingdoms of Media and Perfia, and the kingdom of Grecia, according as the angel gave the interpretation ; and out of this came a little horn, which is not the fame little horn that came up among the ten horns in the other vifion ; that was plainly brought forth by the power of the Romans, but this of the Greeks : yet this was a type of the other, as it reprefented a power which fought the deftrudtion of the Jewifh church, as the other reprefents a power which- feeks the deftru£tion of the Chrifcian church. This vifion feems to come to a period with the death of the wicked Antiochus, or at leaft with the downfal of the Grecian empire j yet there is a hint contained in it, which feems to extend not only to the finifhing of thofe troubles of the Jews, but alfo to that of which thofe troubles were only a type ; that is, the finifhing of the exile of the church of God under the gofpel, when her enemies fhall fubfide; which is faid to he for many days, or unto two thoufand and three hundred days. This period, allowing for the difference of time when they fhould commence, will come about the fame time as the thou- fand two hundred and threescore days mentioned in the Revelation. The ninth chapter contains, in the firft part, a fervent prayer of the prophet, for the profperity of the church ; and in the latter part, a vifion, confolatory, in anfwer to that prayer ; pointing out the coming of the Meffiah, his Sufferings, and the preaching of the gofpel to the Gentiles ; and ending with the deftru&ion t»f the Jewifh nation by the Romans. The PREFACE. XXXI The tenth chapter, after a deep humiliation, repre- fents a very awful vifion, preparatory to the meflage which the angel had to deliver in the eleventh chapter ; wherein he foretold the extirpation of the kingdom of the Perfians, by the kingdom of the Grecians. After which he reprefents the long contention between the kings of Syria and Egypt, in which the Jews, being as it were between two fires, fuffered very great calami- ties ; and the chapter ends with the expiration of the Grecian monarchy, by the introdu&ion of the Roman empire. Thus far thefe vifions plainly appear to relate to temporal affairs, or to earthly power and worldly do- minion ; and any perfon who is but a little acquainted with hiftory, can eafily fee how and when they were accomplifhed, excepting thofe two or three hints which point to fome things not yet accomplifhed ; and con- cerning thofe, it is not difficult to difcern, by a perfon of moderate capacity, how much is fulfilled, and how much remains. But the things contained in the Boole of Revelation, however fimilar to thefe they may be re- prefented, are of a fpiritual nature, and cannot be un- derftood but by the Spirit of God. The twelfth chapter of Daniel is a continuation of the fame vifion, but relates to a different fubje<5t. The firft three verfes contain a brief fummary of the tranfac- tions of the gofpel day ; as, the coming of the Melliah, the deftru&ion of Jerufalem, the glorious liberty of the- gofpel, the refurredtion of the dead, the reparation in the laft judgment, and the everlafting glory of the faints.- The angel that fpake, perfonated the Son of God, {landing upon the great river of gofpel grace : then ap- jpear the churches of the Old and New Teframent on either XXXU PREFACE. either fide of the living ftream, the one before, and the other after the appearance of the Lord ; and one of them enquires concerning the time of the end, which appears • to be the New Teftamcnt church, becaufe the anfwer given relates to the fame fpace of time fo often men- tioned in the Revelation, and alfo becaufe the enquiry of the Old Tcftament church had been anfwered in a former vifion, Dan. viii. 14. Here the Holy One fwears to the length of the time, as he does in the Re- velation to the finifhing of it : but after this there is an addition of thirty days, and then another addition of forty-five more ; which I expefr. (a day being given for a year) will be the periods in which fome grand tranf- actions fhall be performed, after the time, times, and dividing of time are ended. But this muft needs relate to the gofpel day, becaufe it extends to the fecond com- ing of the Lord, when Daniel fhall ftand in his lot at the end of the days. There are many things contained in the OldTefta- ment, which prophetically point to the day of the gofpel, and relate to the fame events that are fet forth in the Book of Revelation ; fome of them being in meafure li- terally fulfilled, yet being emblematical of matters of greater confequence to be myfticallyaccomplifhed in the gofpel day, as the deftruc~tion of Babylon, the deliver- ance of the Jews by Cyrus, the rebuilding of the tem- ple and city, &c. and fome things which never have been, nor ever can be literally fulfilled, and yet fhall be truly fulfilled according to the fpiritual defign of the Holy Ghoft, and according to the figures by which they are reprefented j to the right underftanding whereof, it js neceflary to attend to the types of the Old Tefta- ment. PREFACE. xxxiH ment. The natural feed of Ifrael were a type of the fpiritual feed of Chrift, Rom. ix. 8. The land of pro- mife was a type of the fpiritual reft in Chrift* Heb. iv. l~-n. The ten tribes being carried away captive among the Gentiles, and fcattered and loft among the nations, they muft long ago be (o mixed, as to be no other than the reft of people "are ; for no man can give any certain account of their being a diftinc"r. people, nor fo much as a tolerable rational account in what part of the earth they may be fuppofed to be. As a body, they never did return; and fince all diftin&ion of nations is abolifhed by the gofpel, as a body they never will re- turn. Therefore all that is fpoken by the prophets of the gathering or bringing back of Ephraim, or the ten tribes, can have no other meaning than the calling of the Gentiles by the gofpel ; and all that is talked of the Jews returning as a body of people to their own land, is mere fiction, and is what no living man can poflibly be- lieve, if he believes the truth of a number of expreffions which are found in the New Teftament. There /hall be tme fold, and one Jhepherd — And not for that nation only, but that alfo he Jhould gather together in one, the children of God that are fcattered abroad — For there is no difference between the Jetv and the Greek — Henceforth know we m man after the flejh — There is neither few nor Greek, there- is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for ye are all one in Chrifl — For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle zvall of ■partition between us — Where there is neither Greek nor few, circumcifion nor uncircumcifton, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free, but Chrijl is all, and in all. Therefore, henceforth God will not make any diftinction, or mew more regard to one particular nation than another ; for God XXXIV PREFACE. God is no refpefter ofperfons. God has not caft away the Jews by embracing the Gentiles, but he has fet them on one perfect level, and extends his mercy to all nations alike ; and in the fame way that the Gentiles are brought to Chrift, and by no other means, fhall the Jews be called, Rom. xi. 23, 25, 26. The virion containing nine of the laft chapters of the prophet Ezekiel, was not to be literally fulfilled, nor ever will be j but now under the gofpel, in a fpiritual fenfe, it is glorioufly fulfilled, and in fulfilling ; and though it is inexplicable to the carnal mind, yet to a foul that enjoys the power of grace, and is taught to compare fpiritual things with fpiritual, it is not fo diffi- cult to underftand as fome perfons imagine, for it is given for our inftruction. But there is a prior vifion contained in the thirty- feventh, thirty-eighth, and thirty-ninth chapters, which relates to the gofpel difpenfation, and never fhall be li- terally fulfilled \ or if there has been any degree of ful- filling in the natural Ifrael, it could not be at any other time than during the reign of the Greeks in Syria, and bare no proportion to this, for it was no more than a ihadow of the grand defign and full extent of that vifion. And in feveral refpe&s, the things exprefled in that vi- fion are incompatible with any natural tranfactions that .ever have been, or ever fhall be in the world. The former part of the thirty- feventh chapter of Ezekiel can relate to nothing elfe but to the elecl of God lying in their fins, and to their being quickened by the word of the gofpej, Joha v. 25. This has been in PREFACE. xxxv in fulfilling, under the breathing of the Spirit of truth, ever fince the gofpel of the Son of God has been preach- ed; but it cannot come to the extent till the day when the earth fhall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord : for hitherto the faints have been always reprefented as few that fnd, a little flock, a very fmall remnant^ &c. but then they fhall be an exceeding great army; the fame with the innumerable multitude* Rev. vii. 9. The joining of the two fticks, in the latter part of the chapter, to reprefent the unity of the two nations, can intend no other thing than the united calling of Jews and Gentiles ; David reigning among them, fhews their being under the dominion of Chrift in gofpel grace; their dwelling in their own land, fhews the true reft which the faints enjoy in the Holy Ghoft ; and the rich bleffings promifed, and the Lord dwelling among them for ever, fhews the abundance of peace and glory which fhall be in the church in the latter days, never more to be inverted. In the two following chapters, under the names of Gog, Magog, &c. and under the fimilitude of armies, &c. are reprefented the fpiritual enemies of the church, making war againft the faints, and ufing all means to root out and deftroy both the truth of Chrift, and the peace of the children of God. This muft be in the days of the gofpel, for it was not done before the coming of Chrift ; and it is faid to be in the latter years, and in the latter days. And the war is againft the life and power of the gofpel : not by armies of foldiers and horfemen^. for the believers never ftand as nations, provinces, cities, or worldly bodies ; therefore no war, in that form, can be made. againft them. They have c three xxxvi PREFACE. three forts of enemies : the profane world ; they that «o about to eftablifh their own righteoufnefs, in oppofition to the righteoufnefs of Chrift ; and they that profef9 Chrift in name, but deny him in power. The firft of thefe are leaft malignant, and the laft are the molt in- veterate enemies to the trutii : for while the openly profane difregard the Son of God, and treat his word with contempt ; and the felf-rightcous fet themfelves in open rebellion, and bid defiance to the righteoufnefs of Chrift ; they that call themfelves by his name, but not in truth, act the part of traitors, pretend to be of his church, and introduce themfelves among his people, that they may artfully fow their falfe doctrine, and with fubtilty bring in a mixture of falfe worlhip, that they may infenfibly undermine the faith of the faints, and fap the foundation of the truth, as it is in Jefus. These are always pointed at as the moft mifchievous and moft dangerous enemies of the children of God; and thefe plainly appear to be intended by the army of Gog, as they are enemies under cover, which is faid to be fignificd by the name Gog. The prince of this army is the darknefs and delufion of the falfe Chrift ; and the army is the feduced people over whom the de- ceptions of fatan reign; for no prince can reign without fubjeclis. The other enemies join with thefe, to act their part ; but they are not fo dangerous, as they are enemies uncovered, which is faid to be fignified by the name Magog. Some fuggeft that the Jews will be brought again to their own land, and that this is a re- prefentation of the war which the Turk and his allies fhall make upon them; but fuppofe there was any foun- dation for fuch a fiction as the Jews returning to that land, PREFACE. xxxv ii land, (as there is no ground at all) can it be thought rational, that fo many powerful nations as the twelve names that are mentioned, fhould all be gathered toge- ther, from fuch remote parts, againft fo inconfiderable a handful of people as they might be expected to be ? If the Jews ever fhould be fo infatuated to gather toge- ther, and think to recover that land, it would only be a rafli adventure, which the Lord would not caufe to fucceed. Some think this war is made by the Turks againft the Chriftians, as moft of the nations mentioned are either under the Turk, or at leaft of the Mahometan party ; but they ought to confider, that this expedition is againft the real followers of Chrift, whom the Turk knows nothing of. I do not think the Turkifh empire can any where be found particularly mentioned in the Bible, only as fome mention is made of the ravage of the Mahometan powers, in which that empire mult be included ; and as to the nations mentioned, we have no reafon to think it intends the natural people of thofe countries j one nation does not hate the difciples of Jefus more than another, they are hated of all nations ; only the falfe profenors of Chrift are their avowed ene- mies above all other people. Others think Gog and Magog intend the Pope and Turk, warring againft the true Chriftians. Perhaps thefe may bear fome refem- blance to the things pointed out, as the Pope is an enemy to Chrift under difguife, and the Turk, or Mahometan, is an enemy profeiTed ; and they both do- what they can, but neither of them, nor both united, come up to the defcribed enemies. For be it obferved, that under the gofpel, Ifrael is the true children of God j and the land is the fpirituai c 2 reft xxxviii PREFACE. reft given them in Chrift ; the enemies defcribed aSt lying on all fides of that land, eaft, weft, north, and fouth, fhews that they fhall be attacked on every fide, and in every form, with all forts of deceptions, tradi- tions, falfe doctrines, carnal worfhip, and dccciveable- nefs of unrighteoufnefs, which come as ftorms and clouds to cover and darken their happy enjoyments, and which are intended by horfes and weapons : no. national armies can enter this holy land, nor can any carnal weapons touch the bleiiings of the faints ; this can be nothing elfe but the very bcaft, or falfe Chrift, infpiring the univerfal body of Antichriftian profeifors, among whom the pope is doubtlefs included, but not particularly pointed at. The defign of this overfpread- ing army is to fpoil the church of God of their fpiritual bleflings ; and the weapons brought from the gates of hell are fo divers, fo numerous, and fo formidable, that it will take fo much time to burn them ; and every thing relating to them is fo infectious, that it will make the children of God fo afliduous to have every bone buried. Thefe armies are making war againft the. faints at this very day ; but the time is coming when they fhall be made a facrifice, to fatiate every voracious fowl and beaft. This is the very fame feaft with that which is proclaimed by the angel, refpe&ing the beaft and his army, Rev. xix. 17. and when this judgment is execu- ted on the enemies, all Ifrael fhall be gathered out of their defolation, which in the beginning of the vifion is reprefented by dry bones and graves, and is now re- prefented by captivity ; in which all God's elecl: were held, while in their fins 5 but being delivered by fove- reign grace, they fhall enjoy liberty, righteoufnefs, and peace, PREFACE. xxxix peace, and mall no more be a prey to their adverfaries, but mall walk with God in the light of his countenance. By his being called Gog, the land of Magog, it fhould feem as if Gog were the prince, and Magog the land of his dominion. We find all the reft mentioned as nations, but Gog feems to be an original ; and after him all the multitude is named ; and cannot be any- other thing than the man of fin, the fon of perdition, the myftery of iniquity, the falfe Chrift, the beaft that rofe out of the fea, and out of the bottomlefs pit, who now reigns over thofe whofe names are not written in the book of life ; and at this very time is at the head of all his multitude, making war with all his might againfl Chrift and againft his faints. And it is in the fpiritual land of Ifrael that the making fhall be at his fall ; there fhall his weapons be burnt, and his graves made, Nahum i, 14. In allufion to thefe, the whole multitude of the wicked that ever have lived upon earth, when gathered together by fatan, after the refurrection of the dead, to take their laft revenge, are called Gog and Magog, Rev. xx. 8. They are not the fame hofts, or the fame aflemblings of the people, (though great numbers of the fame perfons will doubtlefs be in both) for the one is now in the mortal ftate, the other will be in the im- mortal ftate. And we may expect the deftru&ion of the former by the glory of the gofpel, to be at leaft two thoufand years before the deftrudtion of the latter by the majefty of God on the throne of judgment* There are many other prophecies which relate to gofpel xl PREFACE. gofpcl blcflings, and cannot admit of a literal fulfilling; and they ought to be read with deliberate attention j for notwithstanding every part of the word of God is plain and clear, it is -only to them that underftand, and is to be learned by comparing fpiritual things with fpiritual. Some predictions were fulfilled in the perfon of Chrift, and in his apoftlcs ; fome relate to the preaching of the gofpcl to the Gentiles; fomc to the blcficd effects of the gofpel in the hearts of God's clec"f ; fome to the trials of the faints in the world ; fomc to the coming of Chrift in the power of his Spirit, to make the gofpel effectual to all the nations ; and fome relate to his perfonal com- ing, to judge the quick and the dead, with the events that fhail follow. And now, from the time that all vifion ceafed, the Book of the Revelation opens all the future events that are neceflary to be made known to the church, till the Son of God fhall appear in the glory of his kingdom. And now, in the integrity of my heart, according to the beft light which the Lord has given me, and the prefence of mind with which I was endued at the time of writing, fo far as I judged prudent to enter thefe myftcries, and as I thought expedient to extend thefe pages, I have, without referve, given my thoughts on this laft legacy left us by the Lord of glory, or this codicil of the laft will and teftament of Jefus Chrift. I have not written it for the indolent and infenfible, they have no delight to improve in knowledge ; nor for the empty and vain, they have no delight in any thing that is facred j nor for the wife and learned, they will defpife it ; nor for the gay and polite, they will find nothing PREFACE. xli nothing to fuit their tafte; nor for the modifh formalifts, they will complain that it contains hard fayings ; nor for them that are zealous for the traditions of famous men, they will cry out againft it as felf-conceited babbling ; nor for the devout zealots for religion, they will be enraged becaufe it is an attempt to take away their gods. Thus I may caufe myfelf to be hated ; and if I be, it gives me no pain, nor (hall I think it ftrange ; for my Lord has told me in his word, that for his name's fake I fhall be hated of all men. But I have written thefe things for the edification of the difciples of Jefus, who love the Chrift of God in fincerity, are ready to follow the Lamb whitherfoever he goeth, are fearching after the riches of his grace, and waiting for the abundant manifeftation of the glory of his kingdom, wherefoever fuch an one may be found. And now I prefent this my labour to the Author of the Sacred Book, the Lord of glory, who alone can teach the Father's will, to make thefe lines of whatever ufe he pleafes to any of his little ones. To Him be glory and praife in all the church for ever and ever. Amen. ERRATA. Page 135, Line 3, for fon read fun. 173* 2> for guarded read guided. — 10, for idolaters read idolatries. 214, 25, for primed read pruned. 47 1> 7> for ^^tn read fiftieth. A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION OF THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION, i f g '^HE Lord of glory, having abun- dantly opened the riches of his grace, in the Old and New Teftament ; he finifhes the whole in a book intitled, The Revelation of Jefus Chrift. Notwithstanding the whole Scripture is neither more nor lefs, than a Revelation of Jefus Chrift; or, The record that God gave of his Son. Yet this, in a peculiar fenfe, bears that name : not only as it is the completion of the Divine Teftimony ; but alfo, as it is a prophely of things to come to the end of time. B In 2 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION In this book are contained feven diftinct vi- fionsi wherein are reprefented different tranfac- tions. Some of a more general, and fome of a more particular nature. Some relating to longer, and fome to fhorter periods. Some relate to things which are cotemporary with each other; and fome relate to things which fucceed one another, in different times and ages. But they all harmonize, and coincide with each other, to form one ample Revelation of all future events neceffary to be known by the Church of God. The firfb introduction cannot properly be cal- led vifion; for the firlt three verfes of the firft chapter, only contain a general preface; and die five verfes next fucceeding, contain an epif- tle dedicatory to the feven Churches in Ana. The firft vifion begins with the ninth verfe of the firfb chapter, and ends with the third chapter. The fecond vifion begins with the fourth chap- ter, and fills eight chapters, ending with the e- leventh chapter. The third vifion begins with the twelfth chap- ter, and ends with the fourteenth chapter. The fourth vifion is contained in the fifteenth and fixteenth chapters. The of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 3 The fifth vifion begins with the feventeenth, and ends with the nineteenth chapter. The fixth vifion is contained in the twentieth chapter. The feventh vifion is the fubject of the twenty- firft and twenty-fecond chapters. In order to read with intelligence, let every reader deliberately obferve the chain of each vifi- on j how the circumftances Hand connected and linked together, where the fubjeft comes pro- perly to a conclufion, and where a diftincl: fub- jec~t is introduced in another vifion. Let him alfo attend to underfland, what is the intention of the Holy Spirit, to guide his church into the knowledge of, through the whole. Certainly the defign muft be very great : and is undoubtedly intended to be underftood, by every foul that fears God. And the things contained in this book, are fo clearly reprefented, that they may be underftood, by every diligent enquirer j who can fhake off the fhackles of tradition, and free his mind from the entangling confufion, in which this prophecy is involved, by carnal and world- ly expofitors. B 2 CHAP, 4 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION CHAPTER I. Verse i. The Revelation of J ejus Chrifr, which God gave unto himy to jhew unto his Jervanis things which muft portly come to pafs -, and he Jetit andfignified it by his Angel unto his fervant John. EVERY revelation, or manifestation of God, to the fons of men, is the revelation of Jefus Chrift ; for God never revealed himfelf by any o- ther : and every thing that Chrift reveals, is given him of God; for Jefus never declared any thing, but what the Father gave him : the Father and the Son being abfolutely one. And the revelation of this book, was given him, to fhew unto his fervants -, t6 be made known to all the true fer- vants of God, without diftinction •, it is not there- fore a myftery, concealed from any that love God j though it is hidden from every carnal mind. And the things herein revealed, were fhortly to come to pafs : many of thefe are alrea- dy come to pafs ; and the reft are waited for, of all that love God. The Lord fent it by his an- gel. All the old Teftament was delivered by the miniftration of angels 5 but now, under the new Tefta- PF the BOOK of the REVELATION. 5 Teftament, God has fpoken to us by his beloved Son : but he fiill makes ufe of angels, whenever he fees convenient. The angel fignified it to his fervant John. This John, doubtlefs was the be- loved difciple, who leaned on the bofoin of his Lord j who wrote the gofpel, and the three epif- fles, bearing his name. For as this John was fo well known among the difciples, anddiftinguifh- ed by fuch fpecial marks j had it been any other man, fome other diftinguifhing character would certainly have been given him. And notwith- flanding, the writings of all the apoflles, con- tinue in their full virtue, till the fecond coming of the Lord; yet in the defcription of the times that fhould pafs over the church ; this John in a more efpecial manner, mail tarry till Jefus comes. And thefe things were revealed to John, that he might publifh them to all the faints. And, for the moil part, through the whole book, he ap- pears to perfoliate the church. When he tells us what he faw, he reprefents facts, as they do, and fhall appear to the church, which mall be when the truth of thofe vifions fhall come to pafs. Ver. 2. Who hare record of the word of God, and of the teftimony of Jefus Chrifl, and of all things that he faw. GOD chofe a fervant, whom he had blefled B 3 with 6 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION with underflanding, to know what he faw; and with faitbfulnefs truly to record it. It is the word of God ; which is nothing lefs than the wifdom and truth of Jehovah himfelf, and muft ftand for ever. It is the teflimony of Jefus Chrift, who came to bear witnefs to the truth : there- fore all that is revealed fhall infallibly come to pafs. John bare record of all things that he faw : and he faw all things that the wifdom of God faw necefifary to be foretold to his elect : there- fore, from this book, compared with the other prophefies that had gone before ; we may learn every future event, that poflibly could be any benefit for us to know, before it come to pafs. Ver. 3. BleJJ'ed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prcphefy, and keep thofe things which are written therein : for the time is at hand. THE blefiing pronounced upon them that read, hear, and keep thefe things ; is a perfect indi- cation that God gave them as a blefiing to his church : and that bleffings are thereby conveyed to every humble waiting foul. And the benedic- tion fo indefinite, fetting the benefit open to every one; is a full manifeftation, that it is for all the Children of Light without rcferve : and that the things therein contained, are fet in fo clear a light, that every one may attain to the know- ledge of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 7 ledge thereof, who feeks it in the fear of God : -and that every one who attends to thefe things, fo as to fee them in the true light j fhall enjoy peace and bleffednefs therein. And the reaibn given, is, becaufe the time is at hand. The time was then at hand : and the fucceffion has con- tinued to this day, and will continue to the end of time. And the believing foul, that pays due attention, may know in every age, in what part of the period he is; or what part of the prophe- fy is fulfilled, and what yet remains to be ful- filled. 0 But this book is generally neglected and dif- regarded : and that for two reafons j one is, molt people fay, it is not to be underftood. In which they fay truly, with refpeft to themfelves. For it contains the things of the fpirit of God; and their minds being carnal, they cannot receive them : but do naturally conclude thefe things to be inexplicable myfteries. The other reafon is, being led away from the truth, by expofitops; who lead them into fables, and empty amufe- ments : applying thofe things which relate pure- ly to the church of the living God, to worldly affairs : as ftates, kingdoms, empires, and to what happened in the world in fuch and fuch reigns, &c. to which the revelation has no di- rect relation. And perfons feeing thefe to be little but fpeculation, and no way interefting to B 4 theirij S A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION them ; they think the revelation of the counfel of God, not worth their attention -, and leave it as a matter of little importance. But they that love our Lord Jefus Chrift in •fincerity, cannot read this glorious, falutary, and interefting introduction, without feeling their hearts warmed with pleafure, and their fouls kindled into a vital flame cf defire, to behold the glory, and enjoy the bleflednefs, that through this book proceeds out of the throne of God, and of the Lamb. Now commences the particular addrefs of the evangelic mefTenger, to the churches to whom he was fent by the Spirit. In which the riches of glorious grace are highly and excellently dif- played. Ver. 4. John to the /even churches which are in Afia : grace be unto you, and 'peace from him which is j and which was, and which is to come ; and from the f even fpirits which are before his throne. THIS xAxfia, was not that large tra6t of land now called Afia, which contains all the eaftern part of the world. Nor was it that large coun- try, frequently called, the lefler Afia : now known by the name of Natolia. It was Afia proper, which was only one province, in the large of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 9 large country of Natolia. In this province, it ap- pears there were feven particular churches in fo many particular cities, having a vicinity one with another. To thefe the prophet John was fent; therefore he addrefTes them with the com- ^ mon falutation of the apoftles, praying for grace and peace. Thefe bleflings are the genuine pro- duction of gofpel light and glory: and therefore it is a prayer fuitably adapted for all that be- lieve; as they are partakers of Chrifl : who is the prince of peace, and came from the Father, full of grace and truth. And the prayer is ad- drefled to- the immutable Jehovah; which is, and which was, and which is to come. As the God of our Lord Jefus Chrift is, in himfelf, ab- folutely eternal and immutable ; fo he is known to be, to all that believe in Jefus : for none can believe in God, through his beloved Son, in the fpirit of the new Teftament ; who does not know him in the prefent flowings of his grace and truth, in the word made flefh: and who does not know him in his ancient, eflential, uncreated love ; as the origin of all the bleflings that now appear in the delight of his foul, the Son of Man: and who does not know him in his promifes of future bleflings ; and hope in him for eternal life and glory. And alfo to the feven fpirits ; that is, to the one God ; confidered as the vivifying and communicating fpirit : faid to be before his throne ; becaufe all the bleflings proceeding from the io A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION the throne are communicated to us by the fpirit. Above all numbers mentioned in fcripture, the Holy Ghoft has peculiarly ufed the number feven, to exprefs the completion of things, appoint- ments, times, and bleffings. There is but one Holy Spirit. But this number is ufed to exprete the fulnefs of his manifestations, operations, and communications. From the creation, to the prefent glory, there has been feven diftinft go- ings forth of the Holy Spirit, in communicating light to the world. j. The light that fhined from the beginning, to the Antediluvians, and to the days of Abra- ham. 2. The additional light that appeared in the days of Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob. 3. The farther opening of light, that appear- ed in the days of Mofes. • 4% The more clear fhinings of glory, in the days and in the writings of David and Solomon. 5. The more ample difcoveries of grace, made by the Prophets. 6. The perfect fulfilling of the promifes, in the appearing of the Son of God on the earth. 7. The more abundant opening of the hea- venly of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 1 1 venly glory, by the efrufion of the Holy Ghofl ; after the Son of God was glorified in his king- dom. These are divers manifeftations of the one Spirit. And all thefe ftreams are now united in one pure river of water of life; for the abundant enriching of every foul that believes in Jefus, ac- cording to the fulnefs of the new Teftament. And alfo, this number feven, holds forth the many gradations of light and truth, power and holinefs, whereby the believer is enriched through the fpecial influence of the Holy Ghoft: from the firft rays of gofpel light mining into his foul; to the higheft illuminations, whereby the Son of God fhall fhew him plainly of the Father. Ver. 5". And from Jefus Chrift, who is the faith- ful witnejs, and the firft begotten of the dead, and the -prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and wajhed us from our fins in his own blood, THE prayer is alfo directed to Jefus Chrift : that is to the one God, manifefl in our nature. The Father is the God of all grace and peace : but he never communicates any bleffing to any creature, only through the Son. For it is his pleafure, that all fulnefs fhould dwell in the man of his delight : and that we mould receive all bleffings 1 2 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION blefilngs from him, and afcribe all glory to him. Col. i. 19. John v. 23. And he is the faithful witnefs, who teftifies to us of all the Father's will ; and all his counfels and purpofes of love, which were before the world began : which now are, and for ever fhall immutably remain. Of which he made a rich declaration in his doc- trine, and abundantly demonstrated in his death and refurrection, as well as in his interceflion for us, before the throne, and in his fhedding abroad his love in our hearts, by his Holy Spi- rit. And he is the firft begotten from the dead: being the firft. fruits j by whofe death and refur- rection, we are delivered from all kinds of death. And the prince of the kings of the earth. For- afmuch as he reigns with defpotic authority, over all powers: Prov. viii. 15, 16. and fhall, through the riches of his grace, rule and reign in righteoufnefs, in all the nations. Pfal. lxxii. 7, 8. He loved us, with the mofl perfect of all love. John xv. 9. By the facrifice of himfelf, he re- deemed us from the curfe; and by manifefling his love, in the virtue of his blood, through the golpel, he draws our hearts to love him : and thereby turns them from the love of fin j fetting us free from the power and dominion thereof, Ver. 6. And hath made us kings and priefts unto God and his Father ; to him be glory and do- minicn for ever and ever. Amen. CHRIST of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 13 CHRIST is both king of glory, and high prieft. And as he hath received his chefen, into perfect union with himfelf; whatever himfelf is, the fame he makes them. As kings, they fhine in his glory ; and as priefts, they have free accefs to God : this honour he gives to all his faints. And as the Father has given him all glory and dominion; John xiii. 31, 32. Dan. vii. 14. fo all his called ones afcribe all honour and praife, and bow to him with all humble fubmiflion, with their whole fouls, and to everlafting ages. Pfal. cxlvi. 2. Ver. 7. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye jhalljee him, and they alfo which pierced him : and all kindreds of the earth /hall wail becaufs of him : evenfo. Amen. THE Lord Jefus Chrifl hath his divers com- ings to the world, and to his church ; but I think, all of them have been in clouds, and will be the fame j except his perfonal coming at the laft day : which will be in flaming fire. Clouds are dark and gloomy' appearances ; as when he came in our nature; men hid their faces, and knew him not. When he came in the light of the gofpel, fcarce any believed the report. When he came to vifit the fins of Jerufalem, they were all in darknefs. Luke xix. 42. And when he comes to vifit the earth with his plagues, to make i4 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION make way for the fpreading of the gofpel, it will be in dark difpenfations. Luke xxi. 25, 26, 27. Yet his comings are and fhall be manifeft to all. They that by faith behold him pierced for their fins, fhall fee him to their joy -, but they that pierced him with perfecutions, and hid their faces from him, mail fee him to their anguifh. And the men of the world, who have their portion in this life, and are written in the earth j thefe are the kindreds of the earth; and fhall certainly wail, to fee the majefty of the Lord of Heaven, in whofe kingdom they have no portion. But the faints are the kindred of Heaven, and fhall be joyful in their king. His coming, the manner and effect thereof, are fixed of the Lord : even Jo. Amen. Vzr. 8. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending , faith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. THESE two characters, Alpha and Omega, be- ing the firft and laft letters in the alphabet of that language, in which this book, and the chief of the new Teftament was written, were inten- tionally mentioned, both in this, and divers o~ ther places, to direct us to the fulnefs of the writ- ten word. For all that is written in the holy volume, relates to the Son of God ; and all that can be known of Jefus Chrilt, is contained in the of the BOOK of the REVELATION". 15 the facred word. He is the beginning and the ending of all the counfels, works and ways of God j of every thing that does, or ever did, or ever fhall proceed from God ; and of all the blef- fings that are, or ever were, or ever mall be en- joyed by men. For he is, and was, and is to come, the Almighty. PofTefling all the perfec- tions of the Father. For the Father dwells in the Son, and the Son in the Father ; fo as they are abfolutely, indivifibly, and efTentially one. Whatever is afcribed to the Father, whether e£- fence, attributes, will, words, or works, the fame is afcribed to the Son. What the one is, the other is. And this is the foundation of our faith. Thus far, the fervant of the Lord continued his dedication, or addrefs to the churches, to whom he was fent. In which he emphatically fets forth the excellency, glory, and perfection of the Son of God, whole meffenger he was. And having prefented to them the true character of him whofe meffage he was commanded to deli- ver j he next comes to open the things which he heard and faw, for the benefit of the church, in the ages to come. Here begins the firji Vijion. Ver. 9. / John, who alfo am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience 1 6 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION patience of Jefus Chrifl, was in the ifle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the teftimony of Jefus Cbrift. THE faints are all brethren, children of one father, begotten and born of one feed, the in- corruptible word of the living God. And as they are companions in the kingdom of Jefus Chrift, they mull be companions with him, and with one another, in tribulation ; for fo hath the Lord ordained. 'John xvi. 23- Phil. i. 29. And this tribulation fhall never ceafe, till they have learned patience. Rom. v. 3. James i. 3, 4. And the Lord fends his meflages by men of like pafiions, and under the fame circumftances as the reft of his children : though he never fends by any but a real brother, one that is born of God, and baptized with the Holy Ghoft. The place where John then was, is an ifle in the Archipelago, not far from the coaft of Afia; where the [even, churches were. And many af- firm, that John was, at this time, banifhed to this ifle : but for this we have no fufficient ground. And from the fmall diftance, as well as the happinefs and populoufnefs laid to be in thofe ifles in thofe days, it does not look like a banifhment. However, it was for the word of God : and whether banifhed thither for preach- ing: of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 17 ing it, or going there to preach it, it fhews his diligence and faithfulnefs to his Lord. Ver. 10. / was in the Jpirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet, THE day on which the Lord rofe from the dead, may well be called the Lord's day. And forafmuch as he had told his difciples, that he was Lord of the fabbath ; and as he made the firft day of the week his fabbath ; both as he role from the dead on that day, and alfo fent the promife of the Father to his difciples on that day; it is fufficient authority to the difciples to keep it as their fabbath. The feventh day was kept in commemoration of the finifhing of creation ; it being the moil excellent work that ever had then been performed : but the firft day is now kept in commemoration of two more glorious events. And in expectation of the bleffings proceeding from thefe two moft glorious difplays of grace, the faints worlhip their Lord on this day. On this day John appears to have been abundantly filled and enlarged in the fpirit ofChrift: enrich- ed in heavenly meditation, faith, love, and joy in the Lord. And being thus prepared in foul, the voice of the Lord came to him with mighty power, as the found of a trumpet : to exprefs the certainty and authority of the voice and majefty of the Lord of glory. C Ver. 1 3 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION Ver. ii. Sayings I am Alpha and Omega, the fir fi and the lafii : and what thou fieejl, write in a book) and fiend it unto the fieven churches which are in AJia -, unto Ephefius, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. THIS glorious character, Alpha and Omega, the Lord appropriates to himfelf, and none may vie with him. John was not to write any thing but what he faw : that he might write with in- fallible certainty. The minifters of Chrift arc fent to deliver meflages with the ftrongeft de- monftration : nothing doubtful is ever found in their commifTion. John iii. n. And whatever he faw, he was to write : that the truth thereof might remain to all ages. And all the things which appeared to him, muft be written to the feven churches. And fuch things as related to their particular cafes, muft be directed to each individual church refpectively. In thefe feven, we have a fpecimen of all the churches in the world. The number feven reprefents the uni- verfal church ; and what is written to them, is written to all the believers under heaven : while their feveral characters direct us to the feveral cafes which particular churches may be found in, and the particular admonitions neceffary in fuch cafes. The commonly received opinion, of their being a prophetical reprefentation of the ftate of the of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 19 the church in all fucceeding ages, is nothing at all but a mere fiction; the fruit of fond imagina- tion. For the works, virtues, fufferings, defeats, bleffings, reproofs, admonitions, and comforts relating to thefe feven churches, are fet before us as examples to all churches upon earth : for in- ftruction, in all ages, and in all nations. Ver. 12. And I turned to fee the voice that /pake with me. And being turned, I Jaw feven golden candlefticks. WHEN Chrift fpeaks, he never fails to make his voice heard j and to attract the attention of all that have his love in their hearts : and in at- tending to his voice, they never fail to behold what is to their fatisfaction. In this firft vifion, the churches are reprefented under the figure of golden candlefticks, which is a very juft refem- blance : for every believer is as gold refined j and the glory of God mines in the hearts of all his faints •, and they by reflection, mine as lights in the world : for they hold forth the light of Chrift, who is the true light. John xii. 46. The uni- verfal church is one candlefticks and every par- ticular community of believers is a candleftick j and every individual difciple of Chrift is a candle- ftick: for the light of Jefus Ihines all in all. But they that draw fimilitudes from thefe churches, as they pretend, to reprefent the different ftages C 1 of 2o A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION of the church, in different periods, do commonly confound the true church with Antichrifl ; apply- ing their imaginary allegories to the outward ap- pearances, and carnal fhew ; to the fuccefiion of popes, and the falfe profeflbrs of this world : foreign to the defign of the fpirit. Ver. 13. And in the midft of the /even candlefiicks, one like unto the Jon of man, clothed with a gar- ment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. THESE candlefiicks are only a fimile of thofe focieties where Jefus walks : Mat. xviii. 20. in the true appearance of man, and in the fulnefs of the Godhead. Clothed in the perfection of grace and truth ; and having his heart immoveably fixed in the love of God ; to fhew his faithfulnefs to the will of his father, and all riches of grace and glory to his chofen. Ver. 14. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as fnow j and his eyes were as a flame of fire. HIS head is the Divine EfTence. The head of Chrijl is God. White as wool, reprefents ancient gravity, and wifdom; commanding the deepeft reverence. White as fnow, reprefents purity, and excellency in perfection. His head and his hairs of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 21 hairs being reprefented together, fhews, that whatfoever proceeds from the Divine Counfel; his word, his works, or his grace ; are all of the fame nature, and perfection. The eyes are the glory of a man : which fhews the glory of God, fhining in the face of Jefus Chrift : and alfo holds forth his penetrating omnifcience. The eyes fre- quently are the index of the heart : fo the Lord, in the light of his precious word, and the com- forting influence of his Holy Spirit, fhews his flaming love, and his flaming holinefs to his faints. Ver. 15. And his feet like unto fine brajs, as if they burned in a furnace j and his voice as the found of many waters. THE two fcet^ on which the Son of God ftands, walks, and makes his progrefs in his church, are, his faithfulnefs to his Father's will, and his love to his elect. In both which, he fhews the brightnefs of his glory ; with burning zeal, and unabating fervour. And his voice (the gofpel of his grace) ftrong and powerful; like the mighty waves of the fea j to be heard, and to fpread, to the ends of the earth : and like the torrent of a mighty river which bears down all before it. So fhall his word be. Ver. 16. And he had in his right hand f even fiars : ■ C 3 and 22 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION and out of his mouth went a Jharp two-edged fword, and his countenance was as the fun flnneth in his Jirength. HIS right hand is the majefty, power, and glory of the Father : at whofe right hand he fits : and whofe will he perpetually executes. And from the fountain of whofe love, he communi- cates all riches of grace to his church. And in this right hand he holds the {even liars ; which are his minifters. And the perfect number, feven, includes all his minifters upon earth : with all the light and truth, held forth by all the pro- phets, apoftles, and preachers of the gofpel, to the end of the world. In his right hand, the word of truth proceeds from the bofom of the Father; in the office he executed on earth, it was fully opened ; and by his fpirit fent down from heaven, he guides his minifters in preaching the gofpel, and directs his word with power into the hearts of his people. The word going forth of his mouth, is frequently compared to fharp inftruments; arrows, an ax, a fickle; but more frequently to a fword ; and that with two edges : with one of which he never fails to cut. For either the word of grace, cuts down all pride, enmity, felf-will, vain confidence, love of fin, and falfe objects out of the mind ; or the word of righteoufnefs cuts the foul for ever out of the book of life. And the light of his countenance, or of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 23 or the comforting beams of his love and grace, by the light of his Holy Spirit, in the heart's of his children, difplay the higheft delight, blefTed- nefs, joy, and glory; producing life and fruit- fulnefs. For he is the fun of righteoufnefs. Ver. 17. And when I Jaw himy I fell at his feet as dead : and he laid his right hand upon me> faying unto me, Fear not •> I am the fir ft and the loft. JOHN knew the Lord better, than to be filled with terror, as at the appearance of an enemy : but the finking glory of his majefly was more than nature was able to fuflain, and he might well apprehend his diffolution. Not that there could have been any thing terrible in death, to one who knew the Lord, as John did : but for- afmuch as die was to be preferved for a further work j the Lord, with the right hand of his love and power, ftrengthened and comforted him, that nature might recover itfelf, as he did by the prophet Daniel. Dan. x. 18, 19. The Lord affures him, he is the Holy One of God, the firft and the laft : and bids him therefore not to fear. Ver. 18. I am he that liveth, and was dead-, and behold, I am alive for evermore. Amen ; and have the keys of hell and of death. HE declares himfelf to be that very perfon, C 4 whom 24 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION whom John had feen dead, and had feen alive again 3 and that he now lives for everj and has all power in the creation of God given into his hand. And therefore, neither death nor hell, nor any other power, fhall be able to pluck the leafl of his little ones out of his hand, or to withftand him in any of his works of grace. And hereby he fortified his fervant, to fuftain all the further vifions of his glory ; to behold, to underftand, and to declare whatfoever he was pleafed to com- mand him to reveal. Ver. 19. Write the things which thou haft feen, and the things which are} and the things which Jhall be hereafter. THE things which the prophet had feen, were the majefty and glory of the Lord, which had appeared to him in the vifion, attended with the gracious words which the Lord had fpoken to him. The things which then were, related to the prefent concerns of the churches. The things which fhould be hereafter, were to be held forth in the fucceeding vifions. And thefe muft all be written, for the benefit of the church in fucceed- ing ages. Ver. 20. 'The myjiery of the feven fiars which thoufawefl in my right hand, and the feven golden candlejlicks. The /even fiars are the angels of the ©f the BOOK of the REVELATION. 25 the /even churches, and the /even candle/licks which thou/awefi are the /even churches. THIS myftery, in the firft place, relates to thofe minifters and churches in the province of Afia ; but contained another myftery relating to all the minifters and churches of Chrift upon earth. And feven being a number frequently ufed to exprefs the confummation of a thing, the faid number here intends the univerfal kingdom of Jefus in all its branches and miniftrations : and as thofe firft referred to were all in one pro- vince, fo all the churches of Chrift are one do- minion under one prince. Stars are luminaries in the heavens, giving light upon the earth; fo all the minifters of the word, whether before or fince the coming of the Lord, are angels fent from God to minifter in heavenly things : and like ftars in their courfes, fhall continue their conftant revo- lutions till the whole be finifhed ; when all the elect fhall be gathered, and the church complea- ted. The candlefticks were all of gold, fo all the real children of God are as gold tried in the fire, refined with the fpirit of judgment, and the fpirit of burning, and fhall be refined till all the drofs and tin be purged away. Alfo the people of God are true gold, not only pure, but perfect- ly rich. And as the candleftick is to contain and hold forth the light, fo the light of the glo- ry 26 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION ry of God dwells in the- faints, and from them is diflufed abroad into the world. Here begin the Epijllcs to the particular Churches. CHAP. II. Verse i. Unto the angel of the church of Ephefus, write; Thefe things Jaith he that holdeth the /even Jiars in his right hand, who walketh in the midft of the /even golden candlefticks. THE angel is the meffenger fent of God to inftruct, to feed, and watch over the church. And what is written to him, is cer- tainly to all the flock or congregation under his care. The Lord Jeius Chrift always takes to himfelf fuch characters as are juftly adapted to the relation in which he ftands, or the work he performs. The feven ftars which he holds in his right hand, do not only intend the minifters of thofe individual churches, but all the mini- fters of the Old and New Teftament ; prophets, apoftles, and all their fucceflbrs to the end of the world, and the word of grace and truth by them preached. This word is in his right hand as of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 27 as it is received from his father j and as it is by his direction when, where, and how it mall be preached, and by his fpirit made effectual to the heart. The feven golden candlefticks reprefent the one univerfal church of the firft born, or all the focieties of faints under heaven; not falfe, popifh, or antichriftian churches: for notwith- ftanding, fome drofs and alloy was found in thefe, they were of gold, and the Son of God walked among them, to obferve their order, to approve their virtues, to reprove their defects, to fupply their wants, and eftablifh them in himfelf. Ver. 2. I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy ■patience, and how thou canft not bear them which are evil : and thou hajl tried them which Jay they are apoftles, and are not ; and haft found them liars. THE firft falutation to every church is this, / know thy works -, for the Lord will have it im- preffed on the hearts of all his children, that he takes fpecial cognizance of all they do, with the very fpirit, principle, motive, or defign, from whence every work proceeds, be it good or evil, omiffion orcommiflion j for the tree is known by its fruits, not only of what kind it is, but alfo in what condition it is, flourifhing or languifhing. Their labour and patience fhewed their obedi- ence, 28 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION ence, love, and zeal for the glory of God. And that they could not bear them that were evil manifefted fanctification of heart, and true fear of God. We find there were falfe apoftles in thofe days, who attempted to transform them- felves into the apoftles of Chrift, the fame as there are in thefe days. Thefe were the grievous wolves, whom Paul foretold would creep into this church. Acts xx. 29, 30. But whatever ftieep's clothing they put on, the fheep of Chrift, if they be truly zealous for the truth as it is in Jefus, can difcern the ftrange voice, and will detect them. Ver. 3. And haft born , and haft ■patience, and for my names Jake haft laboured, and baft not fainted. THIS conftancy of labour and patience was the fruit of true faith, and love to Chrift in the fpirit. And it Ihews they had been deeply tried, but had been made ftrong in the Lord, and in the power of his might ; and as good foldiers of Jefus Chrift did endure hardnefs. Ver. 4. Neverthelefs, I have fomewhat againft theey becaufe thou haft left thy firft love. WHATEVER is commendable in the children of God, their faulti are not to pafs unreproved : becaufe of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 29 becaufe they are called to holinefs, and mull be admonifhed of their defects, that they may be purified and fandtified, fo as there may be neither fpot or wrinkle j but that they may be holy, and without blernifh. Thefe Ephefians had left their firft love j though from what is faid before, it does not appear that they had declined in their love to Chrift. Their declenfion muft have been in their love to the brethren ; but this, their love to Chrift ought to have prevented. But by fome means, a temptation had come upon them, that their love to one another had fallen into decay ; or elfe their zeal for promoting the fpreading of the gofpel had grown cool. But whether thefe falfe apoftles had left fome of their corrupt doc- trine, by which their affections had become languid -y or whether fome among themfelves, being whifperers, had fpoken perverfe things one of another, and drawn away difciples, to feparate them in affection j or whether it was a natural declenfion, infenfibly grown upon them: fome way it was, that the fervour of their love was abated, which the Lord will not allow in his children : for he has appointed them to walk in love, and has prayed, that they all may be one. Ver. 5. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and re-pent, and do the jirfi works ; or elfe I will come unto thee quickly, and will re- move 3o A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION move thy candle/lick out of his place > except then repent. IT becomes the followers of the lamb to watch their own fteps with jealoufy, left there be any halting. For, as it often happens in natural things, that people frequently flacken and decline from the virtues, or good rules, to which they had fome time attended ; fo, without watchful- nefs, and felf-examination, the children of light may lofe fome of the vivacity and warm zeal which once they had : and may find, that they are fallen, grown flat and dry, compared with what they had formerly experienced and practifed. And when this is the cafe, they muft repent. This is not that repentance unto life, which is the gift of God i and whereby finners are turned from the power of fatan unto God : but it is that practical repentance, which is the indifpenfible duty of every believer, when he has fallen into any fin, or in any refpect has fwerved from the truth of God, that he may return to his former obedience and uprightnefs. But if they perfift in lukewarmnefs, or cool indirFerency, or in difguft and enmity one towards another, the removal of that church will affuredly be the effect. Either they will be confumed one of another, or fcatter- ed one from another, or elfe thofe few that have life will be called away, and the reft left a dry hulk, a dead carcafs. Vbr. of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 31 Ver. 6. But this thou haft, that thou hatefi the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I alfo hate. THESE Nicolaitanes are twice mentioned. This church is commended for hating their deeds: the church at Pergamos is reproved for havino- them that held their doctrine. So it appears their wickednefs confifted in abominable doctrine; which taught abominable practices : which was hated of the Lord. But what thefe abominations were we are not told. Some human traditions pretend to inform us what they were ; but in that there can be no certainty, as their witnefs doth not agree. Had it been necefiary for us to know, the Holy Ghoft would have told us. But fome will fay, we would willingly know what the evil was, that we might avoid it. But what would it fignify for thee to efcape one abomina- tion, and fall into a thoufand others ? Attend to the word of God with diligence; and abftain with vigilance from all thofe things which God hates ; and thou fhalt be fure to efcape this. Ver. 7. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the fpirit faith unto the churches. To him that over cometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midfi of the faradife of God. THIS note, or call, He that hath an hear, &c. is repeated in every epiftle to each church, to imprefs 32 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION imprefs upon our minus the neceflity and utility of attending on the word of God. Every man that hath understanding, is under an obligation to give ear to the revelation of the will of God, to the utmoft that his capacity will admit : and he that is bleSTed with a fpiritual understanding, is called to attend to the word of life, in the fpirit, light, and truth thereof. And this note, To him that overcometbj &c. is repeated in each epiStle, to ail the churches, to keep alive the remembrance of the profeflion we make, and the Station in which we Stand, as Soldiers under the captain of our Salvation ; and our being encompaSTed with enemies, who are perpetually Striving to repel us in our purfuit after the blefiings of the king- dom of our Lord, for he only who is victorious Shall obtain the blefiings of life. And to every Such victor peculiar benefits are promifed : and none that believe in Jefus can fail of victory over all enemies ; and none that are conquerors can fail of enjoying every bleSTing that is contained in the fulnefs of Chriit Jefus. The tree of life is the Son of God, who proceeded from the Father to give eternal life to his chofen. ParadiSe is never mentioned in Scripture, but as relating to things truly heavenly, and his being in the midfl, Signifies his being the life of all perfection, and fulnefs of all heavenly things, in whatever relates to the counfels of God, or the Salvation and glorification of his people. And of this tree it of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 32 it is given to every believer freely to eat, as the life freely flows in the gofpel ■, and fo far as the eyes of the foul are opened to fee the excellency, to defire and wait for the enjoyment they men- tally receive, taite, delight in, and live by the faith of the Son of God. Ver. 8. And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna, write, Thefe things faith the firfi and the lafi, which was dead and is alive. EVERY epiftle is dill directed to the angel, or minifter of every church ; and to the church under his care. And in each one, the Lord takes to himfelf a diftinct character , fuch as tends to exprefs his excellency and perfection : which cannot poflibly be defcribed by any fingle name or character known among men. Jefus Chrift is the firft and the laft of all that is written in the book of God j and all that God ever made known of himfelf; and all that ever was, is, oreverfhall be done for the church, or given to her, in time or eternity. For in him center all the counfels of God, from everlafting. Eph. iii. 11. And in him are all the out-goings of the grace of God. John i. 14, 17. And by him are all the com- munications of life to his elect. 1 John v. 11. And he is the refidence of all the glory of his Father's kingdom. Ifaiah xxii. 23, 24. Zech. vi. 12, 13. In that he was dead, it plain appears D he 34 A SCRIPTURAL. ILLUSTRATION he was a mortal man ; and inafmuch as there can be no death, only through fin, and in him was no fin, it is manifeft, that it was our fin that was laid on him : and forafmuch as death is the extent of the curfe pronounced againft fin; it is plain he took away the curfe from us, in fuftaining it him- felf. Gal. iii. 13. And in that he is alive, it is undeniably plain, that he is the living God. John x. 17, 18. Rom. i. 4. And in that he rofe from the dead, after our fin had been laid upon him, it is clear beyond contradiction, that full atone- ment was made, and fin perfectly blotted out. Ifaiah xliv. 22. Dan. ix. 24. And hence, all his children are bleffed with eternal life, in union with him. John xiv. 19. Ver. 9. I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich,) and I know the blafphemy of them which Jay they are Jews, and are not, but are the Jynagogue ojjatan. THESE appear to have been an afflicted and poor people ; but rich in faith, and good works. They were befet with religious adverfaries, falfe pretenders, hypocrites, impoftors ; whether pre- ferring to be Jews of the natural feed ; or profef- fing to be believers in Chrift ; (which are the true Jews; Rom. ii. 29. Phil. iii. 3. Col. ii. 11.) they were not real Jews in heart. But deceivers, blafphemers, propagating lies, fables, doctrines of of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 3$ of devils. Thefe were the troublers of this church. But the Lord afiures them, that his eye was upon thefe enemies; and that he would fave his chil- dren, both from their deceptions, and from their Ver. 10. Fear none of thofe things which thou Jhalt Juffer : behold, the devil Jh all caftjome of you into prifon, that ye may be tried ; and ye Jhall have tribulation ten days : be thou faithful unto death , and I will give thee a crown of life. THE children of God have no reafon to fear what they fhall fuffer for the name of Jefus. 1 Pet. iv. 12, 13. Satan works mo ft powerfully in a way of religion. Falfe profefTors are his fynagogue; always ftriving to propagate the doctrines of the prince of darknefs, and to refill the truth of Chrift. And if they cannot draw fouls away by their deceits; the enmity of the old ferpent ftimulates them to perfecute the faints, with all the violence in their power. But the Lord over-rules their rage ; and fuffers it to pre- vail, only fo far as may be for the trial of his chofen: and reftrains it at the proper period. And if the trial fhould be unto death, they have encouragement to endure. For the Lord is able to keep them faithful; 1 Cor. x. 13. and will afluredly give them a crown of everlafling life. D 2. Ver. ii. 36 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION Ver. ii. He that hath an ear, let him ear what the fpirit faith unto the churches. He that over- cometh Jhall not be hurt of thefecond death. By an ear, we frequently underftand, an atten- tive defire to learn and underftand : which if any man have, he is called to hear the word of God. This is the way in which the Lord brings fouls to himfelf : and whofoever waits on the Lord in this way, and continues therein, with all his heart j is certain to be bleiled with a fpiritual underftand- ing. Mark iv. 24. And then he will receive the word of God, in the fpirit, in the truth, and in the life. In this epiftle, the Lord fets before us the trials, with which they that profefs his name, muft be tried : and whereby the hypocrites will be carried away, in one fhape or other : but every genuine difciple of Jefus, mail affuredly be victo- rious : and fhall be free from the fecond death. The firft death came by the fin of the firft man : for which he was called to judgment, condemned, fentenced, and the execution begun that very day. The curfe came upon him, and was not to be reverfed, till it had brought him down to his original duft. Gen. iii. 19. And as his pofterity were all in his loins, they all finned in him, and fell with him, into the utmoft extent of punifh- ment, procured by that fin. Therefore the fame execution is ftill carried on, upon all mankind to this days and fhall be to the end of the world. But of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 37 But Chrift, the fecond man, made perfect atone- ment for that fin ; and obtained a releafe to the univerfal race of Adam : which fhall be confum- mate in the refurrection of the dead : when the laft enemy fhall be deflroyed ; and no veftigia of that fin,, fhall ever more be feen in the creation of God. But the fecond death, is the confe- quence of men's own perfonal wickednefs : for which (after the effects of the firft death are all extinct) there fhall be a fecond judgment : when, every one that hath finned, and hath not received forgivenefs, by faith in the blood of Jefus ; but hath lived and died in his fins ; fhall be fentenced to the fecond death. Mark xvi. 16. This death is of a nature perfectly different to the firft. The firft was the total deflruction of the creature's being. But after the Lord from heaven has reftored the creature to an immortal exiftence, the fecond death will be a total privation of the enjoyment of God. In which condition, the foul will be left to the fire of a reftlefs wicked mind; and the fling of a guilty confcience, for ever and ever. Mark ix. 44,46, 48. Rev. xiv. 11. But whofoever fhall overcome by the blood of the lamb; on thofe the fecond death fhall have no power. Ver. 12. And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, Thefe things faith he> which hath the Jbarp /word with two edges. D3 AS 38 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION AS there were things found in this church, which mud be cut down, the Lord is reprefented' as bearing the fword, which is an emblem of his majefty and government. His fword is his word ; by which he will overcome all oppofition, deftroy all enemies, eitablifh his right, clear his church of intruders, defend his chofen, and maintain the honour of his kingdom. Ifaiah xlix. 2. It is fharp, nothing can withftand it. Ifaiah xli. 2. Two edges, to fubdue or to deftroy j to make all nations kifs the fon, or perifh. Pi aim ii. 12. To cut down all their idols, or to cut their fouls afunder. Luke xix. 27. By the fword of his law, he cuts down all confidence in the flefti, or in any thing but himfelf. Gal. ii. 19. By the word of his grace, he cuts off the affedtions of the heart from every other object. Ifaiah xxvi. 13. Hofea xiv. 3. By the word of his holinefs, he cuts away all iniquity from his chofen. Zeph. iii. 13. And by the word of his judgment, he either cuts off all condemnation, Ifaiah liv. 17. or elfe he cuts off all happinefs, hope, or mercy. Mat. xxii. 13. And this fword, the word of truth, the Lord puts in the hands of all his faints, and they become victorious. Pfalm cxlix. 6. Cant. iii. 8. Eph. vi. 17. Rev. xii. 1 1. Ver. 13. Jknotio thy works, and where thou dwcl- lejly even where Jatatfs Jeat is : and thou hi. fajl my name, and haft not denied my faith > even in of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 39 in thofe days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was flain among you, where fat an dwelleth. .THIS is the introduction to every church, / know thy works: that we may always keep in mind, that his omnifcient eye is upon us. He notes their fituation, the dangers and temptations to which they were expofed, by dwelling in a place where fatan reigned : and to allure them that his watchful eye was upon them, to guard and defend them. He commends them for their liability in the faith, even when one of them was killed for the name of Jefus ; and the reft might have expected the fame lot : forafmuch as fatan had his feat there. This fhews their love to the Lord Jefus : and that their minds were itayed on the Lord, in truth and in righteoufnefs. Ver. 14. But I have a few things againft thee, becaufe thou haft there them that hold the doblrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to caft a ftumbling- block before the children of Ifrael, to eat things facrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. THE children of Ifrael began to commit whoredom with the daughters of the Gentiles; and through this they were drawn to worfhip their idols, which was fure to be the cafe : the fnare was laid by the order of Balak ; and Mofes D 4 faid, 40 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION faid, it was through the counfel of Balaam. Numb, xxxi. 1 6. And fomething like this appears to be found in this church. As Balaam contrived this wickednefs under a fhew of devotion -, fo did fome vile perfons in Pergamos, to feduce the difciples. They were either falfe brethren, who had crept into the church; or fuch as had too great intimacy with fome in the church j and like Balaam, pre- tended to worfhip the Lord, when it was indeed to idols : but with fuch art and delufion, as to enfnare weak minds ; and with good words and fair fpeeches, to deceive the hearts of the fimple. It is not to be fuppofed, that the church in ge- neral received their doctrines and practices, for then they had not held faft the name of the Lord : but either they had too much of that baneful weed, which the religious world call charity^ to make great allowance, to hope the belt, to think they meant well, and might be fincere, though mif- taken in fome fentiments and practices ; or that they had too much lenity, and were not zealous in expelling fuch impoftors from among them. However this matter was, the church was faulty in fuffering it. And it is written as an admonition to all fucceeding churches. Ver. 15. So haft thou alfo them that hold the dotlrine of the Nicolc.it anes> which thing I hate. THESE people feem to have had more regard to of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 41 to the uprightnefs of their own perfonal walking with God, than they had to the purity of the community, as a body : forgetting that if a little leaven got in among them, it might foon infect the whole lump. Whatever were the doctrines or deeds of thefe Nicolaitanes, they were what the Lord hated. And as we are not told in par- ticular what they were, the way to efcape them is, to have a due regard to all God's command- ments: for his word informs us of all things that he loves, and that he hates. Pfalm cxix. 6, 9. And it is not fufficient that we efchew the evil things ourfelves, but that we give no countenance, nor have any fellowfhip with them that do them. Rom. i. 32. Ver. 16. Repent y or elfe I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight againft them with the /word of my mouth. THEY are called to repent of their finful connivance j and to behave towards thefe vile perfons in a different manner than they had done. For they ought to have fought againft them with the fword of the fpirit -, and either to have ex- pelled the perfons, or at leaft the doctrines and practices from among them. But if they did not, the Lord himfelf would come, and fight againft them with the word of his mouth, his killing fword. And notwithstanding this war would not be 42 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION be againft his own people, but againft the Ba- laamites and Nicolaitanes ; yet he tells his people, he would come to them to fight ; fo that the war would be among them. This would be doubly grievous, both becaufe the church fhould be the feat of war, and becaufe their own want of zeal and conduct had been the occafion of it. Ver. 17. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the fpirit faith unto the churches. 1*0 him that over cometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white ftone, and in the Jlone a new name written, which no man knoweth3 Javing he that receiveth it. NO man can have an excufe for not hearing the word of God, unlefs he has no ears. If any man ihall attempt to form an excufe, by that ex- cufe he will condemn himfelf j for if he has a capacity to excufe, he has a capacity to hear. If any man be alive in Chrift, he is certain to over- come every thing that impedes the hearing of his word. 1 John iv. 6. And every one that believes in Jefus overcomes the falfe doctrines and cor- rupt practices which the Lord hates : and that foul fhall eat of the hidden manna. Manna was a thing hidden, or unknown to the children of Ifrael. Exod. xvi. 15. Deut. viii. 3. But when tried and proved, was fweet nouriihing bread. Pfalm Ixxviii. 24. cv. 40. So is the Son of God unknown of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 43 unknown to the world. John i. 10. 1 John iii. 1. But to his children he is bread of life. John vi. 33> 3S> 48, $1, S3 — 58- And every child that is born of God, has this bread provided for him, has a fpecial guft to feed upon it, and is truly nouriihed thereby. Gal. ii. 20. He alfo has the Hone given him, which is Chrift. Pfalm cxviii. 22. Dan. ii. 34, 3$. For the Son of God is the true precious itone. Ifaiah xxviii. 16. Zech. iv. 7. Mat. xvi. 18. 1 Pet. ii. 4. Called white, for his immaculate purity, exquifite beauty, and con- fummate perfection. Cant. v. 10. Ifaiah liii. 9. Heb. vii. 26. 1 Pet. i. 19. ii. 22. He is glory and excellency, all in all. Every thing pertaining to him, is unftainable white. His raiment, Mat. xvii. 2. His people, Rev. iii, 4. vii. 14. His throne, Rev. xx. 11. And in this white ftone, the new name is written : which can be no other than the new difcoveries of the inconceivable glory of the Father, mining forth in the Son, who came in his Father's name : which name none can know, unlefs the Son reveals it. Mat. xi. 27. And whatever name the Father fuflains, the fame is given to the Son. Ifaiah liv. 5. And the fame name he gives to all his children. Ifaiah lxii. 2, 4, 12. Jer. xxxiii. 16. Hofea i. 10. Zech. viii. 3. Jefus is the book of life, in whom all their names are engraven. Exod. xxviii. 9, 10, 11, 12. And his name, and his Father's name, is written upon them. Rev. xiv. 1 . He is given to 44 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION to them, and they to him, in indivifible union. John vi. 56. 1 Cor. vi. 17. Eph. v. 30. 1 John iv. 16. But how the foul is united to the Holy One of God; how Chrift dwells in him, and how he dwells in Chrift ; what this new name is, and how it is written ; no carnal man can know. John iii. 8. 1 Cor. ii. 11. Ver. 18. And unto the angel of the church in Thy- atira, write, T'hefe things faith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like unto fine brafs. THESE excellent characters of the Lord of glory are written and directed to the churches; to im- prefs upon them, and upon us, who he was ; and that the meffage came from the majeftic throne. This character, The Son of God -, fhews that he truly proceeded forth, and came from God. John viii. 42. That he is the very effence of God. 1 John v. 20. That in him fliines the perfect image of the uncreated mind, and bright- nefs of his glory. Heb. i. 3. That he is the Father's ultimate delight. Ifaiah. xlii. 1. Mat. xvii. 5. And that he is not only pofTeffed of all perfection in himfelf; Col. i. 19. but that he is inverted with all power and authority over all beings. Mat. xxviii. 18. John iii. 3$. And his eyes, like a flame of fire ; fhew his omnifcience, to behold every fecret thing. Pfalms xciv. 9, 10. The or the BOOK of the REVELATION. 45 The light of his countenance, fhews the kindnefs of his heart. Gen. vi. 8. And his flaming eyes fhew the terror of his majefty againft his enemies. Dan. vii. 9, 10. While the fhining forth of his glory fills his faints with the higheft delight. 2 Cor. iv. 6. His feet being like polifhed burning brafs; fhew the liability and glory of every ftep he takes, in executing the commilTion which he received from his Father. The two feet, on which he moves, in every expedition are, his faithfulnefs to his Father's will, and his love to thofe whom the Father hath given him. John v. 19. viii. 28. xvii. 19. From thefe two motives, he performed all his works in this world, from his incarnation to his glorification ; and alio in his high office which he now occupies before the throne ; and in the out-goings of his grace, by the gofpel, and by his holy fpiritj and the fame he will do, when he comes the fecond time, to compleat all his works, and to finifh all the counfels of his Father. By thefe two invincible feet, he afcends all mountains. Ifaiahlii. 7. Zech. xiv. 4. And by thefe, he fhall tread down all enemies. 1 Cor. xv. 25. And by the brightnefs of thefe fhining feet, he guides his faints in the way, and they follow him with fafety. John viii. 12. 1 Pet. ii. 21. Ver. 46 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION Ver. 19. I know thy works, and charity, and fir- 'vice, and faith, and thy 'patience, and thy works ; and the laft to be more than the firft. THESE people's works are twice mentioned ; which fhews they were diligent in their obedience to the commandments of God, and improving the blefiings bellowed on them. A living faith will produce good works : and their works bein°- approved of God, is a manifeftation that their faith was of the operation of God. Charity is the love of God Ihed abroad in the heart ; producing love to God, and to all that appear to be verily- born of God, and to all men. 1 John iv. 19. v. 1. 1 Pet. iv. 8. It is not that diabolical phantafm, which the religious world calls charity: that for the fake of the name of being of a catholic fpirit, we are to efteem all as faints who make a fhew in religion; and every fool, hypo- crite, or vain pretender, however empty, carnal, or corrupt he be, in doctrine or practice, mult" be acknowledged a chriftian, left we mould not be charitable. Service, this cannot properly be done to God. It is impoflible that he who is all in himfelf, mould be ferved or miniftered to by his creatures. But whatfoever tends to promote his pleafure in the world, or in his church, this is ferving God; as it ferves the caufe, which is according of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 47 according to his will: as, to fpread his gofpel, comfort his people, &c. &c. Faith, originally, is the gift of God ; but in this place it is com- mended as a virtue in the faints : which muft intend, either their clofe attention to the word of faith, or their conflancy in maintaining the faith taught in that word : or elfe their faithfulnefs, fincerity, and uprightnefs of heart and converfa- tion. Patience is a fubmifrive committing of our- felves to God, when under affliction ; or a con- tented waiting the time when he fhall be pleafed to fhew mercy, or grant our requefts. In thefe things, this church is commended j and in thefe virtues, they were upon the increafe : which proves the truth of Chrift to have been in their hearts. Ver. 20. Notwithftanding, I have a few things againft thee, becaufe thou fuffereft that woman Jezebel, which calleth herfelf a prophetefs, to teach and to Jeduce my Jew ants to commit fornica- tion, and to eat things Jacrificed unto idols. PEOPLE may have many virtues, and yet be guilty of fome vices ; for which thofe virtues will not atone : and however commendable they may be, in other refpecls, they are not to be connived at, in any fin. Notwithftanding the encomium the fpirit gives of this church, they were faulty con- cerning this matter. Some wicked woman was admitted 48 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION admitted among them j who is here called Jezebel. But whether that was her proper name, or whe- ther flie was fo called, in allufion to that Jezebel, who flirred up Ahab to work wickednefs, may not be very material to us. She pretended to be a prophetefs j and by good words, fair fpeeches, and feigned fanctity, had feduced fome of the people to wicked practices. Vile perfons, under a cloke of devotion, have a far greater opportu- nity to enfnare weak minds, than if they appeared open in their defigns : and here the children of God ought to be upon their guard, i John iv. i. But whether it was carnal fornication, and adul- tery, to which this daughter of Belial feduced them ; or whether it was of a fpiritual nature, corrupting the faith, and worfhip •, which is com- monly compared to that abominable fin, and call- ed by the fame name; as alio, whether it was the grofs eating of idol facrifices, or fome more fubtil idolatry, perverting thegofpelj it certainly was fomething very hateful in the fight of God. And the church was highly blameable, for fuf- fering it. Ver. 21. And I gave her ft ace to repent of her for- nication, and Jhe repented not. THE Lord will be clear when he judges : nor will condemn any foul, but for wilfully abufing his mercies. But fin and iniquity contracted in hypocrify, of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 49 hypocrify, is the mod virulent, obdurate, and unrelenting of all wickednefs. Ver 11. Behold, I will cafi her into a led, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. THIS bed muft be fome grievous affliction and mifery, or fome very abject wretched condition, into which the Lord would call this abominable impoftor. For if it was not natural adultery, as it can fcarce be fuppofed to be, becaufe that would have been openly deteftable before all men; it mult have been fome fpiritual whore- dom, altogether as deteftable in the fight of God. Whofoever therefore fell into that diabolical doc- trine and practice, were certain to feel the fevere wrath of God, if they did not repent. Thefe were called fervants, but there is no reafon to think they were fons, who could be drawn into fuch deteftable practices. And the repentance, to which they were admonifhed, could not be that repentance unto life, which Chrift is exalted to give ', it could only be that practical repen- tance, " which is the work of creatures, and muft be in their own power to perform. And this re- pentance is the means of averting temporary judgments : as the people of Ifrael did conftantly experience. E Ver. 5o A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION Ver. 23. And I iv ill kill her children with death ; and all the churches Jhall know that I am he which Jearcheth the reins and hearts : and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. IF thefe were her natural children, they cer- tainly mu ft be fuch as followed her pernicious ways : for God does not punifh the children for the fins of their parents. But they rather feem to be fuch as fhe had bewitched with her forceries; to whom fhe was a mother, and they her children in wickednefs ; and fuch, the Lord will kill with death : and will make all the churches know, that he infpecls all the fecrets of men. And if they be of the true feed, he approves whatever good he finds, and reproves and heals what he finds amifs. But if they be of the fpurious branches, he condemns and cuts them off with their evil works together. And according as their works fhall be found, fo will he give to every one : for at the houfe of God judgment fhall begin. Every one of his chofen are ordained to walk in good works ; and wherein they at prefenr. fall fhort, the Lord will correct and humble them, till he has brought them to walk in the* way of holinefs. John xv. 2. And in the day of judg- ment, their works fhall bear witnefs, that they were wrought in God : and according thereto they fhall receive the decifive fentence. But im- poftors and hypocrites fhall receive the reward of their of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 51 their unrighteoufnefs. Sometimes the wrath of God comes upon them in this life, and fometimes they are referved to the day of judgment to be punifhed. Ver. 24. But unto you 1 fay> and unto the reft in Thyatiray as many as have not this dotlrine, and which have not known the depths ofjatan, as they Jpeakj J will put upon you none other burden. THE doctrine taught by this wicked woman, and her followers, was a ftrong deluflon, a depth of fatan, whereby fhe deceived fuch as were only difciples in name, and not in truth. But the reft, being the fheep of Chrift, and knowing his voice, they followed him -, and followed not the Arrangers, for they knew not their voice, nor gave heed to their dark doctrines, and fatanical delufions. To thefe, the Lord declares, he will put upon them no other burden. He had put a burden upon them, which he knew they would very fenfibly feel : that is, the reproof he had given them, for fuffering fuch among them. And as this would effectually touch their hearts, and be fufficient to awake their attention, he would not afflict them with any other. Ver. 25. But that which ye have already , hold faft till I come. THESE words, that which ye have already^ E 2 could 52 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION could not relate to the burden juft mentioned before, as it was the thing they were admonifhed to hold fad. It muft be that charity, fervice, faith, patience, and good works, for which they were commended. And thefe they are command- ed to perfevere in till the Lord fhould come. Of this the word of God often admonifhes us ; and all the children of God know, that if they do not watch, they are in danger to fuffer lofs. As the church of Ephefus had fuffered lofs in her charity, that is love. And the church in Philadelphia was admonifhed, left any Ihould take her crown. Ver. 16. And he that over comet h, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations. THE believer overcomes all enemies, in the ftrength of Chrift ; and particularly all religious feductions, enthufiafms, fuperftitions, and corrupt doctrines. The works of Chrift are, what he peculiarly taught : that is, to believe on his name, and love one another -, and this they all keep to the end, till Jefus comes. And he gives them power over the nations of the world : for wherever true faith is, it never fails of compleat vidlory. i John v. 4. The world engages them in front, with profanenefs ; and in flank, with religion. In the former, it attacks them with earthly allure- ments, of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 53 ments, vanities, empty mews, &c. and if they cannot be won with thefe, it falls upon them with fneers, flouts, gibes, &c. and many a perfon who could ftand the inticements, will be over- come with mere banter. In the latter, it attacks them with delufive cheats, of falfe doctrine and worfhip, to meliorate the truth of Chrift, gratify the carnal principle, &c. and if they will not be enfnared by thefe, it falls upon them with re- proaches of pride, prefumption, felf-conceit, being cenforious, uncharitable, wanting to be thought more than others, thinking none wife but themfelves, &c. and many who could with- ftand the delufions, will be conquered by the revilings. But if any one is born of God, how- ever he may, for a time, be embarraffed by the adverfary, he never fails, in the end, to be more than a conqueror, through Jefus Chrift his Lord. Ver. 27. (And he jhall rule them with a rod of iron : as the veffels of a potter JJjall they be broken to fhivers) even as I received of my Father. THROUGH the prayers and fupplications of the faints, their enemies are often made to feel the iron rod. 1 Sam. vii. 9, 10. Ifaiah xliii. 14 — 17. And alfo by the truth of Jefus, which the faints maintain, and the folid comforts they enjoy, the hypocrites and falfe proferTors, who feed only on hufks, fometimes have their minds intolerably E 3 tormented. $4 A SCRIPTURAL ILLU STR ATION tormented. Luke iv. 28. vi. 11. Acts vii. 54. Rev. xi. 10. And when Jefus fhall come the fecond time to judge the quick and the dead, and to break all the wicked as a potter's vcffel. Pfalm ii. 9. then the faints fhall be perfectly joined with him, and fhall fit with him on his throne, to judge the world : therefore whatever he does, they mail be joined with him. Luke xxii. 29, 30. Likewife when the Lord fhall come to alien his power over the nations, and by his gofpel to con- fume their idols, their fuperftitions, enthufiafms, and falfe hopes j his minifters and his people fhall be the inftruments to fpread that gofpel, whereby the world fhall be broken in pieces. For what- foever the Son has received of the Father, he gives to his difciples ; the fame inftruttion, John xv. 15. xvii. 8. the fame fpirit, lfaiah lix. 21. the fame love, John xv. 9. the fame glory, John xvii. 22. the fame authority, Pfalm cxlix. 6 — 9. the fame works. John xiv. 12. Ver. 28. And I will give him the Morning Star. THE Son of God is the Morning Star. Num. xxiv. 17. Luke i. 78. Rev. xxii. 16. He is given in his gofpel to all the nations. Luke ii. 32, And by that word of life, through the power of his fpirit, he is given into the hearts of all that be- lieve. John vi. 56. But the bleffing here pro- mifed, is to fucceed the victory ; to them who already of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 55 already enjoy the fon of God : and therefore mull intend the abundance of light, grace and truth, which Chrift, from his own fulnefs, will com- municate to his faints ; as a prelude of the day of perfect glory, and as a preparative for that happy period. As the apoltle Peter, writing to fuch as had obtained precious faith, dill encourages them to expect a more abundant illumination, when the day fhould dawn, and the day ftar arife in their hearts. 2 Pet. i. 19. As the morning ftar appears before the fun, giving notice of his approach ; fo the Lord does caufe abundance of light to fhine in the hearts of his children, to prepare them for that glory, which is in immortality, Prov. iv. 18. Eph. iv. 13. Ver. 29. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Jprit Jaith unto the churches. WHATEVER the fpirit fpeaks, is life and truth. And whofoever partakes of his fpecial in- fluence, will afluredly give fincere attention to his dictations with the higheft delight and humble reverence : but whofoever does not attend to his inftructions with his whole heart and foul, to the utmoft extent of all the powers within him, fhall never behold the face of God in everlafting felicity. For every fuch foul is deftitute of the fpirit, which proceeds from the God of love. E 4 CHAP. 56 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION CHAP. III. Verse i. And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write ', 'Thefe things faith he that hath the feven Jprits of God, and the feven fiars. I know thy works, that thou haft a name that thou liveft, and art dead. THERE can be only one effential fpirit of God, which Jefus pofTeiTes in perfection: John iii. 34. but reprefented as feven, to exprefs the perfection of the manifold blefiings of the Jpirit. They are faid to be fent forth into all the earth, to fignify the divers goings forth of the Jpirit of God, to enlighten the world in different meafures, in the (even different ages : to wit, the light that appeared from the beginning. Gen. iii. 15. The grace revealed to Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob. Gen. xxviii. 13, 14. The truth de- clared by Mofes. Deut. xviii. 18. The life prophefied of by David. Pfalm xvi. 11. The peace publifhed by the prophets. Ifaiah Iii. 7. The holinefs that mined in the Chrift of God. Luke i. 35. And the glory of the kingdom, which was opened when the Lord afcended to his Father's throne. John vii. 38, 39. Eph. iv. 10. They of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 57 They are alfo called the feven fpirits which are before his throne ; to reprefent the divers com- munications of the fpirit into the fouls of the faints, whereby they approach, and in which they ftand before the throne of God. As, the fpirit of light, the fpirit of grace, the fpirit of truth, the fpirit of life, the fpirit of peace, the fpirit of holinefs, and the fpirit of glory, dwelling in all God's elect. For they truly are feven : yet they can no otherwife be feven, but in the mani- feftations of light to the world, by the word of truth ; and the communications of life to his chofen, by his divine power. The feven ftars reprefent all that are fent to preach the gofpel ; prophets, apollles, and mi- nifters, to the end of the world. Chrift holds them in his right hand, to fill them with light, and to direct their heavenly courfes : in which all their powers are animated to two points ; To dif- pel darknefs and" diffufe light. In the former, they endeavour to convince finners, of the impof- fibility of Handing before God, in their fins ; the impofTibility of removing fin, by any virtues or works of their owns the impofTibility of coming to the knowledge of falvation, by any tradition, or learning of men; and the impofTibility of re- ceiving falvation, in any enthufiaftical or imagi- nary way. In the latter, they endeavour to fet forth the truth, confiftency, excellency, and per- fection 5 8 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION fection of the infallible word of the living God, as it is contained in the facred oracles ; to fet forth the infinite fulnefs, riches, and glory of him who is Alpha and Omega of that word j to open the freenefs and perfection of falvation held forth in Jefus to every one that believes in him ; and to fhew the abundance of grace to be attained or arrived at by every one that follows the Lamb. The fpirit teftifies to this church as he does to them all j I know thy works. He gives no com- mendation at all, but pronounces them to be dead : notwithftanding they had a name, that they lived. It feems as if the majority of the members were only formal profefTors, dead Tin- ners. And thefe having the fway, they overbare and fuppreffed the few that had life j fo that no- thing could be carried on in the church with true fpirit, life and zeal : but the whole appeared as dead. For all the church was denominated after the majority, as the reft could have no voice, nor influence. Ver. 1. Be watchful, and Jirengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die : for I have not found thy works f erf eel before God. THOSE here fpoken to, muft be truly alive in Chrift: otherwife, there could not be any thing ready to die, nor any thing that could be ftrengthened : ,©f the BOOK of the REVELATION. $9 iirengthened : nor would there have been any complaint of imperfection in their works; for then their works had all been dead ; and no good at all contained in them. But here we fee the danger of being mixed with unbelievers, and carnal profefibrs. For the very children of God, may be infected by them. 1 Cor. v. 6. By fuch converfation, thofe that arqJeeking the Lord in truth, may be kept low, and dull, and held back from the lively purfuit of lpiritual things. Efpe- cially fuch as are but young and weak, and have not their fenfes duly exercifed, to difcern good and evil. Thefe being warm in love to God, but not equally grounded in understanding, are glad of any thing that makes an appearance of following the Lord, or profefling his name. And they eafily incline to the world's delulive charity ; to think every one a fincere christian, that makes a fhew; and forget to be watchful againft their deceptions. And by this means they become infenfibly drawn to fink along with thefe hypo- crites into a languid condition ; and that which remains alive, feems ready to die : till the Lord is pleafed to fend fome alarm to awake them. Eph. v. 14. Ver. 3. Remember therefore how thou haft received and heard, and hold faftt and repent. If there- fore thou /halt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief 60 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION thief> and thou fhalt not know what hour I will come upon the. HOWSOEVER thefe perfons had declined, through the carnal converfation of the formal profeflbrs with whom they flood in connexion, it is plain, they had heard and received the truth, which they are commanded to hold faft. Which makes it appear undeniable that they had it; though they were in danger to let it flip. There- fore the Lord commands them to repent of the defects, inattentivenefs, and indolence, into which they had fallen through neglect and want of vigilance. And he admonifhes them for the future, that if they did not awake from their flumber, and watch againft the like, he would afluredly come in fuch a way as fhould furprife them indeed : and they might expect fome more ievere chaftifement. Ver. 4. 'Thou haft a few names even in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments ; and they JJjall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. THESE appear to have been a third rank, or order of perfons -, neither of the carnal profeflbrs, who were dead ; nor of the weak children, who had been tainted with their feducing converfation, till they were ready to die : but fuch as were alive unto of the BOOK of the. REVELATION. 61 unto God, and truly lively ftones. But being only a few, they were not able to withftand the flood of carnality, or to roufe from their dead fleep the larger body of unfan&ified members. Howbeit, the Lord comforts and acknowledges them, as being worthy (through his worthinefs) to walk in communion with him, and in his pure garments of righteoufnefs and true holinefsj and to be preferred from the blemifhes of the- world. Ver. 5. He that cvercometh, the fame Jhall be clothed in white raiment , and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confefs his name before my Father, and before his angels, WHOSOEVER is born of God overcometh the world : and is victorious over that fpirit of dead, carnal infenfibility that prevails in its profeflbrs : as alfo over the old ferpent, the wicked one 5 and over the bafe principles, in- ward corruptions, and plague of his own heart. Thefe fhall be clothed in royal garments, fit for the children of a king. Which mail cover their nakednefs, yield them eafe and comfort, and be for ornaments of beauty. As the kingdom of God is fpiritual, the raiment is fpiritual in which the foul, the mind, and the intellectual powers are clothed. Through faith in the blood of Jefus, the foul finds itfelf clothed in his juftifying righ- teoufnefs : 62 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION teoufnefs : Ifaiah lxi. 10. and this produces a garment of pure peace of mind. Ifaiah xxxii. 17. And the heart that enjoys the peace of God, is certain to be clothed in the love of God ; 1 John iv. 19. and where the love of God is, the mind will be clothed in purity, and humility. 1 John iii. 3. 1 Pet. v. 5. And where there is purity of heart, it will produce a garment of pure conver- fation. Mat. xxiii. 26. Thefe and fuch like gar- ments are to fupply necefiity -, to cover the nakednefs, and give peace to the confcience. But there are alfo garments for ornament, beauty, and glory, which all the king's children wear. He has promifed to every one of them the anointing of the Holy Ghoft. John vii. 38, 39. And hereby they are ornamented with garments of gladnefs and perfume, fuch as adorn the king himfelf. Pfalm xlv. 7, 8. With garments of ho- linefs j that is, communion with, devotednefs unto, and delight in God. John xiv. 21, 23. Through this fpirit, they are girded with fulnefs of confolation. John xv. 11. Yea the foul is in- wardly clothed with the glory of God. 2 Cor. iv. 6. And after the refurrection, they fhall openly put on the robes of everlafting glory. Phil. iii. 21. And their names fhall ftand indelible in the book of life, to the end of all ages. But what is the book of life ? It is Jefus, the Son of the Father : in him alone their names are found. of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 63 found. Ifaiah xlix. 16. But feeing he is the fame for ever j and his perfection can neither admit of addition or diminution, how can any name be blotted out of him, who is the life of divine truth ? There be three ways in which, we may obferve names may be written in the book of life. The firft is, in the univerfal publication of the gofpel of the Son of God j which being preached to every creature under heaven, the name of every living man upon earth is included in the proclamation, and can only be blotted out by his own contempt and difregard. Acts xiii. 46. The fecond is, by a vifible profefllon ; whereby the perfon obtains a place in the vifible church, and a name of being in Chrift : which, by falling from the truth, or finning wilfully, is certain to be blotted out. Heb. vi. 4, 5, 6. x. 26, 27, 29. The third is, the writing of fpecial union, in the counfel of the Father, from everlafting; Eph. i. 4. in the covenant of the Son, when he was given to them, and they to him, in his incarnations Ifaiah xlii. 6. and in the vital union of the fpirit, when effectually called. 1 Cor. vi. 17. From this union, and the everlafting enjoyment thereof, nothing fhall ever be able to feparate, nor blot out the name. But he will confefs them, in his inter- ceffion, at the right hand of the Father ; in con- fequence whereof, they enjoy the fpirit of adop- tion, have free accefs to the throne of grace, and cry, 64 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION cry, Abba, Father. And on his throne of glory, in the great and glorious day, he will confefs them before all the holy angels. Ver. 6. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the fpirit Jaith unto the churches. NO human ear can be excufed from giving all the attention in his power to the word of God : but the fpiritual ear only, receives the love of the truth, and lives thereby. Ifaiah lv. 3. And every one that confeffes Chrift, is tinder a peculiar ob- ligation, to attend to what is faid to thefe churches, as himfelf is one of them ; and is fpoken to in fome or other of thefe epiftles : for every profefTor may fee his own image drawn j and hear what is faid to himfelf, in fome of them. Let every one therefore hear with atten- tion, and not put it off, as belonging to other people, for in fome part or other, the words are afluredly addreffed to himfelf. Ver. 7. And to the angel of the church in Philadel- phia write, 'Thefe things faith he that is holy ; he that is true ; he that hath the key of David ; he that openeth, and no man fhutteth j and Jhutteth, and no man openeth. TO this church in Philadelphia, no reproof is given, but commendations and promifes; with an admonition to hold faft that they had. And the of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 65 the chara&er which he here takes to himfelf is to remind them who he was from whom they had received the bleflings ; as alfo to remind them who he was that had made and would fulfil all the promifes, and perfect whatfoever was lacking in their faith. He is holy in himfelf, the Holy One of God, holy in all the works which he per- forms for his chofen, holy in all the words of his grace which he fpeaks to his church, and holy in all the communications of his fpirit, whereby he makes his children holy. He is true in his own effence, the true God and eternal life ; true to hfs Father's commiffion; true in his love to his people ; and true to all his promifes. He hath the key of David : that is, full defpotic power, as king in his church, to govern, defend, and blefs ; to fave to the uttermoft from all evil; and for their fakes to govern all the creation of God, and to tread under his feet all the powers of death and hell. He openeth his grace in the word of truth ; he openeth the riches of his Father's love; he opens the hearts of his children, to receive the bleflings of his gofpel ; and to them he opens the glories of his everlafting kingdom : thefe no man can fhut. He fhutteth out, from his children, all wrath, curfe, condemnation, death and deftrudtion ; he fhutteth down the power of in-dwelling fin, that it fhall not reign ; the allure- ments of the world, that they fhall not overcome; F and 66 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION and the wiles of fatan, that they mall not feduce : thefe no power in earth or hell can open. Ver. 8. I know thy works : behold, I have Jet be- fore thee an open door, and no man can /hut it : for thou haft a little ftrength, and haft kept my word, and haft not denied my name. HE that fearches the hearts, tries the reins, and fcrutinizes every out-going of the lips, never fails to remind us, that his all-obferving eye is upon all our works. The defire of all the faints is to prefs forward towards the mark of perfection; to be free from all fin ; to bear the very image of Chrift; to bring all glory to the name of their God ; and to enjoy the full glory of his kingdom. All the powers of earth and hell are combined together to flop their way, or impede their pro- grefs : but the Lord himfelf is the door fet open ; John x. 9. and for the encouragement of his children, he bids them behold him ; afluring them that none Ihall fliut them out, or prevent their arrival at the defired end. And though it be not attained in one day, they mall never tire, faint, or be flopped till it be accomplifhed. Ifaiah xl. 31. This Church had a little ftrength, and it was of the right kind, though it was not arrived at perfection, yet it was proved to be genuine faith; in that they kept his word through all oppofition, and denied not his name, not- with' of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 67 withftanding all the temptations laid to enfnare them. Therefore, feeing it was as a grain of muf- tard feed, of the right kind, nothing fliould pre- vent its growing to perfection. Ver. 9. Behold I will make them of the fynagogue of fatan, (which Jay they are Jews, and are not, but do lie) behold, I will make them to come and worjhip before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. WHEREVER Chrift has a church, fatan will have a fynagogue : but this fynagogue is not what fome perfons foolifhly call fo, as a brothel houfe, a den of thieves, an affembly of riotous wicked perfons, &c. thefe are conventicles of the fons of Belial, pracYifing unnatural abominations, and the vengeance of God is upon them. But a fynagogue of fatan is of a different nature, and is always eftablifhed in religion ; with all the com- plicated devices of men and devils, to make counterfeits refemble the true gofpel, and lies to pafs for the truth of Chrift. They call themfelves Jews, that is, (in New Teftament language) believers, devoted to the glory of God, as his peculiar people, but they lie ; being only de- ceivers, deceived. This fort of people are al- ways the mod inveterate haters of the truth, as it is in Jefus, becaufe they are impoftors, en- deavouring to pafs their counterfeits for the truth F 2 of 68 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION of Chrift; and the more the real truth fiiines in its purity, the more it difcovers the bafenefs of the cheat ; the deceit and falfhood of their doc- trines. Therefore (in their way) they are the moft violent perfecutors of thofe that keep the faith of Chrift. And the children of God look upon them as the moft execrable of all the off- fpring of hell, becaufe, coming nearer to the truth in appearance, it makes their delufions the ftronger and more dangerous. Mat. vii. 15. Thefe had doubtlefs fhewn their virulence againft thofe that kept the word of the Lord, after ufing all their arts to feduce them, and finding they could not prevail upon them to deny his name. And the Lord allures his faints, that he will make this band of the fons of hell, to come and bow before his people, and confefs the dif- ference between their deceptions, and the truth of the grace of God in his chofen. Ver. 10. Becaufe thou haft kept the word of my patience, I alfo will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which fball come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. PATIENCE is a compofed waiting the good pleafure of God; with humble fubmiflion to whatever is his will, or that he mall be pleafed to exercife us with : and a firm reliance on his faithful promifes, that he will deliver in due feafon : of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 69 leafon : this is what the Lord has taught us in his word. Pfalm xxiii. 4. xl. 1. Luke xxi. 17, 18, 19. And this is the greatefl prefervative againft: temptation. Gal. vi. 9. James i. 4. Ali the world, at lead all profeflbrs of Chrift, in the world ; fhall pafs a trying hour of temptation : which fhall prove every man what he is, and what his work is. And the children of light fhall not be exempted from it : but, being tried gold, in the hand of the great refiner -, they fhall fuflain no damage. Ver. 11. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fafi which thou hafiy that no man take thy crown. THE patience of the faints muft be tried ; and their hearts are fortified againft the trial, by being allured, that they fhall not always be left in a fuffering Mate ; but the Lord will opportunely come unto them. Heb. x. 3$, 36, 37. The children of light are admonifhed to hold fall the word of life, and not to give away the little ftrength they have, that they be not overcome. For if they give way, make any alliance, or come to any compliance, either with the world's allure- ments, or religious flatteries ; they are certain to lofe their ftrength, as Sampfon did, and be rob- bed of their glory. Not the crown of eternal life, which is laid up with Chrift, in God, but the peace, delight, ftrong confolation, and glory with which the foul is crowned, through faith in F 3 the yo A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION the fon of God ; and the true praife with which their name is crowned, through walking in the fpirit. Ver. 12. Him that over come th will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he JJoall go no more out : and I will write upon him the name sfmy God y and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerujalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God : and I will write upon him my new name. HE that overcometh, is the foul that believeth in Jefus. And he does not only overcome the delufions of falfe profeflbrs, and their violent oppofitions to the truth ; but even every thing that exalteth itfelf againft the light of the know- ledge of Chrift ; whether from men, devils, or his own heart. Such, the Lord will make pillars in his temple : the habitation where the God of glory dwells. This houfe, or temple, is, pri- marily, the only begotten Son of God : John ii. 19, 20. and fecondarily, the church, being one body with Chrift, is the temple of God. Eph. i. 21, 23. Every individual member is a temple, wherein the ipirit of God dwells: 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20. yet the whole church (Chrift the head, and all his faints members) makes only one body, or one houfe : and every believer is made a living pillar in this temple j and fhall ftand for ever. And of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 7 1 And upon thefe pillars, he writes all the glory of his kingdom : that is upon the table of their hearts. 2 Cor. iii. 3. On thefe he writes the name of his God, fo as to make them know him, and adore him with the deeped reverence, in all his divine perfections ; and fo as to know him, and truft in him with the warmeft love, and higheft delight, as their God and Father. The city of God is the fame with his houfe or temple; and is fo written in the hearts of his faints, in the union of the fpirit, that they can never ceafe to love the church as their Father's houfe, and re- member it as their dwelling place. Eph. ii. 19. New Jerufalem, bleffed with all the light, grace, truth, riches, life, and glory of the New Tefta- ment, is all of a heavenly nature, proceeding from God, the fource of all bleffednefs. The new name of the Son of God contains all the fulnefs, excellency, and perfection revealed con- cerning him, in the opening of the everlafling gofpel. Thefe things are fo powerfully revealed, fo joyfully received, and fo effectually infcribed in the intellectual powers of the mind, as fully to prove their indivifible union with Emanuel. In this verfe, the Lord of glory refolves all into his God; therefore every thing in his kingdom muft be abfolutely perfect, as being alone of the Father. And it conveys fuch ftrong ideas of love, grace, and faithfulnefs to his elect, as fhews the bleffings to be immutable and everlafling. F 4 Ver. 13. 7 a A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION Ver. 13. He that hath an eary let him hear what the fpirit faith unto the churches. THE things written to the churches are the dictates of the Holy Spirit; they are directed to profeflbrs in general, but to the faints in a more peculiar light ; and for inftruction to all. So that by a ferious attention, every ear may receive benefit. Ver. 14. And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, the accomplifher 74 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION accompli flier of all the promifes of God. 2 Cor. i. 20. Whatever grace he begins, he compleats. Phil. i. 6. Whom he faves, can never be loft. John x. 28, 29. Where he gives his fpirit, he never takes it away. John xiv. 16. Haggai ii. 5. He will compleat his work in the refurrec~tion j Phil. iii. 21. and eftablifh it in eternal glory. John xvii. 24. Ver. 15. I know thy works, that thou art neither- cold nor hot : I would thou were cold or hot. THE Lord fays to this church as to the reft, that he knows their works, but mentions not the leaft thing that is commendable : they were in the moil loathfome condition, neither cold nor hot. Not perfectly unconcerned, as having no regard to God at all, nor yet enjoying his love in their hearts, as being alive from the dead ; but making a formal, or empty profeffion of Chrift, without life, truth, power, delight, or zeal for God. In a delufive fiumber, or a mind ftagna- ted with infenfibility, funk in the bog of religi- ous deception. This is more deteftable in the fight of God than total difregard, or open pro- fanenefs. Ver. 16. So then j becauje thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I willfpue thee out of my mouth. HERE of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 75 HERE the Lord fully fhews, that religion, for the fake of being religious, is the moll abo- minable thing that ever afcended out of the bottomlefs pit ; that fuch formalizes and hypo- crites, who make themfelves fools before God, and thereby mew that they think him a fool, are the abhorred of his very foul ; and that no fuch {hall ftand in his prefence. Ifaiah i. n — 14. Ver. 17. Becaufe thou Jay eft I am rich, and in- creased -with goods y and have need of nothings and knoweft not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. AS this pofition of foul is the mod hateful to God, it is the moil pernicious to men, as they are in the very deeps of hell, and know it not ; yet it does not feem as if thefe people made an indolent appearance refpecling religious perfor- mances, for in that they feem to think they flourifhed; but were in a total flupefaclion refpecl- ing the life of Jefus. By this defcription one would be ready to think them a fet of hypocrites, meer formalills, aliens from God, having no fpark of life, or gleam of hope remaining, but fit to be for ever banifhed, as reprobate filver which the Lord hath rejected. But in the fol- lowing vcrfes the Lord mews a different counte- nance, ftill exprelling love, which has made it doubtful with fome what conceptions to form of this 76 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION this church of Laodicea ; but the moft natural idea is this, that the major part of the church were no other than empty carnal profefibrs, having a form without life ; and yet that there were amongft thefe, as well as in Sardis, a few names which were written in the book of life ; but that thefe had not flood fo firm as thofe in Sardis, but had been tainted with the dry dead converfation of the reft -, and being, as it were, overpowered with the weight of fo many dead carcafes, had infenfibly funk down among them into a ftagnation, till the whole church appeared one dead body. And this would naturally be the cafe, if they were bewitched with religious charity, even though they might be grieved to fee the carnality of their profeffing brethren ; yet, if they thought they ought to judge of them as the fheep of Chrift, and walk with them as fuch, they might eafily contract fome of their difpofitions, and be afTimulated gradually into fomething of the fame refemblance. Therefore the Lord writes to them as a body, as being all in the fame unlovely pofition : in like manner he pronounced judgments upon Jerufalem, and yet he found a few whom he was pleafed to dif- tinguifh from the reft. Ezek. ix. 4, 5, 6. So to the few which he found in this place, he writes the things that follow, to awake and call them out from among the dead. Eph. v. 14. 2 Cor. vi. 17. Ver. of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 77 Ver. 18. I counfel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou may eft be rich; and white rai- menty that thou may eft be c/oathed, and that the Jhame of thy nakednefs do not appear j and anoint thine eyes with eye-falve, that thou may eft fee. IT is an abfolute impoffibility that any thing fhould be bought of God by way of barter, ex- change, or value paid. Chrift himfelf never pur- chafed a bleffing from his Father: he purchafed his church with his own blood from under the curie; and thereby opened a way for his Father's grace freely to flow to their fouls j but no bleffing ever proceeded from God in any way, but as a free do- nation. The buying therefore, can intend no other than afking, feeking, waiting, and humbly pre- fenting ourfelves before the Lord, to accept and receive the bleffings. The tried gold is the fame as that of which wifdom fpeaks, buy the truth, that is, the truth as it is in Jefus. Tried in the fire, that is, the word of God; for there is no other fire that can difcover what is, and what is not the very truth of God : for want of this trial, this church had been as many others are, deceived with counterfeits, taking up traditions, imagina- tions, and empty fhew, inftead of truth and fub- ftance, till they fancied themfelves rich in the midft: of poverty. But every perfon fo impofed on, it is entirely their own fault, for the word of God is fo perfectly clear, that if men did but at- tend 7 8 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION tend thereto with all their hearts and fouls, with meeknefs, reverence, and godly .fear, all the devils in hell, and all the falfe apoftles upon earth, could not feduce them from the truth of Chriil. The white raiment, is the perfect righte- oufnefs of Chriftj in the fame manner bought -, and by faith received : in which the foul beino- cloathed, his nakednefs is covered; and he (lands before God without fhame. And as to his inner garment, it is light, love, joy, and peace, in which the mind is cloathed with eafe and pleafure. And his outward garment is fuch a converfation as becomes the gofpel of Chrift; his former vain converfation being put off: it now appears that he is made a new creature ; and that the glory of God is his ultimate object : thus being cloath- ed, he is not found naked, nor doth his fhame appear, 2 Pet. i. 8. Rom. i. 16. The eye-falve is the pure light of the word of life ; the effectual anointing is by the Holy Ghoft, i John ii. 20, 27, but the practical anointing to which we are ad- monifhed, is a clofe attention to the Lord in his gofpel. John viii. 12. The eye intends the un- derstanding, Eph. i. 18, which being enlightened by the word of truth, the foul fhall fee the light, and walk no more in darknefs. Prov. ii. 1 — 9. Ifaiah xlii. 16. Jer. xxix. 13. Hof. vi. 3. Ver. 19. As many as I love I rebuke and ch aft en > be "zealous therefore and recent. HENCE of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 79 HENCE it is plain, Chrift had fom real lambs in this flock, notwithftanding the general defec- tion : otherwife, he would not have acknowledged them as a candleftick : and it is thefe whom he admonifhes to repentance. It is a bleffed thing to be chaftened of the Lord. Pfalm xciv. 12. Prov. iii. 12. 1 Cor. xi. 32. This is a proof of his love j that he will not fuffer them to be held under the power of evil ; and if one means will not reclaim them, he will ufe another : for if they backflide into fin, he will never leave them, till he has brought them to repent. Pfalm lxxxix. 3° — 33' But his rebukes, to thofe he loves, are with all tendemefs And he never brings them to himfelf, in a cool indifferent way; but with lively zeal, and fervour. Ver. 20. Behold, I ft and at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will /up with him, and he with me. THE Lord calls with a note of attention; Behold: and it appears to be to all; as he ufes fuch a general phrafe, If any man. It feems to include, not only thofe who had been already called to life ; and through the evil influence of carnal profeffors had fallen into declenfion, but even fuch as hitherto had only pofleiTed the name ; if now, his voice mould have the defired effect, 80 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION effect, fo as that they did truly attend, and open to his call, the blefiing fhould furely come. His fpeech is directed to the door of their hearts, and by thefe rebukes and admonitions he loudly knocks : if any man fo hear, that his heart is opened in faith, love, and humility, to receive his word, Jefus will enter in the riches of his grace, the light of his countenance, and the comforts of his Holy Spirit; and will fympathize with him in his forrows, in his repentance, and in his wants, and will give him to fup with the lamb, of the virtues of his redeeming blood, his righteoufnefs and peace, and the abundant blef- fings of his kingdom. Ver. 21. To him that over comet h will I grant to fit with me in my throne, even as I alfo over- came, and am Jet down with my Father in his throne. IN this benediclive glorious promife, there plainly appears a perfect union, between Chrift and his chofen. And indeed, they are perfectly one, in every thing. The union is confpicuous, in all the counfels and purpofes of the Father. Eph. iii. ii. In his everlafting love, in his elec- tion, in his predeftination, in his gift of grace, and in his promife of eternal life : which all flood firm in his beloved fons and in which all his chil- dren flood immutably, before the world began. Alfo of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 8 1 Alfo in the perfon of Chrift, the union is con- fummate : in his incarnation, in his walking with God, in his death, in his refurredlion, and in his afcenfion into glory ; in all thefe, the fcripture makes it plain, that Chrift and his elect are per- fectly one. And likewife in the fpirit, there is a perfection of union; he gives them the words which his Father gave to him, and the fpirit which he received from his Father, he pours upon them; they are members of his body, joined together in one fpirit; they eat his flefh, and drink his blood ; they dwell in him and he in them; he is their life, and becaufe he lives, they live alfo. Therefore, the works that he does, they do the fame. John xiv. 1 2. The af- flictions that he fufFered, they fuflfer the fame. Mat. xx. 23. And the blefTings he enjoys, they fhall enjoy -the fame. John xiv. 3. Chrift is now entered into his glory, and fet in the throne of his father ; and all his faints fhall fit with him, in the throne of their Lord. Luke xxii. 29, 30. But it is only to them that follow him, and are victori- ous, as he their captain was, to whom the Lord will grant this privilege. Himfelf did not af- cend the throne until he had conquered all ene- mies, neither fhall any of his difciples till they have done the fame. He overcame fin, fo do every one of them. Gal. v. 24. He overcame the world, fo do they all. Rom. viii. 37. He G overcame 8 1 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION overcame fatan, fo do every one of his faints. Rev. xii. 1 1. Ver. 22. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Jpirit faith unto the churches. HERE is the criterion of the bleflfed and the curfed man. Every one that heareth the words of Chrift, and doth them, is a wife man, and fhall abide for ever. But he that heareth them not, and doth them not, is a fool, and fhall afiuredly perifh. He that rejecleth, is an enemy. He that oppofeth, is a rebel. But he that pretends to be of the church of Chrift, and difregards his words, is a traitor j and unavoidably feals his own damnation. Here begins the Second Vijion. THE firft vifion was an appearance of the Son of God in his glory and majefty, and con- tained the fubftance of the whole. But as a particular vifion of the fon of man among the candleflicks of gold, it was a reprefentation of his omnifcience, his fincere love, his jealous and watchful eye, his deteftation of evil, his approba- tion of good, his fuflaining power, his abundant bleflings, and his righteous judgment over all the of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 83 the churches upon earth. The fix following vifions are all prophetic, and relate to things that were to come. But as fome things to come may have a neceflary connexion with, or depen- dence on things already paft ; they cannot be orderly introduced, without a recital of fome paft events, to bring them into a proper chain. As the New Teftament could have no meaning, if the Old Teftament were wholly unknown ; fo the fecond and third vifions begin with repeating things which had commenced before the writing of this book, to make the future tranfactions ap- pear intelligible. CHAP. IV. Verse i. After this I looked, and behold, a door was opened in heaven : and the fir ft voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me, which f aid, come up hither, and I will Jhew thee things which muft be hereafter. IN thefe vifions, when John fpeaks of himfelf what he heard and faw, and what he did ; he perfonates the church of Chrift ; and reprefents by himfelf, what the church fhould be, and do, and fee, and hear, in fuch and fuch times, when his predictions fhould come to pafs. For as the revelator was, fo is the church ; always alert in G 2 attending 84 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION attending to what the Lord is pleafed to reveal. It may be faid, that oftentimes this was not the cafe with the Old Teftament church. It is true, neither was it ever the cafe with the New Tefta- ment church, if we fpeak of it as a national church, as the Jewifh was ; but when we fpeak of the church of Chrift in the language of the New Teftament, we do not mean popifh, provin- cial, or parochial churches ; or the body of worldly profeflbrs ; but the church of the firft born, which are written in heaven. And thefe are held forth by John, as their reprefentative, after one vifion was paft, ftill waiting for another : and fo they always have been, ftill are, and will continue, looking for the accomplifhment of thefe things, till all be fulfilled. He beholds a door opened in heaven. The heaven is (originally) the bofom of the Father's love and everlafting counfel. Eph. iii. 9. The door is Chrift. John i. 18. x. 7, 9. And through this door the glory of the Father mines in the middle region, the gofpel of his grace, and enlightens the lower manfion, his church. The true church firft heard the voice of God in the Old Teftament, loud as a trumpet, call- ing her to afcend by faith, to behold the glory that was approaching in Chrift. Ifaiah xlii. 1. So the faints under the New Teftament are called to look to the exalted interceflbr, waiting for the of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 85 the promife of the Holy Ghoft to fliew them farther and greater glories. Johnxvi. 13. That they may behold the riches of the grace, and the excellency of the fpiritual bleffings which now fhine in the new revealed light of the gofpel of Emanuel, as well as to understand the prophefies of things yet to come. Ver. 1. And immediately I was in the fpirit ; and beholdy a throne was Jet in heaven, and one fat on the throne. AT the coming of our Lord in the flefh, and at the exaltation of the Son of God into his glory, the church was richly blefTed with the light and power of the fpirit. John vii. 38, 39. And they beheld God's Holy One. John i. 14, who is the true throne of the Father, and was then fet in heaven j for it is in Emanuel alone that all the grace and glory of the Father mines forth. He is fet as mediator between God and manj as the wifdom of God in the glorious gofpel; and as the power of God in the hearts of his faints, as well as the brightnefs of glory at the right hand of the Father: and wherever Jefus is, and in whatever capacity, he is the throne where God the Father reigns j he perpetually fits in his majefty upon the Son, who is the Father's throne -of grace. And through the greateft part of this G 3. book, 86 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION book, the Father is called, He that fat on the throne. Ver. 3. And he that fat was to look upon like a jafper and a Jar dine ft one : and there was a rain- bow round about the throne, in fight like unto an emerald. WHATEVER natural ifts fay of the jafper, and the different fpecies of it, it is certain by this ftone, the Holy Ghoft intended the moft glori- ous, the moft precious, and moft tranfparent of all gems, Rev. xxi. 11, to fignify the holinefs, goodnefs, and omnifcience of God. And the fardine ftone, of the appearance of fire ; to mew that God is a perfect burning flame, Exod. xix. 1 8, to burn up all his enemies, to confume all the drofs in his chofen, and to kindle a vital flame of love and holinefs by his fpirit in the hearts of his faints. Luke iii. 16. The rainbow is a token of the covenant, to fhew that Jefus, the true covenant, Ifaiah xlii. 6. encircles the throne of God. God never looks upon his people in any other light, or goes forth towards them in any other way, but in his covenant love and faithful- nefs : nor does he fhew himfelf to them, or they draw near to him, in any other medium. John xiv. 6. And here God and his people behold each other in all the beauties of the rainbow, and in the falutary ever-green of the delightful emerald. For of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 87 For the fiithfulnefs of God in Chrift can never change, nor can any thing feparate his children from his love. The prophet Ifaiah had a vifion of this throne. Ifaiah vi. 1. There he faw the Lord, fitting in the excellency of his grace ; lifted up in the man of his right hand, who is the place of our fanctuary. Jer. xvii. 12. No glory ever fhined from the Fa- ther, but in the Son ; 2 Cor. iv. 6. nor did ever any glory iliine in God's Holy One, but what was the glory of the Father manifeft in him. Heb. i. 3. And his train, his fkirts, his glory filled the temple. The holieft of all, Emanuel j in whom dwells all the fulnefs of the Godhead bodily : and the holy place, the church, which Chrift fills with all the fulnefs of God. There are the Son of God, and the fpirit of holinefs, called feraphs, ftanding upon the throne : but here they are reprefented as a lamb, and lamps of fire, in and before the throne. For he in whom all fulnefs dwells, being all in all, fills every glorious character and relation without confufion. He is mediator, prophet, king, high prieft, altar, facrifice, incenfe, all in one. Ver. 4. And round about the throne were four and twenty feats \ and upon the feats I faw four and twenty elders fitting, clothed in white raiment j and they had on their heads crowns of gold. G 4 THE 88 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION THE Lord God dwelt in his church under the Old Teftament, which is now become one with the New. Eph. ii. 15, 16. The orders of the Old Teftament worfhip were fixed by four and twentys; and the books of the facred writings (notwithftand- ing the fub-divifions which men have made) are compleatly twenty-four. Thefe writings are the feats, on which the faith of the ancient faints did reft j and on which thofe elders were eftablifhed in the prefence of God. And though they could not behold the glory of the Lord in that perfect light as the faints now do, Luke x. 23, 24. they verily were clothed with the righteoufnefs of the Son of God. Pfalm lxxi. 16. They were an holy people, and were crowned as kings. Exod. xix. 6. Deut. vii. 6. They were looking forward, and waiting for the bleflings which we now enjoy j Heb. xi. 13, 39, 40. while we look back to be- hold the firm foundation on which their faith was, and on which our faith now is built. Eph. ii. 20. 2 Pet. i. 19. Ver. 5. And out of the throne ■proceeded lightnings, and thunderingSy and voices ; and there were /even lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the Jcven fpirits of God. WHEN God appeared to his people on Mount Sinai, there were lightnings, to fhew his majefty ; thunderings, to exprefs his terror j and voices, to direct of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 89 direct the people how to live, fo as to avoid that deftruction. Exod. xix. 16, 19. But when he ap- peared in his beloved Son, there were more glo- rious lightnings, to declare his love; Luke ii. 13, 14. more terrible thunderings, againft thofe that mould defpife his grace; Mark vi. 11. and more falutary voices, to all that receive his word. John v. 24. The fpirit of God*is repreiented as feven diftinct glories, to fhew the perfection of his open manifeftations, powerful operations, and vital communications. Lamps of fire, to fhew the completion of light ; which having gone forth in its divers gradations, under the former difpen- fations, is now arrived to its full glory in the gofpel of the kingdom. And alio to reprefent the living ardour, which by that gofpel, through the power of the fpirit, is kindled in the hearts of all that believe. Burning before the throne, to fignify that the fulnefs of the fpirit proceeds from the God of life and love ; John xv. 26. and that all that receive this fpirit, do approach to God in the pure light and vital influence thereof. John iv. 24. Ver. 6. And before the throne there was ajca of glafs like unto chryjial : and in the midfi of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beafis full of eyes before and behind. THE throne is the life, centre, glory, fulnefs, and 9o A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION and origin of all : and the pure river of water of life, which proceedeth out of the throne of God, and of the Lamb, Rev. xxii. i. formeth this ex- panded fea before the throne. If we confider the intention of thefe reprefentations, to fhew the refidence of God, and the bleffings of his grace, in the mid ft of the New Teftament church ; or Chrift in the midft of the feven golden candle- fticks, or Gniverfal body of faints ; that this is called a fea, and that it is before the throne, with the clearnefs and brightnefs of glafs and chryftal ; it is plain that nothing elfe can be intended but the depth, largenefs, purity, richnefs, clearnefs, glory, and tranfparency of the everlafting gofpel. In which the great deeps of the glory and blef- fednefs of God flow down to us -, and in which mirror of perfect brightnefs, we behold the ma- jefty and excellency of the one God -, the three that bear record in heaven ; that is, in the heaven- ly things, the heavenly teftimony, and in the hearts of the faints, who are written in heaven. And four beads, or four living creatures round about the throne, an emblem of the New Tefta- ment church j being four, according to the four diftindl parts of the New Teftament, which is the foundation of their faith, and into which image they are formed. For every New Teftament be- liever receives the fpirit of the New Teftament into his foul, whereby he is fo impregnated, that it aftimulates him into the fame likenefs : for as the of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 91 the word of God is truth, every one that receives it is faid to be of the truth. They were round about the throne, where the elders (the Old Teftament church) were ; and alfo in the midft of the throne, to fhew that the faints under the New Teftament have much nearer accefs to God than they under the Old Teftament could ever obtain. Heb. ix. 8. x. 19, 20. They were full of eyes before and behind, to exprefs the perfect clearnefs of heavenly light in this day of New Teftament glory. The elders had no way to look but forward to that which was to come. John viii. 56. Rom. iv. 13. Heb. xi. 10. But now the glory mines on every fide. 1 Pet. i. 12. 1 John ii. 8. And the faints with open face behold, as in a glafs, the glory of the Lord, and are changed into the fame image. Ver. 7. And the fir ft be aft was like a lion, and the fecond beaft like a calf, and the third beaft had a face as a man, and the fourth beaft was like a flying eagle. IT is eafy to fee all thefe four figures in the diftinct parts of the New Teftament. In the four evangelifts is reprefented the Lord of glory, in his works and fufferings : this is the lion of the tribe of Judah, in his invincible ftrength, and undaunted courage. In the Acts of the Apoftles, the preaching, receiving, learning, and obeying the 92 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION the gofpel : this is the calf or ox, for tractablenefs, docibility, ftablenefs, and laborioufnefs. In the epiftles of the apoftles appears the face of a man, for clear reafoning, and found judgment ; com- paring fpiritual things with fpiritual. In the book of Revelation appears the flying eagle ; for amend- ing into the glorious mylteries of the kingdom, and difcerning things high, and very far off. Thefe have the fame refemblance as thofe out- goings of the good pleafure of God, by the prophet, whereby he manifefted his glory. Ezek. i. 10. And as all the faints receive the life and truth of the word of God, and the very image of Chrift in their fouls, every one that is in deed and in truth a difciple of Jefus, has all thefe fpiritual difpofitions, or qualities, anfwering to all thefe creatures. Courage, to withftand and oppofe all the powers of darknefs. Eph. vi. 1 2. Obedience, to do the will of the Father from the heart. Mat. vii. 21. Attention, to learn and underftand the truth, in a clear intelligible light. 1 Cor. xiv. 20. And emulation, to look into the high and deep things of the kingdom of Chrift and of God. Col. ii. 2, 3. Ver. 8. And the four beajls had each of themft.v wings about him j and they were full of eyes within : and they reft not day and night, faying. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. THESE of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 93 THESE bear a refemblance to thofe that are reprefented Handing upon the throne with th& Father, Ifaiah vi. 2, 3. where none could ftand but the two anointed ones. Zech. iv. 14. Rev. xi. 4. That is, the Son of God, and the fpirit of truth, called feraphims, to exprefs their fiery nature, and the fhining of the glory of God in them. They had each one fix wings. With twain he covered his face, fignifying, that there is a two-fold glory, which we are not able to behold ; that is, the eflential glory of the Divine Being, and the efTential love of the Father. With twain he covered his feet, fignifying, that where they go, we cannot follow them now; that is, the height of the dignity of nature, to which the faints fhall be advanced, 1 John iii. 2. and the greatnefs of the glory which they fhall behold in that exalted nature. Rev. xxii. 4. And with twain he did fly, fignifying, that with all expe- dition they bring the bleffings of the riches of grace to us, and carry our fouls in fpirit to God. Eph. ii. 18. But in this prefent vifion, the faints, are reprefented formed into the fame image, each, one having fix wings. For fix wings every be- liever is bleffed with : two of faith, whereby he endeavours, as far as he may, to afcend into the light, to behold the perfection of the divine attributes, and the excellency of paternal love. Two of hope, whereby he preffes forward, and waits to fee the perfection of the image to which he 94 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION he fhall be brought j and to behold the glory which is in immortality. And two oflove where- on he flies to give glory to God, and to enjoy the fulnefs of his grace. The feraphs cried one to another, to fhevv their union in every work, in every manifeftation of glory, and every com- munication of grace. They cried, Holy, holy, holy j to fhew the holinefs of God in all his counfels of love, and in all his operations and manifeftations of grace for our falvation ; and in all his gifts of life and blefTednefs for our ever- lafting glorification. And in like manner, the hearts of all the faints are in their meafure kindled into a vital flame, to afcribe all glory to God. The feraphs afcribed all glory to the Lord of hofts j that is, all their goings forth bring glory to his name, and fill the earth with his glorv. And now all the faints dwell in the Son, and in the Holy Spirit ; and the truth of the mediator and the comforter dwell in them: therefore they are all united in founding forth the fame praife. Ver. 9. And when thofe beajls give glory, and honour, and thanks to him that fat on the throne, ivho liveth for ever and ever. THE New Teflament faints are living crea- tures, having eternal life dwelling in them. But the defcription here given of them does not al- together correfpond with beafts : for the man and of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 95 and the eagle are a different fpecies. And many have faulted this translation, as being too rude, or too low for the fubjec~t; yet perhaps thofe very perfons, in their expofitions, drop as far below the mark : making not only thefe, but the cherubims in Ezekiel, and even the feraphims in Ifaiah, to be no more than created angels. And I do not wonder that our tranflators might be at a lofs by what figures to exprefs them ; for the true characters of the difciples of Jefus are very different to any other creatures that ever ap- peared to human eyes. The time when thefe give glory, honour, and thanks, is not at fome particular fliort intervals, but the whole day of gofpel light ; from the period that the fon of God afcended into his glory, till his fecond coming. Their joy is per- petual : they reft not day and night. Yet it is their true reft, to behold the face of him that fitteth on the throne ; and to celebrate the glori- ous name of him that liveth for ever and ever. Ver. 10. The four and twenty elders fall down be- fore him that fat on the throne, and worfhip him that liveth for ever and ever, and cafl dozvn their crowns before the throne, faying, IN the day of the praifes of the gofpel church ; the church of the former covenant fall down in humble 96 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION humble thankfgiving ; that now their expectati- ons are come, their defires are accomplished, and the promifes they waited for, are fulfilled. Now they worfhip and adore ; becaufe none of their former hopes, or predictions are fallen to the ground : but the truth of God lives and is efta- bliihed for ever and ever. They call down their crowns before the throne, and confefs the glory which now mines fuperior to what appeared in their days ; and rejoice in the increafe of the Jerufalem which is from above. Pfalm xlv. i6. i Cor. iii. 1 1. But it may be faid, how can this be the church of the Old Teftament, feeing thofe perfons are dead ? I reply, I know the perfons are dead : but they being dead, yet fpeak : for the light in which they walked, is not dead. But with more tranfcending excellency now mines upon us. In their days, they worfhipped round about the throne; but in thefe days, the faints enter within the throne, and have free accefs into .the immediate prefence of the Father. Heb. vi. 19, 10. Therefore the ancient faints lay their crowns at the feet of him who is now come to his temple: and confefs that he bears the glory, which they fought, but did not obtain. Ver. 11. Tbou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power : for thou baft created all things, and for thy pleafure they are, and were created. THE of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 97 THE prophets of the Old Teftament did ftill afcribe all glory to the Meffiah, and acknowledge him the creator of all things, and confefs his wifdom, power, and goodneis in all. Pfalm cii. 25. But now, through reflection of New Tefta- ment light, the meaning of the prophefies appears much more clear j and the love of God to the creation, his purpofe, and how he will be glorified in all his creatures j and the defign of the pro- phets, refpecting the difpenfations of God, is much more confpicuous. For it is by the pro- phets the counfels of God concerning the uni- verfal creation are to us made known. CHAP. V. Verse i. And If aw in the right hand of him that fat on the throne, a hook written within and on the backjide, fealed with f even feats. BY the extraordinary attention paid to the opening of this book, as well as in whofe right hand it was, it plainly appears to contain matter of the utmoft importance ; and could be nothing lefs than the teftimony of Jefus j the record that God gave of his Son. It was in the right hand of the Father, to fhew that it related to the Son of his love, and to his church, be- H loved 98 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION loved in him. Pfalm Ixxx. 15, 17. ex. 1. John xvii. 2.3. It was written within j that is, the glories to be revealed in the New Teftament, which remained concealed in the counfel of God, till they were opened in Chrift. Eph. iii. 5, 9. And on the backfide ; that is, thofe things which were in the Old Teftament, already revealed ; yet could not be clearly underftood till the veil was taken away in the light of the New Tefta- ment. Ifaiah xxv. 7. 2 Cor. iii. 15, 16. It was fealed with feven feals ; and by them the book was kept clofed, till the time appointed of the Father, arid until he came whofe right it was to open. The feals could not be any thing found in, done by, or proceeding from any creature, as fome have thought ; as fin, guilt, the curfe, hard- nefs, blindnefs, alienation, enmity againft the gof- pel, &c. For, notwithstanding thefe block up the heart of man from embracing the bleflings of gofpel grace, they do not feal up the counfel of God from being opened. The feals could not be any thing but the Divine Will, or good pleafure of God, to keep the myfteries of his love con- cealed in his own bofom till the fulnefs of time, and to be opened only by his beloved Son. And it does not appear to be one and the fame thing, feven times fealed ; for then nothing could have been revealed till all the {even feals had been opened. But feven diftincl: branches of the tefti- mony, each fealed with a particular feal, though the of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 9$ the feals might be all of the fame kind -, and ac- cordingly, particular revelations appeared under the opening of every feal. Ver. 2. And I Jaw ajirong angel proclaiming with a loud voice. Who is worthy to open the book, and to looje thejeals thereof? THE church under the Old Teftament heard the voice of the prophets, enquiring diligently after the Holy One that fhould make known the counfel of the Moft High. Prov. xxx 4. 1 Pet. i. 10, 11. And this proclamation was to put to filence all the wifdom, power, righteoufnefs, or excellency of mankind. Ifaiah xl. 13, 14. xliii. 8 — 13. For the Father is determined, that his Son mall have all the glory. Pfalm ii. 6, 7. lxxxix. 27, 36. Ifaiah ii. 11, 17. John v. 22, 23. Col. i. 18. And that his church mail have the confolation certainly to know the rock of their falvation, the fource of their felicity. Ifaiah xxviii. 16. lii. 6. Ver. 3. And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. MEN have tried, and God has called upon them to try, if any creature, thing, operation, or expedient, might be found in heaven, or in earth, H 2 to *oo A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION to open a way to the grace, mercy, and falvation of God j but none is to be found. Therefore, let all flefh be filent before the Lord ; feeing every man's rod is dry, and withered ; and the rod of the ftem of JefTe alone, hath budded. The blef- fings of fovereign grace, falvation, and glory, are fb fbupendoufly great, fo unfathomably deep, fo immenfely high, and inconceivably excellent, that no created exiftence was ever able to at- tempt to reveal them, in any light whatfoever. They could not open, or fo much as look there- on. But the pharifee will object, that no creature ever comes to the enjoyment of heavenly blef- fings, but through induftry. I reply, every be- liever knows that he comes to the enjoyment of the bleflings of the gofpel, in the way of dili- gently fearching the word of God, deliberately pondering the truth thereof, earned prayer and fupplication to the Lord, and humble waiting for the fpirit of grace j and that with fuch ardour, life, zeal, and fervent affection as the pharifee knows nothing of. But this is not of the will of the flefh, or of the will of man, either to merit the blefiing, or bring it down from heaven. Rom. x, 6, 7, 8. Phil. iii. 9. But being drawn by the love of God, invited by the excellency of Chrift, and ftrengthened by the fpirit of his power, to break through every oppofition, and furmount every dif- ficulty that lies in the way, he prefTes toward the mark, that he may feaft upon thofe ftreams of life of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 101 life which Chrift has freely opened. For it is God that worketh in him, both to will, and to do of his good- pleafure. Ver. 4. And I wept much, becaufe no man was found worthy to open, and to read the book, neither to look thereon. THE ancient faints waited, longed, and mourn- ed to fee the coming of the falvation of God. Gen. xlix. 18. Pfalm cxix. 81, 123, 166, 174. This fhews, that all that are believers indeed, in every age, are perfectly alive. And according as the times and circumftances are, {0 are they con- tinually employed; in walking, Micah iv. 5. in waiting, Pfalm cxxx. 5, 6. in prayer, Ifaiah lxii. 1, 6, 7. or in praife. Pfalm cxlv. 1, 2. cxlvi. 1, 2. And as it was not an indifferent matter with the former faints, to wait for the coming of the deliverer, Ifaiah lix. 20. Malachi iii. 1. fo it is not an indifferent matter to the prefent children of God, to wait for the completion of his kingdom. Rom. viii. 25, 26, 27. Ver. 5. And one of the elders faith unto me, weep not ; behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loofe the f even feals thereof. WHEN a number of perfons are united in the H 3 fame ioa A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION fame thing, it is common for one to fpeak the voice of all the reft. So here, it is faid, one of the elders : that is, all the elders being taught of God ; or all the prophets by one fpirit, with one voice, fpeaking one language, to make .known the power, and the coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift, Acts x. 43. And upon their tefti- mony, all the ancients died in faith, and all the believers of the New Teftament have their faith eftablifhed. Deut. xviii. 18. Pfalm lxxxix. 19, 20. Jer. xxiii, 6. Luke xxiv. 44. 1 Pet. i. 19, 20, 21. The Lord of glory fprang of the tribe of Judah, and of the root of David. Gen. xlix. 10. Pfalm cxxxii. 11. Heb. vii. 14. And the Father promifed that he. fhould prevail. Ifaiah xlii. 4. He taught him ail his counfel, that he might teach it to his difciples, and open to them all the myfteries of his kingdom. Ifaiah 1. 4. John v. 20. xv. 15. Ver. 6. And I beheld, and lo, in the midjl of the throne., and of the four beafts, and in the midft of the elders, flood a lamb as it had beenflain, having feven horns, and /even eyes, which are the Jeven fpirit s of God fent forth into all the earth. THE throne is the glory and majefty of the God of all grace, fhining in the midft of his church; and in the midft whereof the Son of God ftands, as the life and centre of all perfecti- on. of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 103 on. For he is filled with all the glory and blef- fednefs of his Father's throne ; and in all that fulnefs,. he ftands in the midft of his church, communicating all grace and truth to his chofen. He appears as a lamb that has been flain, as an offering and facrifice to God, for a fvveet fmelling favour j and gives peace by his blood, both to the Old and New Teftament churches. Ifaiah liii. 10, 12. 1 Pet. iii. 18. Eph. ii. 14. For notwith- ftanding he was not actually flain iii perfon, during the former adminiflration, yet he was in the immutable counfel of God from the founda^ tion of the world, a lamb flain. Otherwife it had been impoffible for the former children to have enjoyed remifiion of fins, juftification, peace with God, or falvation. Zech. ix. 11. Rom. v. 9. Col. i. 20. Heb. ix. 22. For no man ever did come to the Father but by him, or obtain ret demption and forgivenefs of fins, but by his blood. And now he appears perfectly accom- plifhed with power and wifdom, to perform every work appointed him of his Father ; and to open all the counfel of his will to his church* as his feven horns and feven eyes do clearly re- prefent. Thefe are the feven fpirits of God ': that is, the divers illuminations of the Ipirit going forth in his word at the feven diflinct periods, to enlighten the world j with the exerti- ons of his power, going along with thofe illumir nations, to make them effectual to the hearts of H 4 his 104 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION his children : but now all the light and all the power is united in one, to blefs his faints in thefe days of gofpel glory. Ifaiah lix. 1 9. John iii. 34. A<5ts ii. 33. For now the fulnefs of the Son of God is opened in perfe&ion. Ver. 7. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that fat upon the throne. ALL the myfteries of the kingdom, light, life, truth, peace, falvation, grace, and glory, were hid in God, till the time appointed for them to be revealed \ yet held in his right hand, ready to be delivered, whenever the perfon fhould be found that was worthy to open them. Pfalm lxxxix. 20. When the Son of God came into the world, the Father acknowledged him, and gave him the pre-eminence. Mat. xvii. 5. Heb. i. 6. He came by orderly gradations : firft he came in our nature. John i. 14. Then he came under the law which we had violated. Gal. iv. 4, 5. Then he came in the fulnefs of the anointing, to reveal the truth of God. Rom. xv. 8. Then he came in the power of the fpirit, to be made a facrifice for our fins. Heb. ix. 14. Then in his victorious refurrection, for *our juftiflcation. Rom. iv. 25. Then in triumph afcending into glory. Pfalm xlvii. 5. Then in his acceptance with the Father, fet down at his right hand. Heb. x. 1 2. And then it was, when he came to his Father's right hand, that he received of the BOOK of the REVELATION. IO$ received the fealed book, which he now opens to his church. And by opening that which was within, he interprets the meaning of that which was written on the backfide j fo that the former myfteries are explained, and the future revealed. And herein is manifefted the grand object, the myftery of God, and of the Father, and of Chrift, as it now mines in the glorious gofpel. But we ought to diftinguifh between the rich bleflings contained in the book, and brought forth in the opening of the feals, and fome events that followed in the world when they were opened. And we may obferve, that all thofe events will continue till the coming of Chrift to take his power and reign over all nations, when many of them will cer- tainly ceafe. But all the bleflings and glories written in the book and opened with the feals, will continue in their perfection from the flrft preaching of the gofpel, after the afcenfion of Chrift into glory, till Jefus comes in his majefty to judge the quick and the dead. Ver. 8. And when he had taken the book, the four beaftsy and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of faints. THIS particle, when, does not point to fome particular juncture, or tranfient moment, but to the io6 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION the whole gofpel day; to diftinguifh it from the former period, before this glorious tranfaction. The Old and New Teftament faints are diftin- guifhed by the elders, and the living creatures, but not divided ; for they are all one felect body : and in one fpirit they all fall down to afcribe all glory to the Lamb. The faints under the New Teftament enjoy the grace in its fulnefs ; and the prophefies of the Old Teftament are fulfilled, and the glory they waited for is come to pafs. There- fore they are now reprefented as joined in one ; being filled with praife for the bleflings they have already received ; and prayers for the perfect con- fummation of thofe they are waiting for. They are now both one, and no more twain j Eph. ii. 1 6, 1 8. for they are equally interefted in all the glories of gofpel grace., Heb. ix. 15. xi. 4. They bear the harps of God, to exprefs tlie greatnefs of their joy ; with golden veflels, to fhew how their fouls are refined and enriched in the truth of fanctification ; and thefe full, of odours, to fhew how they are accepted before God, in the fweet favour of Chrift. Ezek. xx. 40, 41. Eph. i. 6. Ver. 9. And they Jung a new Jong, faying, 'Thou art worthy to take the booky and to open thefeals thereof-, for thou waftjlain, and haft redeemed us to God, by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, THE of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 107 THE fong is new, both in that the faints can now relate thofe great things which were not known in former days, and alfo becaufe the fub- jecl of the fong will never wax old, but be for ever new. The Lamb did not take the book till he had been fiain, and had redeemed us by his blood j that he might fet the door perfectly open, and that no (tumbling block might remain in the way of his people. It is not according to the un- digefted fayings of fome, that he paid a ranfom price for us to God j it is true, he paid a price for us j he gave his life a ranfom for us; he re- redeemed us from the curfe ; he purchafed his church with his own blood -, but he did not re- deem us from God, but to God. He redeemed us from all iniquity j the juft fuffered for the unjuft, that he might bring us to God. But he does not bring his people by whole nations, countries, cities, and parifhes j this will never be the cafe till he fhall take his great power and reign over the nations ; but he gathers one by one, a peculiar people, chofen out of the nations. Ifaiah xxvii. 12. John xv. 19. Every faint confeffes that Jefus alone is worthy j for he has approved himfelf before his Father, and before his whole church. In the di- ligence of his life he proved his faithfulnefs to his Father's command. John xii. 49, 50. By his fufFerings he proved his love to his people. John xv. 13. In his refurrection he gave demonstration of his Godhead. Rom. i. 4. And in fetting him at io8 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION at his own right hand, the Father teftified his approbation of all that he had performed in the days of his flefh. Phil. ii. 7, 8, 9. Therefore now all things are given into his hands, and he is made the head over all things to his church, with full right and authority to open to all the objects of his foul's delight, the myfteries of his Father's will, and the unfearchable deeps of his inextinguifhable love. In the opening of the feals of the everlafting gofpel, the name of the Lord is become excellent in all the earth, and his glory is fet above the heavens. All believers are rilled with abundance of grace, and of the gift of righ- teoufnefs ; and their fouls are kindled into a vital flame of love, delight, and adoration. Their praifes are upon the higheft key that their intel- lectual powers can raife ; and their prayers are with the utmoft ardour that their animated af- fections can breathe. For they now behold the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. This is the glorious day which the Lord hath made ; the fun of righteoufnefs is rifen indeed, and the true light now fhineth. The bed wine of the kingdom is now fet forth, and in every foul that believes it caufeth the lips of them that are afleep to fpeak. The birds of paradife, every one (trains all his powers to raife the higheft note in the praifes of God, and of the Lamb. of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 109 Ver. 10. And haft made us unto our God kings and priefts, and wejhall reign on the earth* THE faints are never at an uncertainty as to the Wettings which the Lord has beftowed on them ; nor are they backward at confefling the goodnefs of the Lord to them ; as the church here does freely acknowledge, that Jefus has made them kings and priefts unto their God. For the children of light are fo attentive to their heavenly Father, Pfalm cxxiii. 1, 2. cxxx. 5, 6. that their eyes are open to every bleffing that he gives ; and as every fpi ritual bleffing is com- municated to and through the underflanding, it is abfolutely impoffible they mould be ignorant or infenfible of the life that dwells in them. And his glory is fo much their delight, Pfalm xxxiv. 1, 2. Ixvi. 16. that they cannot be retrained from confefling his goodnefs, and fpeaking his praife. The common rant of doubting chriftians (as the difciples of Antichrift call them) is an infallible mark of a hypocrite : for they do not mean a finner, fenfible of his fin and mifery ; waiting for mercy and forgivenefs, who may have many doubts whether he may ever obtain it ; but they talk of doubting believers, to make perfons imagine that the grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift is fuch an uncertain ignis fatuusy that a perfon may have it, and not know whether he has it or not j that a man may hang in fulpence, not whether no A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION whether he fhall ever be bleffed with it, but whether he now does enjoy it : which is juft as good fenfe, as for a man to hang in doubt whe- ther he is alive or not. But they that preach this doctrine are avowed enemies to the Lord of glory ; otherwife they could not reprefent his grace in fuch a contemptible light; as if the true light were a being of darknefs, and the Holy One of God a liar. John viii. 12. But fuch folly never proceeded from a child of light; for they cannot be ignorant of their vital union with the Son of God; and would abhor to degrade his glory, by making him appear fo like the devil, that a perfon cannot diftinguifh which of the two fpirits reigns in his foul : and whofoever can maintain that doubting doctrine, is undeniably a ftranger to Chrift, and the prince of darknefs has blinded his eyes. Yet there is another fet of hypocrites, as dangerous as thefe; that is, the vain and prefumptuous ; fuch as pretend to affu- rance of faith and hope, when they never were bleffed with it. Thefe are equally enemies to Chrift, treating him with the utmoft contempt; for either they wilfully lie, pretending to what they know they have not ; or elfe they foolifhly take fome vain fancies of their own, and call them grace, faith, hope, love, &c. Thus they degrade the Holy One to the laft degree ; fub- ftituting their own carnal conceits, inftead of the life of the BOOK of the REVELATION, in life of his fpirit. Thefe are the fame kind of perfons with the former, only a little more hard- ened in their wickednefs. They both of them endeavour to deceive their own hearts, to believe a lie : but the former are not fo hardy, but that at times their conference convicts them of hypo- crify, and fills them with doubtful apprehenfions ; whereas the latter have their confeiences fo feared, that they are confirmed in a total infenfibility. And this difference frequently happens, according to the people with whom they converfe ; if they be among people who make a merit of doubting, as a token of faintfhip, they then pretend to more doubts and fears, than they ever felt; but if they be among people who maintain the truth of Chrift to be fpirit and life, to be diftinguiflied from all other things, whether natural or diaboli- cal, they then pretend to be eftabliihed in the truth ; though they know nothing of it. But no fuch foolifhnefs ever proceeds from a humble finner, fincerely feeking the Lord, and waiting for his falvation. Such a foul, being under the leadings of the fpirit of truth, fees himfelf in the very cafe he is ; the Lord has enlightened him to know what he is, and what he wants. He can- not be impofed on, to fancy he has received fpi- ritual life, fo long as he does not live by the faith of the Son of God. For until the Lord is pleafed to communicate grace, mercy, and peace to in A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION to his foul with life and power, he certainly knows he does not enjoy it, but continues to wait for it. But when the Lord is pleafed to beftow the blefling in fpirit and truth, he as certainly knows, that he does enjoy it ; and re- turns to give glory to God, Thus, doubting, whether a man is in a ftate of falvation, or not, and prefumption, that a man is in a ftate of fal- vation, when he is not ; were never found, either in a real believer, or in a humble fmner j but in hypocrites only. The Wnole church acknowledges, that the lamb which was flain is now alive, and has made them kings; for they fit together with him Eph. ii. 6. And he has made them priefts, even to God and his Father j having granted them per- fect freedom and boldnefs at the throne of grace. Eph. iii. 12. And being thus far enriched in the abundant fulnefs of the Son of God, and knowing that he is the faithful and true witnefs, they enjoy an infallible certainty, that they fhall reign with him, both on earth and in heaven. Being made kings and priefts, they at prefent reign with him in fpirit. In the glorious fpread- ing of the gofpel, the faints (hall reign through every nation. After the refurreetion, they fhall reign with Chrift on earth, a thoufand years. And in heaven they fhall reign with him in im- mortal glory. of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 1 13 Ver. 11. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne^ and the bea/lsy and the elders ; and the number of them was ten thoufand times ten thoufandt and thoufands of thoufands. BY angels is commonly underftood, mefTen- gers fent of God, to reveal or perform his will. Sometimes, the word appears to be applied to the grand meiTenger of the covenant, Chrift Jefus. Sometimes, to men fent of God, as miniflers to his church. Sometimes, to the out-goings of the mighty hand of God, in the difpenfations of his providence. And fometimes, to the meflengers. of the wicked one, fent to oppofe the kingdom of Chrift. But the moft common acceptation is, thofe invifible intelligent beings which wait the commands of God, ready to go wherever they are fent, to minifter to the faints, and execute thq will of God in whatever they are directed. An4 thefe appear to be the angels here intended ; both in regard to their number, as mentioned in other places. Pfalm lxviii. 17. Dan. vii. 10. Heb. xii. 22. And the pofition in which they ftand round about the throne, and round about the church, as fervants in waiting to obey their Lord, and minifter to his chofen. Heb. i. 14. Thefe, in all ages have been employed refpect- ing the church, fometimes in their proper cha- racter, as fervants declaring the will of the Lord j I and H4 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION and fometimes as perfonating the Lord himfelf. For God was never feen by mortal men. John i. 1 8. Therefore, whenfoever mention is made in the Old Teftament, of God appearing, or fpeaking to any man, it never was in any other way than by his angels : as it is plain, in all the manifeftations of God to his people; as Jacob, Mofes, Gideon, and in giving the law on mount . Sinai ; they are always afcribed to God, as the author; but to angels, as the adminiftrators. But fince God took our nature, and was manifeft in the flefh, God now fpeaks to us by his Son. Yet the angels were retained as his attendants, during his refidence in the world, and afterwards attending his difciples, fo long as their external miniftrations were necefTary j which was until the Divine Teftimony was compleated, and the Sacred Writings were finiihed. After which, all open vifions, revelations, and monitions from heaven entirely ceafed. And fince the angels were employed in opening the vifions of this book, there never has been an angel fent with an open meffage, nor feen in the world, nor ever will again, until they fhall all appear attending the Lord of glory in the day of judgment. The lying wonders of Antichrift are to be detefted, for there never was any truth in them. Yet we have reafon to conceive, that the angelick mini- ftrations ceafe not : for they are here defcribed as ftanding all the gofpel day, waiting on the church i of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 1 1 5 church ; but their attendance being altogether invifible, we are not able to defcribe it. But it is rational to fuppofe, that they being more highly honoured, Eph. iii. 10. are more highly delighted in attending on the church in her more dignified ftate, than in the former ages. Many have raifed debates concerning the angels, what kind of creatures they are ? and of what natures and pov/ers they are pofTefTed ? It is fufficient for us to know, that they are fuch creatures, and pof- fefled of fuch natures and powers, as are perfectly adapted to the office in which they are employed, as miniftering fprits . Ver. 1 2. Saying with a loud voicey Worthy is the Lamb that wasjlain to receive power, and riches^ and wifdom, andjirength} and honour, and glory , and bleffing. CHRIST did not take the nature of angels, nor did he die for them, nor are they united to him as his bride, nor will he crown them with his glory ; yet as they are ftationed to attend the triumphal pair, they behold the manifeftation of the glory of Emanuel, and the communication thereof to his elect ; which certainly is an aug- mentation of the joy and glory of the holy angels. The manifold wifdom of God in Chrift is, by the church, made known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places : and the myfteries of I 2 the 1 1 6 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION the kingdom are the defire of angels to look into; therefore it is their delight to wait on the church, that they may enjoy this privilege. For what- foever is to the glory of the bridegroom, and the confummation of the bride, is the felicity of them that hear his voice ; and they can never ceaie to found forth his praife. Ver 13. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, andjuch as are in the fea, and all that are in them, heard I, faying, Bleffing, and honour, and glory, and power be unto him that fit teth upon the throne, and unt9 the Lamb for ever and ever, AS all riches proceed from the Father, who fitteth upon the throne; and all blefiings centre in the Son, who is in the midft of the throne -, fo every creature that ever was, is, or ever will be in the creation of God, is made a partaker of the blefTednefs. If devils and damned fpirits fhall object, that they do not enjoy this bleiTednefs, afk them the caufe ? or how they came to be deprived ? They will be filent. There is not a creature in the univerfal creation, angelick, human, animal, vegetable, mineral, etherial, aquatick, terrene, or whatfoever, but the Son of God, by whom all things were created, teems with bleilings to them; and fuch bleflings as, according to their natures, did once make them perfectly of the BOOK of the REVELATION, u? perfectly blefTed, and fo would have continued them to eternity, had not fin made the wretched infraction. It is true, by the fin of Adam, all thofe branches of the creation that were under his dominion, naturally fell with him, though they did not act in the fin j but the head Iofing his virtue, all the members perifhed. Yet all thefe will be perfectly reftored to their primitive excellency, when Jefus comes the fecond time ; whom the heaven mull receive, until the times of refiitution of all things. In this the fcripture is clear, that every fpecies of beings, which were created in the fix days, fhall be brought again to their original dignity and virtue. For when the Moft High created them, he pronounced them very good. God is immutable ; therefore what was then good in his eyes, mud be fo to eternity. And fince God declared to the ferpent, that the woman's feed fhould bruife his head, it muft be done effectually ; but if there fhould be the fmalleft animal, or plant, loft in the fall, and never to be reftored, this threatening to fatan, and promife to mankind, would not be verified in perfection. The Lord from heaven is called 4he Jecond man: but that character had not been truly adapted, if he had not, in every fenfe, and to the higheft degree of perfection, reftored every being that fuffered any depravation through the 4efect vithefirji man. A new heaven, and a new I 3 earth;, 1 1 3 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION earth, fhall affuredly be produced, which fhall not, like the prefent, pafs away, but fhall be eftabliihed to eternity. Ifaiah lxvi. 22. Nor fhall they be created in vain, but to be inhabited : yet they fhall not be for the faints, John xiv. 2, 3. nor for the wicked. Rev. xx. 15. And the patent promifes, of the reflitution of all things by Jefus, Chrift, are neither few, nor weak. Pfalm viii. 4 — 8. Heb. ii. 6, 7, 8. Rom. viii. 19 — 23. Therefore, according to their natures, and in their own language, they all with one voice afcribe blefling, honour, glory, and power to the Father, and to the Son. And this they will continue to do for ever and ever. Ver. 14. And the four beafts /aid, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worjhipped him that liveth for ever and ever. THE univerfal creation being all blefTed from one fountain, are of one mind, and all rejoice in the happinefs of each other, and all join in one triumphant fong of praife, which they addrefs to the Father, as all bleiTings are from him, and to the Son, as all bleffings are by him. And, ex^. cept thofe fallen angels and damned fpirits, who by their enmity and rebellion have irrevocably fealed the curfe upofr*themfelves, this fong of inceffant joy ihall be the harmony of every being that of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 119 that ever did exift in the creation of God through- out all ages, world without end. And now the beafts and elders, the united church of the firft-born, having prefented their praifes upon the higheft key j next in place, the innumerable company of angels, having prefent- ed their adoration ; and then the inferior parts of the creation, having exprefTed their gratitude ; the church of faints compleats the worfhip. For they, now beholding the inconceivable bleffednefs granted to the whole creation, are aftonifhed with admiration j and being the moft exalted of all creatures, they exprefs their joy in fongs of the higheft ft rain, and their adoration with the moll profound reverence. CHAP. VI. Verse i. And I [aw when the Lamb opened one of the feals, and I heard as it were the noife of thunder, one of the four beafts, faying, come and fee. CHRIST is the true light -, and he never per- forms any thing in sjtp dark: the church fees with intelligence, all tnat he does, and hears with underftanding all that he Ipeaks. The 1 4 opening 1 10 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION opening of the firft feal of the counfel of the grace of God, reveals the mighty power, courage* and invincible prowefs of the Lord of glory, in the fulfilling of his Father's will, the falvation of his church, and the destruction of all his ene- mies. This is reprefented by the lion, fpeaking in the gofpel, with a voice like thunder ; not in arty way terrible, but expreftive of his majefty : calling to his chofen, to come, and behold the glory of God's holy One, and the mighty works wrought by him for their falvation. Ver. 2. And I /aw, and behold, a white borfe; and he that /at on him had a bow ; and a crown was given unto him: and he went /or th conquering, and to conquer. THIS white horfe is the light and truth, the majefty and power of the gofpel, on which the Chrift of God rides forth to difplay the riches of his grace. Rev. xix. n. On whofe head, the Father hath fet the crown. Pfalm xxi. 3. cxxxii. 18. Rev. xiv. 14. The bow is the power of the holy fpirit, which the Father has given him with- out meafure; by which power he fendeth his word like fharp arrows, to pierce whatever heart he pleafes. Pfalm xlv. 3, 4, 5. John iii. 34. And in the power of his ajorious gofpel, he goes forth Conquering the hearW)f all that the Father hath given him, overcoming them with his love, and winning of the BOOK of the REVELATION, |-fcfc winning them to himfelf, that he may prefent them to his Father, as fubjects of his everlafting kingdom. And will ftill proceed to conquer, until he have fubdued the whole world by his grace to a total fubmiflion. Zech. xiv. 9. And alfo he will carry on his victories againfl the enemies of his church, till he have deftroyed every adverfary in the creation. Pfalm ex. 1. 1 Cor. xv. 24. — 28. Ver. 3. And when he had opened the fecond feal3 I heard the fecond beafi fay, come, and fee. THE opening of the fecond feal, prefents to us the riches, the precious fruits, the produce and increafe of the bleffings of the gofpel. For under the fimilitude of a calf, or ox, Chrift goes forth to plow up the fallow ground, and fow the precious feed of gofpel grace ; which produceth the precious fruits of repentance and forgivenefs, of fins j faith, and juftification j love, humility, obedience, and peace with God; free accefs to the throne of grace, through the blood of Jefus ; acceptance in Chrift, the beloved ; and everlafting falvation to every one that believeth. For his ftanding in the midft of the throne, fliews the perfection of the divine eflence ; his being a lamb without blemiih, fhews t^pf perfection of the human nature ; his having been flain, fhews the perfection of his facrihxe for our redemption ; his having 122 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION having feven horns and feven eyes, ihews his all- fufficiency to bring us to perfection of glory. And thefe things, when we hear the call, to come and fee j we behold the fuperlative love of the Father in fuch a ftupendous ocean ; and the rivers of bleflings, light, life, grace, mercy and peace, in fuch mighty ftreams flowing to us in the Son of God, that our fouls are truly carried captive with admiration and delight : and with humble fubmiflion, deliberate fatisfaction, and elevated with folid pleafure, we, like the tradable bullock, take upon us the yoke of Chrift ; follow the lamb, tread in his fteps, and walk as he alfo walked. Ver. 4. And there went out another horfe, that was red ; and power was given to him that fat thereon, to take peace from the earth, and that they Jhould kill one another j and there was given unto him a great /word. THIS horfe was another ; not merely a diftinct horfe from the former, but of a different army; and went out to make war againft the white horfe and his rider; as did alfo the other two that followed after. This horfe both from his colour and what is faid of the rider, plainly appears to be no other thaijtfhe violence of perfecution, which is fure to follow upon perfons receiving the gofpel, profefling to believe in Chrift, and appearing of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 123 appearing to follow him. The rider is no other than the enmity of the old ferpent, ftimulating his fubjects to make war againft the true feed. This is a fixed maxim, from which there never yet was an exception ; all that will live godly in Chriji Jefus Jhall fuffer ferfecution. For notwith- ftanding we have a happy government, and no national perfecution among us ; if a believer has parents, children, hufband, wife, brethren, fitters, relatives, neighbours ; or if he lives within the knowledge of any religious people, he is certain to be perfecuted fo far as thofe people can emit their fting : notwithstanding thofe perfons may be fober, honeft and peaceable in the world, they will be no lefs malicious againft the truth of Chrift, and againft his lambs, to kill their peace, their name, their teftimony, or any thing fo far as their influence can extend. Mat. x. 34. — 39. Mark xiii. 1 2, 13. For the enmity is fuch, be- tween the feed of the ferpent, and the feed of the woman, that nothing in heaven or earth can re- concile. John xv. 18. — 21. Ver. 5. And when he had opened the third feat, I heard the third beafi fay, come and fee. And I beheld^ and lo> a black horfey and he that fat on him had a fair of balances in his hand. THE third beaft, having a face as a man, ex- preffes rationality and underftanding. Therefore the 1 24 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION the opening of the third feal, which he calls us to come and fee, is the manifeftation of the clear light, open confiftency, ftrong demonftration, fulnefs of the teftimony, and undeniable cohe- rence of the gofpel; as it is prefented to the human understanding. Free from all vain fancies, empty amufements, fanguine imaginations, en- thufiaftick dreams, ambiguous phrafes, unintelli- gible fentences, or occult meanings. 2 Cor. iv. 1, 2. Againft which light of truth, Antichrift (that is the delufions of fatan, to counterwork the truth of Chrift) goes forth on a black horfe, to darken the true light $ not by openly lhewing his fpleen, but with all deceivablenefs of un- righteoufnefs, to corrupt the word of God under pretence of affifting the wifdom of God, and giving it a greater luftre. By fetting up ftandards of men's wifdom to meafure, and balances of human direction, to weigh the truth of the gof- pel. And inftead of employing their underftand- ings in meeknefs, to receive the truth from the pure fountain j fetting up fchools and academies of human learning, to teach the things of the kingdom of God by arts and fciences, and tradi- tions of men j thereby to draw men's minds, under pretence of receiving the truth of God, to receive the deluflve wifdom of men •, thus turning away their ears from the truth, that their hearts may be turned unto fables, and corrupted from the fimplicity that is in Chrift. Ver. of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 125 Ver. 6. And I beard a voice in the midfi of the four beajis fay, A meafure of wheat for a penny, and three meafures of barley for a penny j and fee thou hurt not the oil and the wine. THE corrupters of the gofpel go about to make merchandife of their corrupt doctrines, di- viding them into two forts, which they call wheat and barley ; and proclaim them in the midft of the church of God, if it were poffible, to feduce the very elect. But the true fheep will not hear them : for a counter voice is heard a- mong them, forbidding the impoftors to hurt the oil and the wine. The children of God are taught the things of the kingdom in a more fpiritual light, which the minifters of Antichrift cannot counterfeit. But they trade among the common profeflbrs ; impofing upon them their delufions ; turning away their hearts from the pure free ftreams of grace, and making them believe, the bleflings of falvation are to be purchafedj and that it is in their power to difpofe of them. I do not find the pure fpiritual food ever com- pared to barley, but the fineft of the wheat ; yet the greateft quantity, and cheapen: fold of thefe importers, is barley. That is, fuch doctrines as are wholly of human invention, man's will, power, wifdom, righteoufnefs, virtue, and carnal extraction. But fome profeflbrs cannot be fatis- fied without fome found, or ihew at leaft, of gofpel 126 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION gofpel truth. Therefore to pleafe thefe, they make up fome mixtures of gofpel doctrines, and when they have tempered them with fome com- pounds of their own production, to turn the truth into a lie, they call it wheat, and fet a higher price upon it. These are not amufements invented to make them tally with the words of the holy ghoft ; but they are the very things which have always followed upon the preaching of the gofpel of Chriftj as far as pofllble to infect and pervert the church of God. Ver. 7. And when he had opened the fourth fed, I heard the voice of the fourth beaflfay, come and fee. THE fourth beaft is like the flying eagle j and he calls us to come and fee the things that are difcovered under the opening of the fourth feal : that is, to behold the great, the rich, the high, the glorious things of the kingdom of God, as they are revealed in the New Teftament. For now, in the gofpel day, the true light fhineth in its full glory and excellency; and God has re- vealed to us by his fpirit, thofe things, which in former ages, no eye had feen nor ear heard, nei- ther had entered into the heart of man; but had been hid in God fince the beginning of the world. Such as the deep counfels of the Divine Will ; or the of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 127 the eternal purpofe, which he purpofed in Chrifl: Jefus our Lord : the great myftery of godlinefs, God manifeft in the flefh : the myftery of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghofl -, one in ab- folute perfection : the indivifible union of the one body, Chrifl and his church: the opennefs of the way to the Father, or the near accefs of the faints by Chrifl: Jefus : the glorification of the Son ; or his high exaltion at God's right hand : .the inheritance of the faints in light -, or their unali- enable right to be glorified together with drift : and wherein the eternal glory of the faints con- fifteth -, or their being formed into the very image of the Son of God, and beholding him as he is. &c. &c. Thefe things are now opened in fuch a light, as the former ages were never able to conceive i and it is not for fome individual per- fons only, but all the faints, all the children of light are now called to come and fee thefe glories. Ver. 8. And I looked, and I eh old, a 'pale horfe : and his name that fat 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 fword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beajls of the earth. WHERESOEVER the light and glory of gofpel grace makes its appearance, the church may 1 23 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION may be affured that fatan and his inftruments will try all their efforts to evade, to diminifh, to de- grade, to quench, to kill, to bury, and to deftroy ; as there is nothing in exiftence that the fouls of religious people more abhor. And the reafon why the light and truth of the gofpel is fo de- teftable to them, is this •, they are dead, yet they want to perfuade themfelves that they are alive : but the real life that fhines in the gofpel of the Lord of glory difcovers the counterfeit, and breaks the bubble ; which fills them with the utmoft enmity and malice. The pale horfe is a perverted gofpel, deflitute of life or fpirit ; and death, which rides thereon, is the depth of cor- ruption j whereby the truth of Chrift is turned into a lie, fo as to coincide with the dead carnal mind. And hell that followed, is the grofs darknefs that envelopes the confciences of all thofe who, through hardnefs of heart, withfland the true light. For the way to obtain the victory over the witneffes of the true God is by palenefs, death, and darknefs : yet thefe have not power over the faints, but only over the fourth part of the earth. This fourth part of the earth may not intend a proportional quantity either of number or meafure, but a fourth divifion, clafs, or party of earthly minded and carnal men; of fuch a caft as are adapted to fuch a purpofe : for there be three parts which are by no means fit to engage in this work : there are the loofe, empty, vain, and of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 129 and profane j who think nothing of God, and feek nothing but fenfual gratification : there are the felf-righteous, who have no higher ideas of God, but as a being like themfelves, or as a mafter requiring fervice from his creatures \ and if they perform fome fort of work, fuch as pleafes themfelves, they think it muft pleafe himj and there are the dreaming profefTors of the gofpel, who think all is well if they believe the report of the gofpel to be truly recorded j and profefs to expect falvation by Chrift, going on in a curfory round of what they call religious duties. Though all thefe do verily belong to the kingdom of darknefs, they are not the veteran troops of hell ; and though they often fkirmifh with the truths of the gofpel, they are not qualified to fight the ftrongeft battles of the dragon. But the fourth part here intended, are men of fenfible feelings, a quick prying genius, carnal minds, and ma- lignant fpirits j who in going about to kill the truth of Chrift, have power given them to kill themfelves •, or death and hell have power to kill them, and they are killed with their own confent. [The faints againft whom they fight, they never kill.] Some kill with the fword ; beating down the truth with arguments, fophiftical reafonings, and the wifdom of men. Some kill by hunger ; pretending to own and acquiefce in the truths of the gofpel, but not in the true fpiritj only to foften, to qualify, to meliorate, to detract, and K to 130 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION to drain away the life and power, leaving the foul to famifh for want of fubftance. Some kill by deathj pretending to embrace the great things of the gofpel, but turning them all into amufe- ments to gratify the carnal mind j enthufiafms, phantafms, bubbles, and all chimera. Some kill with the beafts of the earth; either the poifonous, fwelling men with pride, on account of fpecula- tive knowledge of divine myfteries ; or elfe the voracious, tearing and rending with reproach and calumny all that confefs the glories of Chrift ; calling them proud, conceited, arrogant, pre- fumptuous, felf-willed, uncharitable, cenibrious, • whimfical, oddities, notions of their own, &c. Thus they bear down, overcome, and carry away all thofe men which have not the feal of God in their foreheads. Ver. 9. And when he had opened the fifth fealy I Jaw under the altar the fouls of them that were filain for the word of God, and for the teflimony which they held. UNDER the opening of the former feals, each of the four living creatures is heard by the church, faying, come and fee. Thefe were fo many hieroglyphicks, reprefenting the power and excellency of the gofpel : and as the' gofpel has a transforming influence, fo every one that receives it in truth is aflimulated into the fame image. Therefore of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 131 Therefore thefe figures may be underftood to fignify, either the goipel in its different parts, or the faints in their different attainments, to which they have arrived in the truth of the gof- pel j or according to the meafure that Chrifl is formed in them ; and according to the meafure of light and glory opened under each feal, the church is called to behold it. But under the fifth and fixth feals is reprefented the mighty effects which the gofpel of the grace of God has upon every one that receives it, and the bleffings that follow. They kept the word of God ; they held the teftimony of Jefus ; they loved not their lives unto the death ; they fuffered themfelves to be flain for the truth of God : thefe were more than conquerors, as the word of truth in its various branches, and in its power, dwelt in them. And the fame fpirit is in every believer ; here is the patience of the faints. They were feen under the altar, which is Jefus Chrift; Heb. xiii. 10. their life was hid with Chriit in God, therefore they feared not them that could only kill the body ; knowing in themfelves, that they had in heaven a better, and an enduring fubitance, and that they mould obtain a better refurredtion. Ver. 10. And they cried with a loud voice, faying, How long) 0 Lord, holy and true, doft thou not K 1 judge 132 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth ? THEY cry to him that is holy, knowing that his holinefs cannot fuffer wickednefs always to prevail ; and to him that is true, knowing that as he has promifed perfect deliverance to his church, he will affuredly perform it; and to him that is the fovereign Lord, knowing that he has wifdom and power to accomplifh all his own counfels, and their requefts. They are called the fouls of them that were flain : and if it is to be underftood of the ftate of abfence from the body, after their bodies were killed, I fee no abfurdity in it ; for doubtlefs, in that ftate, the faints will have an ardent defire (though free from all im- patience) to fee the completion of the body of Chrift, and its perfect felicity. Or if it be under- ftood of the cry of their fouls while in the body, during their fufferings, or at the time of their death; it is very confident with the nature of the things. Nor would it be inconfiltent to under- Hand it of a figurative death, which many of the faints fuffer, whofe bodies are not killed, but Rain in their outward comforts ; being perfecuted, afflicted, tormented ; (lain in their reputation, by lies, calumnies, and reproaches. Luke vi. 11. 1 Cor. iv. 13. Or (lain in that which is the de- fire of their fouls ; being hindered from bearing a teftimony to the truth, and fhewing forth the glory of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 133 glory of the Lord. In all thefe fenfes, they have been frequently flain ; and in all thefe cafes they earneftly cry. Ver. 11. And white robes were given unto every one of them ; and it wasjaid unto them, that they ■ Jhould reft yet for a little feaf on, until their fel- low-fervants aljo, and their brethren, that Jhould be killed as they were, Jhould be fulfilled. THE fouls of all the faints, whether prefent or abfent, in refpect to their bodies, are clothed in white robes. The ufe of robes is, for cover- ing nakednefs, for beauty and ornament, and for eafe and comfort ; and all the faints know their robes as well as children know their garments. That which covers their finful nakednefs, is the righteoufnefs of Chrift, wrought for them by the fhedding of his blood, and by faith applied to their confciences. That which makes them ap- pear accepted, as the Father's delight, is the perfect holinefs of Chrift, in which, through vital union with him, they ftand adorned as his bride. That which folaces their fouls with inter- nal happinefs, is the light, love, peace, and joy of the Holy Ghoft ; and whether in the body, or out of the body, their dwelling is in God. And the Lord, by the fpirit of his truth and power, fpeaks reft and compofure to their vital intellects, to wait till all his elect have paffed the fame K 3 trials, i34 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION trials, and manifefted the invincible power of Chriit, by which they are fuftained, and fhali meet in one body, to be glorified together. Acts xiv. 22. Rom. viii. 17. Eph. iv. 13. Ver. 12. And I beheld when he had opened the ftXth feal, and lo, there was a great earthquake ; and the fun became black as Jackcloth of hair > and the moon became as blood. THE laft feal, reprefented the pafTive power or fuffering ftrength and fortitude, given to the faints, by the gofpel of the grace of God ; to fuf- tain all trials, perfecutions, and temptations. This reprelents the active power, communicated to them by the word of the Son of God, through the fpirit of truth ; to infpire them with wifdom, courage and zeal for the Lord; to beat down and trample on all the deceit and violence of the prince of darknefs. An earthquake fhakes the foundations of all nature, fo does the gofpel ; it fhakes not the earth only, but alfo heaven. Hag. ii. 6, 7. Heb. xii 16. In the opening of this feal, the word# of life fhakes down every thing of a carnal nature, fo that all fubfides before the faints 5 and it fhakes all the vain con- fidence of carnal men, fo that they tremble, and hide themfelves from its power and glory. The fun is faid to become black : this cannot be the natural fun in the firmament, for thefe things relate of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 135 relate not to the natural heavens, to the difiblu- tion of nature, or to the judgment of the laft day : nor can it intend the fon of righteoufnefs, Jeius Chrift, whofe effential glory never can abate ; however the air may be darkened by the fmoke of the bottomiefs pit, the doctrines of men, and obfcure the true light from carnal minds. But the fun in this place intends the glory of all human excellency ; wifdom, power, learning, virtue, or whatever men efteem great- nefs or goodnefs ; which all dies before the excel- lency of the Son of God, as it mines in the light of the everlafting gofpel ; as a mining taper dif- appears before the meridian fun: or more pro- perly all the doctrines which carnal men, the the followers of Antichrift, propagate; being the dictates of a God of their own painting, fhall appear to the children of light as they really are, grofs darknefs. And when it is too late, they fhall appear the fame to their own votaries. And the moon, the Antichriftian church, or body of falfe worfhippers, who receive their light from that fictitious fun ; the wifdom and traditions of men -, all their religious practices, and carnal worfhip, plainly appear to the faints, to be what they really are, that is blood, or dead works. And fo they fhall appear to themfelves in the end. But the faints gain the victory over them all, by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their teftimony. ' K 4 Ver, 136 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION Ver. 13. And the Jiars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig-tree cafieth her untimely figs, when fhe isfhaken of a mighty wind. THESE cannot be the natural conflellations of heaven ; thofe are fixed in their courfes, till time fhall be no more. Nor can they be the ftars of the fpiritual kingdom, or minifters of Chrift, for thofe are in his right hand, and none can pluck them thence. They can be none but the wandering ftars, or minifters of Antichrift ; who at prefent fall down before the pure gofpel of Chrift, to the open view of all that know the true God, and Jefus Chrift whom he hath fent; and fhall at laft, fall from all their imaginary attainments, into eternal perdition. And it may be in mean time, they may fall to the earth, in the fight of their own admirers ; and alfo, into the wrath of God, under the terrors of a guilty wounded confcience. Ver. 14. And the heaven departed as afcroll when it is rolled together-, and every mountain and ifland were moved out of their places. THIS is not the natural heaven, which fhall continue to the end of time, nor fhall be moved by the preaching of the gofpel, but by the per- fonal appearance of the Lord of glory j neither is it the fpiritual kingdom of heaven, which can never be moved at all; but it is the imaginary heaven, of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 137 heaven, which is fpread forth, and lifted up in the vain conceits of men s — the foundation and the pillars thereof, are the wifdom, power, virtue, goodnefs, righteoufnefs, holinefs, religion, and ex- cellency of man ; which is broken to pieces, clofes up, falls down, and vanillas away, wherefoever the truth of Chrift is received ; fo Dagon fell before the ark of God. Likewife the mountains and iflands, being efteemed places of retreat and fafety, are the vain confidence and falfe refuges of idolators and hypocrites. And as all thefe dis- appear to the faints, thro' the glory of the gofpel ; being hated of their very fouls, and troden under their feet; they will alfo be moved away from their own devotees, and their confidence therein fhall become the confufion of their faces, the fting of their confciences, and horror of their fouls, whenfoever the truth of the gofpel ftrikes conviction to their hearts. But forafmuch as thefe convictions do not produce converfion, the perfons do not return to the Lord for falvation, but feek to every faife retreat, and delufive refuge, or imaginary defence, to hide them from the wrath of him whom they have defpifed, and fo daringly infulted. Ver. 15. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, aud the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bond-man, and every free- i33 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION free-man, hid them/elves in the dens, and in the rocks of the mountains. THIS is the cafe of all the enemies of the gof- pel, when the Lord makes his word pierce their hearts ; it wounds their confciences, and they find themfelves fcakled with the wrath of God, there- fore they feek defence in every vain covert, that their deluded hearts can devife. It is the fame in every age, and in every man that is an enemy to God, when he cannot repel the rays of gofpel light from difcovering the darknefs of his condi- tion ; the torment is moft dreadful, yea, infup- portable; for it many times proceeds beyond what a mortal creature is able to bear. But as the opening of the feals relates not to the prefent time only, but extends through the whole period of the preaching of the gofpel, fo this extends to the time, when the Lord of glory mail afTert his power and dominion over the whole earth. And when nothing fhall be able to repel the fpreading of the gofpel, or to interrupt its glory from re- flecting light to all the world; then the confter- nation of the enemies will be univerfal. All flates, ranks, and degrees of men, have been ad- verfaries to the truth as it is in Jefus, and fhall all feel his vengeance. Ver. i 6. And J 'aid to the mountains and rocks, fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that ftttetb of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 139 fitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. NO creature is able to fuftain the wrath of God ; and as Chrift is God's agent to perform his whole will] fofhall he be in the execution of his wrath. But how awful is the thought ! That he that came into the world, in all the meeknefs of a Lamb; clothed with humility, love, and peace; kindnefs, goodnefs, and tender mercy -, it being his very element, and delight ; that he mould be fo hated, oppofed, blafphemed, and rebelled againft, by his creatures -, till the appearance of his face mail be more terrible, than mountains and rocks falling upon them. Ver. 17. For the great day of his wrath is come ; and who jhall be able to Jiand ? THIS is not the laft decifive day; when the wicked fhall be puniftied with everlafling de- ftru&ion, from the prefence of the Lord, and for ever banifhed from the earth ; and heaven being fhut againft them, they muft of necemty be expelled from all habitation : for the lake of fire will not be a local refidence, or fixed place ; but a ftate of wretchednefs : the fire will be in the confcience. For the punifhment here expreffed, fhall not be from the prefence of the Lord, but by the prefence of the Lord ; which they fhall not be able to elude : and whereby the wicked *4o A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION wicked of the earth fhall be punifhed upon the earth, Ifaiah xxiv 17. — 21. And fuch anguifh fhall be in men's confciences, as the earth never yet knew. That is, in fo general a manner ; otherwife, individuals may have felt the like, as Cain, Judas, &c. Then thofe of the Antichrif- tian tribe, who have been fetting up falfe Chrifts, and idols, feducing fpirits and doctrines of devils, in the place of the Son of God j none of them at that day fhall be able to ftand. CHAP. VII. Verse i. And after thefe things, I Jaw four angels ftanding on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind fhould not blow on the earth, nor on thefea, nor on any tree. THIS is ftill under the opening of the fixth feal ; and fhews what follows upon the open- ing of the glory of the gofpel, by which the faints are made victorious, and the wicked tormented. Things muft be fo reprefented, that the church may behold them in a confident light, without breaking the proper chain. Therefore, this part of the vifion is opened after the things that went before, though the things defcribed in the former chapter of the BOOK of the REVELATION. i4i chapter were not finifhed before thefe commenced ; for fatan is never at reft, but exerting all his power to prevent, if poffible, the fuccefs of the gofpel ; efpecially when he finds his kingdom be- gin to Ihake. If we would know who thefe four angels are, we muft obferve what winds they held. The pro- phet was directed to fpeak to the four winds, that they fhould give the breath of life to God's elect, Ezek. xxxvii. 9. And every child of light knows by what power he received the fpiritual animati- on : firft, the pure light of the gofpel, enlighten- ing his underflanding to know the Father, and the Son, John xvii. 3 : fecond -, the infallible truth, enabling them to believe in the riches of the grace of the Son of God, John ix. 35. 38: third ; the love of God, whereby their fouls are united in love to him, 1 John iv. 10, 16, 19 : fourth ; the majefty and excellency of God, fhi- ning in the fullnefs of Chrift, whereby their wills and all their mental powers are melted down into his will ; with all their fouls to fubmit to his good pleafure, to do whatfoever he fhall command, to follow the Lamb, and to wait for the bleffings of his kingdom, Phil, iii, 8. He that hath thefe things in truth (and no other creature) is born of God. Now the work of thefe four angels was, to hold thefe winds that they mould not blow. And it is well known, that if the wind was to be held i4i A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION held in a total ftagnation, all nature would be dead. Therefore thefe were evil angels, ftriving to prevent the fpirit of the gofpel from taking place in the hearts of men. Not four created angels j but evil principles, meflengers of the fpirit of fatan, operating in the minds of men. And by this we may judge, what kind of fpirits or principles thefe were. Firft, blindnefs of mind, and infenfibility -, that they fhould not pay any regard to the word of God, or defire the know- ledge of his ways. Second, infatuation, to attend to the wifdom and traditions of men, that they fhould not receive the truth of God. Third, a carnal mind, which is enmity againft God ; re- pelling the love of God from their hearts. Fourth, pride, working felf-will, and flubbornnefs j that they cannot fubmit to the fceptre of Jefus. So long as thefe four angels of the bottomlefs pit can keep their Handing, no man can receive the gofpel of the Son of God, or enter into life. Therefore the prince of darknefs ufes all his policy and power to place them on the four corners of the earth, that the whole world may be held in wickednefs, i John v. 19. Ver. 2. And I Jaw another angel ajcending from the eaft, having the feal of the living God : and be cried with a loud voice to the four angels , to whom it was given to hurt the earth and thejea, THE of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 143 TPIE characters this angel bears, undeniably prove who he is. He afcended : fo that he was lifted up above all adverfaries. From the eaft : the way by which the God of Ifrael is faid to enter into his temple : being the womb of the morning, the beauty ofholinefs: the day-fpring from on high, from whence the God of glory vifits his church; the rifing of the fun of righte- oufnefs : that is to fay, he proceeded from the bofom of the Father. Having the feal of the living God: this the Father never intrufted in any other hand but that of the faithful witnefs, his*beloved Son. So that this can be no other than the glorious menenger whom the Father fanctified and fent : his ultimate delight : the angel of the everlafting covenant. And he cried to the four angels with a loud voice : he had power to reftrain, or to bind them, at his plea- fure i and at his word he makes them ftill and filent. For though it was given them, or left in their power, to hurt the earth and the fea; it was only to fuch a meafure as the wifdom of God fhould direct, and to be (topped at his pleafure ; for his authority he will maintain, and will not give his glory to another. Ver. 3. Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither thejea, nor the trees, till we have Jealed the Jervants of cur God in their foreheads. THE i44 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION THE malignant angels attempt to ftagnate the minds of all mankind, univerfally : the Lord of glory lays a reftraint upon them, to the utmoft point of his pleafure. The fubje£ls of this conten- tion, are diftinguifhed into three parts ; earth, fea, and trees. The firft reprefenting, the emp- ty, unconcerned, ignorant, profane world. The fecond reprefenting, the common religious, and formal profeffing world. The third reprefenting, perfons of more elevated capacities, which like trees, Hand for marks, and guides to the com- mon people ; tho' they be as much as any, ftran- gers to the kingdom of God. But forafmuch as the Chrift of God, will gather his chofen out of every caft, fe&, and tribe, he will fo defend and preferve every part, that all the power, machina- tions, deceit, and violence, of the angel of the bottomlefs pit, fhall not prevail, to hinder one of God's elect from being called by his grace, John vi. 37. He commands them, not to hurt, till we havefealed the ferv ants of our God in their foreheads. The Lord fpeaks in the plural num- ber, including himfelf, who holds the feal; the Holy Spirit, who makes the impreflion ; 2 Cor. i. 22. with the prophets, apoftles, and minifters of the gofpel, who are employed as agents, or attendants in the work, 1 Cor. iii. 9. To feal, is to make an impreflion, ftamp a mark, or fix a character to any thing, whereby it of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 145 it is to be diitinguifhed from all others, and certainly known to whom it appertains. So the Lord feparates every one of his chofen from every other creature upon earth. They are no more of the world ; they are tranflated into another king- dom, and become new creatures ; the light of the fpirit of truth fhines in them; to which the whole world are total ftrangers. But then this operation is in the heart, whereas the feal is faid to be in their foreheads ; neverthelefs it is the fame feal. God no otherwife fets it in the fore- head than by fhedding abroad his love in the heart with fuch efficacious power, that it difFufes itfelf through the whole converfation, and mews itfelf in a bold, undifmayed confeflion of his name, and in holinefs of life ; to be known and read of all men, being openly marked as his peculiar people. Ver. 4. And I heard the number of them which were Jealed : and there were fealed an hundred and forty and four thoufand of all the tribes of the children of IfraeL AS Abraham, Ifaac, and Ifrael were diftinc~r. types of the Son of God, the children of Ifrael were a figure of the church of the firft-born, which are written in heaven. And being a num- ber of different tribes, yet all the fame family, fhews that God is no refpecter of perfons ; but L every i46 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION every one that believes in Jefus ij equally beloved of him ; and it is given to them to become the Sons of God. And out of this body of faints, the number here mentioned appear to be taken ; or rather it fhould feem to intend the number of faints that fhall be upon the earth during fome certain period. If we conceive this number to include all the called of God in Chrift Jefus, from the time of his coming into the world to the time of the killing of the witnefTes, before the univerfal ftagnation of the gofpel, and the uni- verfal fpreading of the gofpel, which fhall follow ; fome would think them very few ; and that it reprefented the fuccefs of the gofpel in a very contracted light. It is true, the church has been in the wildernefs fequeftered from the world, and therefore unknown ; fo that it is impofiible to know, or even to guefs or form any concep- tion what their numbers are, or have been in the world. But if we muft go by any thing that can be gathered from hiftory, or any thing that can be learned from any accounts that are extant, either ancient or modern ; a perfon that knows what a real chriftian is, would not conceive that there ever had been half fo many. It does not include all that fhall be to the end of the world ; for after thefe fhall be a multitude which no man can number. And fome may think that it is not intended to exprefs a definite number ; but by a number fo compleatly fquare, to fignify the per- fection of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 147 fection of the body of Chrift. I know it is fre- quent for a round or fquare number to be given, when it only intends a multitude, not a precife number i as ten thousands of faints — the chariots of God are twenty thoufandy &V. But whether the number here mentioned be of that kind, does not fo clearly appear ; as it does not intend the whole of God's eled, but a certain number in a certain period. Howbeit, here arifes another queflion j whether this number is to be underftood of the difciples called, or to be called from the afcenfion of the Lord, till the time when the witnefTes fhall be killed ; or of a feted number that fhall be called in fome part or parts of the earth, upon the refurrection of the witnefTes j which fhall be prepared in a fpecial manner, to publifh the gofpel through the whole world. This, I incline to think, is the thing to be underftood : that as, after the crucifixion, refurre&ion and afcenfion of our Lord, he chofe a feledt number of his difciples, and anointed them to preach the gofpel to Jews and Gentiles ; fo after the corruptions of Antichrift fhall have prevailed to kill the teflimony of the gofpel ; fo that the two witnefTes, the light of the word of grace, and the power of the fpirit of truth, fhall be difregarded, and for a time lie dead; and when they fhall rife again, and fhall afcend with the powerful voice of the gofpel, into the majefty L2 of i48 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION of the kingdom of heavenly glory, the life of gofpel blefiednefs, that then he will appoint a ielecl: number of his fervants, and qualify them as richly as he did his twelve apoftles, and fend them to preach the gofpel in every nation under heaven. But whether the number, an hundred and forty and four thoufand, will be the number of the whole church which fliall be called at that glorious period, and out of whom a fufficient number of minifters fliall be chofen to preach the gofpel to the univerfal world •, or whether thofe who fliall be fent to preach the gofpel to every tongue and people, fliall amount to that number ; this may not be neceflary for us to know at this diftance, but fliall clearly appear to thofe be- lievers who fliall be living when it is fulfilled. But it may be obferved, that immediately after the fealing of this number (which no device of fatan could prevent) there appeared the innume- rable multitude called out of all nations ; and immediately after the fame fealed number were fetn. (landing with the Lamb on mount Zion, Rev. xiv. i. The everlafting gofpel is preached to the whole earth ; from whence it may be ga- thered, that this felect number fliall be the pub- lishers thereof, Pfalm lxviii. it. And it is to be noted, that there is one certain period given for the reign of Antichrift, feven times mentioned in fcripture ; though under divers figures, times, months, ajid days. When exprefied by days (or a day of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 149 a day for a year) it makes ia6o, to which Daniel adds 30, making it 1290; and then adds 45 more, making it 1335. Dan. xii. 11, 12. Now it feems not improbable, that after the darknefs of Anti- chrift is paft, and the glory of the gofpel fhall begin to mine, it may take 30 years to prepare this felect number for their great work j and that then it may be 45 years more in fpreading through every region of the earth where the children of men dwell. The twelve apoftles were command- ed to preach the gofpel to every creature, which they did, fo far as their meafure could extend ; but thefe fhall perform the work to ample per- fection, Ifaiah xi. 9. Habakkuk ii. 14. Ver. 5. Of the tribe of Judah were fealed twelve thoufand. Of the tribe of Reuben were fealed twelve thoufand. Of the tribe of Gad were fealed twelve thoufand. Ver. 6. Of the tribe of Afer were fealed twelve thoufand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were fealed twelve thoufand. Of the tribe of Manaffes were fealed twelve thoufand. Ver. 7. Of the tribe of Simeon were fealed twelve thoufand. Of the tribe of Levi were fealed twelve thoufand. Of the tribe of IJfachar were fealed twelve thoufand. Ver. 8. Of the tribe of Zebulon were fealed twelve L 3 thoufand. i$o A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION thoufand. Of the tribe of Jofeph were fealed twelve thoufand j Of the tribe of Benjamin were fealed twelve thoufand. AS the houfe of Ifrael was a lively ihadow of the church of God under the New Teftament ; the Holy Ghoft has been pleafed to take peculiar notice of the diftinct branches and circum- ftances of that people ; the patriarchs, their births, their names, and the reafon why thofe names were given them. The blefiing of the twelve tribes by Ifrael their Father; the blef- fing alfo by Mofes; and the diftribution of them to their particular inheritances in the land by Jolhua ; wherein we fee them perfectly one nation, and yet in many refpects, very different from one another, fome more, and fome lefs numerous ; the heritage of fome more large, and fome lefs ; and their portions in a different pofition ; fome by the fea, fome inland j fome on this fide, and fome on the other fide Jordan. Their fituations, their employments, their enjoyments, and their fufFerings very different, yetfo directed, as all to make one complete connected body. So the church of Chrift is gathered out of all nations under heaven j made up of people of every caft and complexion. And in her various branches, may be in different circumftances in this world i in different ftations in life, under different of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 151 different trials, and expofed to different tempta- tions; according to the different ages in which they live, the different parts of the world in which they dwell, and the difference of the people where their lot is caff. And in refped to the enjoyment of church-communion, fome having it in a peaceable comfortable manner, open and free, while others are in banifhment, or in the wilderneis where they can neither hear the gofpel preached, nor find brethren with whom to join in focial worfhip; alio in their different gifts, capacities, or ufefulnefs in the church, 1 Cor. xii. 12 — 22. Yet they are a perfect union, Gal. iii. 28. Col. iii. 11. And it is to be obferved, that when the prophet defcribes the pofition of the twelve tribes, as referring to the New Tefta- ment, he fixes them in a quite different order; making each one's portion alike ; extending the compleat breadth of the whole land, Ezek. xlviii. To fhew that whatever difference there may be among the faints, with refpecl to their paffing through this world ; their refidence in the love of the Father, their participation in the fulnefs of the grace of the Son, and communion in the vital power of the Holy Ghoft, is all the fame, Eph. iv. 4, 5, 6, Wherever the Holy Ghoft exprefTes a peculiar regard to Ifrael, now under the gofpel ; it is not the natural Ifrael but the fpiritual Ifrael that is L 4 intended. 152 A SCRIPTURAL ILLU STR ATION intended, Rom. ix. 6, 7, 8. 1 Cor. x. 17, 18. For fince the refurrection of the Lord of glory, God never did, nor ever will mew any more re- gard, nor any lefs regard, to the literal nation of Ifrael, than to any other nation ; all the world now ftand on one perfect level, Rom. x. 12, 13. 1 Cor. v. 16, 17. Eph. ii. 14. It is therefore the fpiritual Ifrael out of whom this felect company are chofen ; being all believers, and baptized with the Holy Ghoft ; but gathered out of all nations, tongues, languages, and conditions of men ; that they may be properly adapted to perform the great work, of bearing the gofpel to people of all forts, and to all the tribes of men upon earth. And who can tell if thefe may not be called and fealed in twelve diftinfr. parts of the globe, for the convenience of the fpreading of the gofpel in every nation. But fome may object and fay, " that is not to be fuppofed j for if fuch a fealing ihould be, and to fuch a purpofe, mult it not be where the gofpel is already known ? " But pleafe to confider, the church of Chrifl is now in the wildernefs; and notwithstanding it is well known, in what nations the gofpel of Chrifl; is moll generally confeffed in name, this is no proof that it is moil: porTefTed in power. Ifrael which followed after the law of righteoufnefs, hath not at- tamed to the law of righteoufnefs, Rom. ix. 30, 31, 32. The gofpel may be known to a few, in the darkeft parts of the world, and not a man in Britain of the BOOK of the REVELATION. i55 Britain know any thing of them. That a na- tion is reputed to be all heathen, or all Maho- metan, does not make it impoffible that there may be more true difciples of Jefus in it, than in any nation in Europe. The world knweth us not. Geographers, hiftorians, and travellers, know nothing about it. So that no man under heaven knows where the life and power of the truth, as it is in Jefus, is moll effectual, or in what part of the earth there be mod of the children of God. Befide, it is to be obferved, juft before this happy period, when the witnefles fhall arife and afcend to heaven, all the earth will be in darknefs ; the witnefles lying dead, and the fons of hell tri- umphing. So that in what part of the univerfe the light may firft begin to fhine forth no man can tell. Ver. 9. After this I beheld, and to, a great multi- tude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, flood be- fore the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. WHEN the Lord had fealed his chofen vefTels, and fent them forth to fpread the glory of his gofpel in the nations, the effect appears in the multitude that are called -, for none but the faints of the Mod High can anfwer to the defcription of this multitude : nor can this intend any other time* 154 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION time, than that which the prophets foretold of the univerfal dominion of Chrift, Pfalm ii. 8. lxxii. 8. Ifaiah ii. 4. xi. 9. Dan. ii. 44. Hab. ii. 14. Zech. xiv. 9. Mai. i. it. For as the whole earth is given to the Son of God, he will aflfuredly bring the whole world to himfelf, and to his Father. And as the earth originally was all of one natural language, and one fpeech, fo in the latter days, the earth mall be all of one fpiritual language, and one fpeech. No nation or people, where the luminaries of heaven can be feen, mall be obfcured from the light of gofpel glory, Pfalm xix. Mat. xxiv. 14. This new raifed company ftand before the throne, in the prefence of the Father and the Son, in the light of the word of grace, and in the power of the fpirit of truth. They are clothed in white robes •, the perfect righteoufnefs of Chrift, the perfect holinefs of the great High Prieft, and the perfect peace, joy, and fanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit; beautifying their intellectual powers, while a holy converfation becoming the gofpel, adorns the outward man ; and with palms in their hands, in token of victory ; for this is the motto borne in the ftandard of every faint, More than c&nquerors, through him that loved us. Ver. 10. And cried with a loud voice, faying, Salvation to our God which fitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. THE of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 155 THE joy and ftrong delight with which the faints are bleffed, and the fincere defire they find to give the glory to whom it is due, makes them lift up their voice with the loudeft acclamations of praife and thankfgiving to God, and to his Chrift, Ifaiah xii. 6. While they appropriate the relation our God, they bow before his majeftick throne, and afcribe equal honour to the Son as to the Father ; not a feparate glory, but the very fame glory to the one as to the other. Thefe praifes are peculiar to the faints, diftindV. from all other men, but not peculiar to one certain num- ber or order of faints, diflinct from the reft, but common to all the chofen -, and are the genuine language of every foul that knows the Lord. Ver. 11. And all the angels flood round about the throne, and about the elders, and the four beafts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and ivorjhipped God. THE angels being all miniftering fpirits to the faints, are always prefent to behold the blefllngs and honours conferred on thofe on whom they wait, Mat. xviii. 10. And as they attended the church under the Old Teftament, fo they do under the Newj always knowing and keeping their ftations as fervants, Handing round about the throne, and about the elders, and the living wights, at their proper diftance. And as new fcenes 156 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION fcenes of glory open to the redeemed, they fall down, adore, and admire the fountain from whom all the rich bleflings flow, Eph. iii. 10. i Pet. i. 12. Ver. 12. Saying, Amen: bleffing, and glory, andwif- dom, and thankfgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. WHATEVER is done to the faints, gives joy to the angels. For in its meafure it is to them- felves j as the honours conferred upon the family of a prince gives delight to all the fervants, who efteem themielves as partakers therein. So the angels rejoice in all the bleflings enjoyed by the children of God, as being themielves parta- kers of the pleafure, Luke. xv. io. They do not envy the bride her felicity j for themfelves enjoy all happinefs that their nature is capable of j and in the glory of the Son of God, and his church, their glory is compleat, John iii. 29. Nor is it to them an empty amufement, as if they were in- different fpectators ; but their minds are employ- ed in obferving and looking into the deep things of God, the fource of all the bleflednefs, the happy flreams, and rich enjoyments, which pro- ceed to the church, out of the throne of God, and of the Lamb : and with all their fouls, they fay Amen, to all the praifes of the faints. They view and admire the riches of the bleflings that pro- ceed of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 157 ceed from the bofom of the Father ; the effulgent glory in which thofe bleffings fhine forth in the Son ■, the wifdom in which the bleffings are manifeft by the Holy Spirit; and the thankfgiving which afcends from the whole church to the three-one: with the honour which the whole creation afcribes to God, with all their power and might. And to fhew that their very hearts are taken up in it, they exprefs their joy with the higheil acclamations of praife. Ver. 13. And one of the elders anfwered, faying unto me, What are thefe which are arrayed in white robes ? and whence came they ? A NUMBER of voices fpeaking together, would caufe confufion ; therefore one fpeaks in behalf of the reft. This one elder is the prophets of the Old Teftament ; fpeaking with one voice. Not enquiring for information, but to awake at- tention. For by the intimations given by the prophets, the faints are called now under the New Teftament, to a moft diligent fearch and diftinft enquiry into the fcriptures of truth ; that they may clearly underftand the things that are freely given us of God, and the glory that is richly exhibited in the gofpel, and what the faints have now to wait for. Ver. 14. And If aid unto him, Sir, thou knoweft. And i58 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION And he fa id unto me, The/e are they which c. out of great tribulation, and have wafhed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, THIS reply, thou knowejl, implies the appli- cation of the New Teflament church to the pro- phtrfies of the Old Teflament j being perfectly af- lured that the doctrine contained therein is life and truth. And notwithftanding the light was not fo clear, as it now is, the reply of the elder holds forth to us the verity of facts, to be more diitinctly opened and fully accomplifhed under the New Teltament. That they fhould pafs through tribulation, Ifaiah xiv. 32. Zeph. iii. 12. That they fhould be truly refined and purified, Ifaiah iv. 4. xlviii. 10. Ezek. xxxvi. 25. That this refining fhould be through the fufFerings of Chrift; or by the blood of the Lamb, Ifaiah liii. 11. Zech. ix. 10. Malachi iii. 3. It is to be ob- ferved, Jefus wafhes his people from their fins, in his own blood ; and when their perfons are made clean, they wafh their garments, or purify their external converfation in the virtue of the fame blood, 2 Cor. vii. 1. 1. John iii. 3. Ver. 15. 'Therefore are they before the throne of God, and ferve him day and night in his temple : and he that fitteth on the throne fhall dwell among them. THE of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 1 59 THE throne fo often mentioned in this book, does not intend the invifible throne of immortal glory 5 but the throne of light, life, truth, and grace, where the Father reigns in the immuta- ble counfel of his will, and from whence the Son defcends in the abundant fulnefs of glory and bleflednefs by the gofpel : for it is in his tem- ple -, but in the Jerufalem above no temple is feen. Nor do we find any mention made of the faints ferving God in the future glory. It is true, ftricUy and properly fpeaking, it is impoffible that any fervice mould be done to God, by any creature in any ftate, feeing he is, and pofferTes all perfection in himfelf. Neither can the wor- ship of God under the New Teftament with any propriety be called the fervice of God ; feeing it is purely fpiritual j and is no other than coming before him with delight, to behold his glory, and fee the light of his countenance in the face of Jefus Chrift ; and to wait on the Lord, that we may receive and enjoy the bleflings of his grace. But there be many things in the prefent time, in which the faints do truly ferve God ; when they do thofe things that are according to his will, for the furtherance of his kingdom. As pro- moting the publication of the gofpel ; inftrufting the ignorant ; ftrengthening the weak ; comfort- ing the feeble-minded ; relieving the diftrefTed ; cultivating peace and unity among the children of God; admonifhing thofe that are in danger of halting, 160 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION halting, &c. Rom. xiv. 18. And in thefe, and fuch like things, the faints ferve God in his church, with delight and pleafure, day and night. For the ftrength they receive from God through Chrift, while they worfhip him in fpirit, enables them to walk as Chrift alfo walked. Thus they are before the throne enjoying the love of the Father and the Son, through the comfort of the Holy Spirit. And in his church, continually pur- fuing thofe things that are for the glory of God, and for the happinefs of his people. And God himfelf, in the riches of his love, and the abun- dance of his grace, perpetually dwells among them, Pfalm Ixviii. 18. Ver. i 6. They Jhall hunger no more, neither thir ft any more; neither Jhall the fun light on them, nor any heat. THERE is a kind of hunger and third, which is not painful but a natural appetite to food ; fo as to eat and drink with delight. This kind the faints perpetually experience ; and are pronounced blefTed, Mat. v. 6. But that hunger and thirft, which proceeds from famine, or want of fupply, and caufes languor, and fainting ; from this, the children of the kingdom are exempted. As they have accefs at all times, to the bread of life, which comes down from heaven; and to the water of life which proceeds from the throne of God, of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 161 God, and of the Lamb, Ifaiah xxxiii. 16. There- fore they cannot want, Pfalm xxxvi. 8. Ifaiah xxv. 6. John vi. 35. Likewife the beams of the fun, through a falutary medium, are moll plea- fant and falutary; fo is the fun of righteoufnefs, the life of all the faints. But the fun in its fcorching heat is tormenting, andcaufes fainting; fo is the wrath of God upon the confciences of the wicked : but this fhall never fall upon the children of God ; nor fhall any affliction reft upon them, more than the Lord will fupport them to fuftain, Ifaiah xlix. 10. Pfalm xxiii. 4. Ver. 17. For the Lamb, which is in the midfi of the throne, Jhall feed them, and fhall lead them unto living fountains of waters : and God fhall wife away all tears from their eyes. CHRIST is the fountain of living waters ; and by the word of truth, through the power of the fpirit of grace, he leads all his elect to himfelf. He communicates to them the riches of his ful- nefs, whereby he becomes the life of their fouls, Gal. ii. 20. He gives them to behold, and to drink of thofe living ftreams which refide ia himfelf, and which never fail, John iv 14. And becaufe they are the feed which the Lord hath bleffed, whom he delights to make happy j he will wipe away all their tears, and all their for- M rows, 162 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION rows, Jer. xxxi. 12. For notvvithftanding, in the world they fhall have tribulation ; and it is in- compatible with a (late of mortality, to have all forrow to be abfolutely extinct j yet the affliction is light, and but for a moment ; not worthy to be compared with the prefent joy, much lefs with the glory that fhall be revealed, John xvi. 12. Rom. viii. 18. Sorrow and fighing Jhall flee away. CHAP. VIII. Verse i. And when he had opened the feventh feat, there was fdence in heaven about the /face of half an hour. THE fealed book contained the glory of the gofpel of Chrift. And in the opening of the feven feals, is revealed the word of life, in its feven glorious branches. And as they all com- menced from the coming of Chrift, at lead from his afcenfion ; they will all continue in full virtue, till his fecond coming. I do not fay that all the events that followed ; or all thofe oppofitions of fatan to overthrow the gofpel, will continue fo long : no, they will only continue until the Lord fhall take his power, and reign over the nations ; but all the blefTed effects fhall continue to the end of time. The firft four reprefented by four of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 163 four hieroglyphicks, do open the glory of the gofpel revelation, with its transforming influence on all that receive it. So that the figures repre- fent not only the gofpel in its efficacy, but alfo the church impregnated with the bleffing, power, and fpirit thereof. The fifth fhews the invincible fortitude with which the gofpel infpires all that receive it, to bear with patience every trial, even unto death, for Chrift's fake. The fixth fhews the active courage and unquenchable zeal of all that enjoy the gofpel of God, to crufh every op- pofition, and trample on the moft fpecious ap- pearances of worldly deceptions, whether pro- fane or religious, that attempt either to oppofe or to mimick the truth as it is in Jefus. The feventh makes the highefl advance j as it both reprefents the fellowfhip of the faints with the Father and the Son ; or the accefs of the children to the Father's bofom ; and alfo reprefents the founding of the gofpel in its different periods, till it fhall have fpread through the whole world. There has only been one period, in which there has been filence in heaven. And that plain- ly was the half hour from the time that the Lord of glory was betrayed into the hands of finful men, till the Holy Ghofl was fent upon the apof- tles. During this fpace, the pure word of God was not preached any where in the whole earth. Until the coming of Chrift, the prophets and M 1 minifters 1 64 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION minifters of the Old Teftament were not filent. And when the happy period came, John the baptift, and the Lord Jefus, were not filent till the hour of darknefs, the crucifying of the Son of God. Neither have the minifters of the New Teftament ever been filent fince they were endued with power from on high, Luke xxiv. 49. Acts i. 4, &. But in this half hour were contained three periods. Firft, his being in the hands of the Jews, and in the grave ; while his difciples were rilled with anxiety, waiting for the event. Second, after he was rifen ; while he con- verfed with his difciples, and they attended to his inftructions. Third, after his afcenfion ; while his difciples waited for the promife of the Father. During thefe three periods, from the time that Jefus ceafed to preach, till the apoftles were qualified by the Holy Ghoft to preach the word of life, it was impoffible for the truth of God to be preached under heaven. For now the way into the holieft was opened j the kingdom of God did appear in fuch a light as could not be declared but in a higher ftile than ever had been fpoken before ; and there were no men upon earth that had learned to pronounce it, till the Lord pour- ed his fpirit upon his apoftles. This fhort filence was a fpecimen or fore-runner of the filence that fhall be in heaven, juft before the publifhing of the gofpel to all the nations, and during the time o-f the BOOK of the REVELATION. 165 time when the witneffes fhall lie dead, Rev. xi. 7—10. Ver. 2. And I Jaw the/even angels which fiood be- fore God 3 and to them were given /even tru?npcts. THESE angels do not reprefent any particular creatures, either from heaven or earth. But as we find the one fpirit, in his divers goings forth, called the (even fpirits of God ; fo the one angel of the covenant in his divers goings forth to found the gofpel trumpet, is here reprefented by ieven angels, or evangelical meflengers ; fo the trumpets are not diverfe, but one entire gofpel found, to be diverfly fpread, at different periods : thefe are no other than the feven eyes, and (even horns of the Lamb, fent forth into all the earth. When the Lord was rifen and afcended, the joy- ful found of the gofpel was now compleatly pre- pared j and the times and modes in which it fhould be extended to all the nations, flood in order before the throne, ready to fly at his com- mand. And as the apoftles were exercifed in prayer and fupplication, waiting for the firft com- mand to found ; fo are the faints in all ages, ftill waiting and praying for the further extenfiqn of the bleffed gofpel, Ver. 3. And another angel came and food at the altar i having a golden cenjer j and there was JVI 3 given 1 66 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION given unto him much incenje, that he floould offer it with the prayers of all faints upon the golden altar ) which was before the throne. THIS angel could be no other but the Lord Jefus Chrift; called an angel, as he was the great meffcnger of the Lord of hofts. For he is repre- fented executing the priefl's office ; and the gofpel church knows no prieft, but the Son of God. He came from God, and ftood at the altar, to execute the high priefl's office, to which he was appointed, Pfalm ex. 4. When the altar is fimply mentioned without any diftinguifhing epithet, we underftand the great brazen altar for burnt offerings and facrifices : this is a re- prefentation of the Son of God, in taking away fin by the facrifice of himfelf. The human na- ture being the facrifice, the eternal fpirit is the altar whereby it is fanctified, Heb. ix. 14. Here ftood the holy one, when he gave his life a ran- fom for us ; himfelf being both altar, facrifice, and prieft, Heb. xiii. 10. Upon this altar of brafs, he ftood the fiery trial : and he ftill ftands by it, not offering facrifice, for this he did once when he offered up himfelf j but as our advocate, pleading before the throne, the virtue of that one perfect facrifice, Heb. ix. 12. x. 14. But now, having made an end of fins, and brought in ever- lafting righteoufnefs, he is reprefented in his own perfection, by the golden altar before the throne, where of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 167 where he is about to offer the holy incenfe : but the fire to burn the incenfe, mud be taken from the great altar of the fire which came down from heaven. And thus every believer by faith be- holds him firft flanding at the altar of the great facrifice, and then approaching the altar of fweet favour. The golden altar1 is Chrift himfelf ; the incenfe is the fulnefs which the Father pleafed fhould dwell in him ; the cenfer is his human nature, in which that fulnefs dwells, Col. i. 19. ii. 9 ; and the fire is the vital flame of the eter- nal fpirit : and this incenfe is offered with the prayers of all faints. Therefore, this holy fire muft diffufe the fweet favour through their whole fouls, as the experience of every believer tefti- fies. For he beholds the extirpation of fin by the great atonement ; then he beholds the golden altar, Chrift in his abfolute perfection, before the Father ; then he beholds the fulnefs of grace and truth which dwells in Jefus, offered in his intercelTion : and in the golden bowl, the word of truth, the fweet favour is brought to his con- fcience, where it is kindled into a vital flame by the fpirit of holinefs. And in this fpirit, he comes by prayer and fupplication to his Father which is in heaven, and finds accefs to the throne of grace. Ver. 4. And t be /moke of the incenfe, which came M 4 with 168 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION with the prayers of the faints, afcended up before God, out of the angels hand. JESUS offered himfelf to God for a fweet fmel- ling favour: and forafmuch as he is the ultimate delight of God, whatever he does is well pleafing to the Father ; and whatever foul he prefents to the Father, is accepted. Incenfe made according to the direction of the Lord, is the richeft com- pofition, fends the mod delightful perfume, and is the molt precious odour that can be produced by the hands of man. The man Chrift, in the efTential perfection of the Divine Nature, is the glory of all excellency ; the object of the highefl delight that God could poflibly bring* forth. Therefore, this is the height of all bleffednefs, that the faints are prefented before the throne of God, in this mod pleafant odour ; their perfons having accefs to God, and their prayers made ac- ceptable in him that is the brightnefs of all glory ; for whatever delight the Father has in his beloved Son, he has the fame in them : his incenfe and their prayers afcend in perfect con- junction, directly before God, out of the hand of the great High Prieft, from whofe hand nothing ever was rejected of the Father. Therefore, as the excellency of the riches and fulnefs of the glory of the Son of God, is prefented to his Father in behalf of his faints, and their fouls of- fered therewith, in the living fire of the fpirit of holinefsj of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 169 holinefs, they are inconteftably as perfectly ac- cepted in the fight of the Father, as the Son of God himfelf is, Ifaiah Ix. 7. Ezek. xx. 41. John xvii. 23 : and their prayers prefented in the faith of the Son of God, and in the breathing of the fpirit of grace, are as certain to be heard, and their petions granted, as that the God of truth exifts, Mat, xxi, 22. John xv. 7. x John iii. 22. V'er. 5. And the angel took the cenfer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cafi it into the earth : and there were voices, and thunderings, and HghteningSj and an earthquake. THE fire of the altar is the Holy Spirit, which is given to the Son without meafure, John iii. 34. and by him given to his church, in all the earth, John i. 23' And in anfwer to the fuppli- cations of the difciples, this operation was per- formed ; when the Holy Ghoit, according to the word of promife, defcended on them in fire. And not at that time only, but in every age, the faints continue in prayer and fupplication, and never ceafe till they receive the fame fpirit, and with the fame riches and power ■, refpecting in- ternal enjoyment, though not with the fame ex- ternal tokens. And wherever this is, there are voices, diitihctly opening the counfel of God : thunderings ; difplays of the majefty of God : lightenings, the mining forth of his excellency ; and ■i7o A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION and an earthquake ; every thing that is of man, fhaken and removed, Heb. xii. 27. It is Chrift who by his word of truth, fends his Holy Spirit, in anfwer to the prayers of his chofen, to dwell with men upon the earth, Luke xi. 13. John xiv. 16. xv. 26. Gal. iii, 2. Ver. 6. And the /even angels , which had the /even trumpets, prepared, themf elves to found. THE Lord Jefus taught his difciples to pray the Lord of the harveft to fend labourers, that is, minifters to preach the gofpel : this prayer therefore flill abides with them, and through that pillar of fmoke, which afcends from the incenfe of his interceflion, will aflfuredly be heard, and their requefts be granted. And in confe- quence thereof, the gofpel is prepared for its going forth, in all its appointed modes and periods, until it fhall have founded to every cor- ner of the terreftrial globe. Ver. 7. Thefirjl angel founded, and there followed bail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cafi upon the earth : and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grafs was burnt up. THIS that followed did not proceed from the trumpet, which was no other than the everlafting gofpel i but the things that followed, proceeded from of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 171 from the malice of fatan, in oppofition to the preaching of the gofpel of Chrift. The hail was the rage of carnal men ; the fire was the violent perfecution ; and the blood was the (laughter of the difciples, which followed the gofpel wherever it fpread. They were caft upon the earth ; that is, outwardly upon the believers ; by them that had power only to kill the. body. Profeffors are compared to trees, and thefe confifl of three parts -, the ftrong eftablifhed fouls; the young tender plants; and thofe whom the heavenly Father hath not planted. Thefe laft, being only nominal or formal profeffors, could not (land the trial; but when the axe of perfecution was laid to the root, they were hewn down, and caft into the fire ; or having no root in themfelves, they withered away, Gal. vi. 12. And all green grafs, fuch as were inclining to attend to the gofpel, but only from carnal principles ; all that fiefh which is grafs was burnt up, and dried away, Ifaiah xl. 6, 7, 8. Ver. 8. And the Jecond angel founded^ and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was caft into the Jea ; and the third fart of thefea became blood. THIS fecond trumpet, was the more extenfive fpreading of the gofpel, after the deftruction of Jerufalem, ' and after the death of the apoftles. To 1 7 2 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION To which three things contributed. i. The deftruction of the Jews, according to the Lord's prediction, was a convincing proof that he was the Median, whom they had crucified, and for which the wrath of God came upon them. 2. The perfecutions of the Roman emperors; which, though they drove away falfe profeflbrs, during their violence \ yet, their cruelties were Jhocking even to human nature ; fo as to caufe very ferious reflections in many minds : and feeing the conftancy of the fufferers, when there were intervals of refpite, it drew many to enquire after the truth. 3. The churches growing more lax in faith and order, many more were encouraged to join them. Howbeit, it was the means of the gofpel becoming more popular, Phil. i. 18. The ferpent perceiving that violence did not fuc- ceed to his defire, finds out another fubtile device, to accomplish his defign by deceit, by Stimulating great numbers of carnal perfons, to make a pro- fefiion of being chriftians ■, whereby they became Jo ftrong a party, as to fet up an emperor; and ib to bring the empire into the name of chriftian. This was the mountain, burning with the fire of heathen fuperftion, that was call: into the fea, the no- minal church. For no fooner did that fuperftiti- ous monfter, Conftantine, obtain the dignity, than he began to ufurp authority, and to interfere with the authority of Chrift in governing his church. And under him and the fucceeding emperors, the church of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 173 church was brought under human jurifdiction ; guarded by carnal influence, and governed by the fpirit of the world. Now fatan obtained his end ; for thefe unfandlified intruders, fervants of the prince of darknefs, fet up their pofts by the Lord's poll -, convening councils, raifing minif- ters to fecular dignities, and caufing heathens to take the name of chriftians ; though in reality they were as much heathens as before j and fo bringing their heathen idolators into the church. By this means the church became the feat of idolatry, a neft of devils, and all abominations. And fo all that part which was compofed of carnal profef- fors, became a fea of blood, or a dead lake. Ver. 9. And the third 'part of the creatures which were in thefeay and had life, died; and the third part ofthe/hips were dejiroyed. THEY that have the Son of God, have life in truth, and can never die, but live for ever, John vi. 31. xi. 26. This cannot be the life here intended ; neither is it mere natural life that is here meant, for that being what all men have, would make no diftincftion. But there be many creatures in the nominal church which have a mulhroom life, or a life of profeflion ; like the ground where the feed was fown among flones, which had life to fpring up, but not to endure : thefe may continue for a while, in carnal affec- tion, 174 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION tion and blind zeal, but are certain to fly from perfecution, or to be drawn away with carnal allurements. They died from the truth, when they began to live in the friendfhip of this world ; or that which they had was taken away, Luke viii. 1 8. As for fhips, they are not living crea- tures, nor provifions to live upon ; they are only machines, ufed for carrying commodities for the life of the living. The believers are the true living; the truth of the gofpel, the word of God, is the provifion they live upon ; and the ordi- nances of Chrift are ufed as means of conveyance to communicate the bleflings of the word of life to their conceptions. So far as thefe fhips fall into the hands of carnal profeflbrs, the truth and virtue of them is deftroyed; and about that time, the ordinances appointed by Chrift for the bene- fit of his church, were fo corrupted 5 that their true fpiritual defign was utterly lofts and fo it is in every national church to this day. Ver. 10. And the third angel founded, and there fell a great jlar from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters. WE know in fcripture, minifters are compared to Mars ; fo the body of falfe minifters are here reprefentcd by a great ftar falling from heaven ,- that is, from the true heavenly doctrine, to the carnal of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 175 carnal traditions of men. As to thofe who have read the life of that impoftor, Conftantine, and his fucceffors, it is eafy to fee, that when the minifters, bifhops, &c. found themfelves foftered under imperial favour and power, they immedi- ately forgot the favour and authority of Chrift, and fell from heaven to the earth ; they began to fpeak the language, and do the works of the flefh, and of the world, and to teach the wifdom of this world. Being moved by carnal principles, ambition, covetoufnefs, and fuperftition, to obtain the worldly benefices granted by worldly autho- rity, they fought it by the wifdom of this world, and forfook the wifdom which is from above. And fo the poifon fell upon the rivers, and foun- tains of waters ; that is, the truth of God, the gofpel of Chrift, which they pretended to teach, but corrupted with their lying fables : and this they did with great parade and pompous fhew, as it had been a burning lamp in the fpirit of the world, to dazzle the eyes of carnal men. This was at the founding of the third trumpet j or the third general fpreading of the gofpel in the world : for notwithftanding the corruption which follow- ed, or was by fatan introduced into the church, the counfel of the Lord fhall ftand -, and the deepeft defigns of the enemy he over-rules, and makes fubfervient to his own purpofes. The name of chriftian, being falfly taken by the em- pire, gave opportunity to them that were true minifters i76 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION miniflers of Chrift to publiih the gofpel of the grace of God to a farther extent among the na- tions. Ver. i i. And the name of the ft ar is called Worm- wood : and the third -part of the waters became wormwood j and many men died of the water 'Sy becaufe they were made bitter. MINISTERS now receiving their inftructions from the wifdom of men -, arts, fciences, and the logick of fchoolsj they brought nothing but de- lufive light, and their doctrine was the bitternefs of hell ; being utterly repugnant to the wifdom of God, and the truth as it is in Jefus. For it never was poffible for any human fchool upon earth to teach the knowledge of God j and the nearer they could bring their diabolical divinity to refemble heavenly truth, the more of the fe- duction of fatan was contained in it. No man can attempt to explain the fcripture, by that kind of learning and wifdom, but what he is certain to darken it ; nor can he fo much as touch it with thofe impure ringers, but he mull needs tarnifh it. Therefore, fo far as their glolTes pafled upon the pure word of God, they made it bitter ; and the truth of God was turned into a lie. And fo far as any man received the teftimony of Chrift through their polluted hands, he certain- ly became a dead foul. Ver. of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 177 Ver. 12. And the fourth angel founded, and the third part of the fun was fmitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the ftars : fo as the third part of them was darkened, and the day Jhone not for a third part of it, and the night likewife. WHEN the northern nations, Goths, Vandals, Lombards, Huns, &c. &c. made eruptions into the Roman empire, and fettled themfelves in the moil fertile countries in Europe ; then the fourth trumpet founded, or there was another fpreading of the gofpel. For either at their firft coming or foon after, they all took the chriftian name ; and, no doubt, might be the means of making it known in fome of the countries from whence they came. Not that there ever was fuch a thing as a nation becoming chriftian only in name, and by being allowed to bring their heathen idolatries along with them. Chrift never yet gathered his people by nations, but by individuals, Ifaiah xxvii. 12. Ezek. xxxiv. 11. Therefore it was not to be expected, that fuch numbers of rude idola- trous people fhould come into the church, unlefs they found it already full of idolatry and corrup- 'tion, whereby they were invited; and alfo that they might bring their own idolatries and abomi- nations with them into it. There never yet has been known fuch a thing as a church becoming very numerous, but it became very corrupt. N Howbeit, 178 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION Howbeit, forafmuch as the gofpel then became made known to fo many nations, who before were ignorant of it, I make no doubt but that it was bleiTed in truth to fome individuals of them. By this time herefy, falfe doctrine, falfe wor- ship, corruption, and human tradition had fb far prevailed, that in the nominal church of Chrift t'he glory was fmitten. The truth of Chrift, the fun of righteoufnefs, was in a great meafure denied, or obfcured ; and in confe- quence the church, who like the moon fhines only by a communicated light, mult fo far be darkened; and the profefTed minifters compared to ftars, ceafed to mine as lights, not holding forth the pure light of the gofpel, but the wifdom of men. Thus the day for a great part of it fhone not ; for the light of Chrift, the great luminary of day, being obfcured in the vifible church, his mining was interrupted. It is true, the fouls that are born of God, being children of light, children of the day, are never left to walk in darknefs, but have in themfelves the light of life. But forafmuch as they ftill continued among the worldly profeflbrs, either wanting courage to fhake themfelves from the duft, Ifaiah lii. 2. or perhaps in hopes of feeing the outward fanctuary cleanfed, they were furrounded with the dark- nefs j to the grief of their hearts, like the mourn- ers of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 179 ers in Jerufalem, Ezek. ix. 4. And as the church is the feat of day, the world is the feat of night; and though the world receives not the true light, yet, like moon and ftars which are appointed to rule the night, the church and her minifters are appointed to fhine as lights in the world : but this they were certain to ceafe to do, fo far as the fun ceafed to fhine upon them. -Wherever there is the name without life, and the form without the power, darknefs muft enfue, Mat. vi. 23. Ver. 13. And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midft of heaven, faying with a loud voice. Wo, wo, wo to the inhabit ers of the earth, by reafon of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels which are yet to found. THE revelator, here perfonating the church, gives a note of peculiar attention, I beheld -, for now the attention of the faints mould be awaked in a different manner than heretofore. Hitherto they feem to have lingered in the national church s with grief to fee the apoftacy, and fome hopes of feeing a reftoration j during whicli time, the ferpent had been pouring out floods of violence and feduction, intending to fwallow them up ; but for the eledts fake, his power was fhortened ; he prevailed only to a certain part : his power was univerfal over the carnal religious world, hut not total, fo as to deprive the believers of N 2 their 1 80 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION their comfort. But now the time was come, that the Lord would deliver his people, and leave the hypocrites to drink their own waters. The angel flies through the midft of heaven, that is, the whole church, to alarm the finners of their mifery, and admonifh God's elect to depart from the tents of thofe wicked men ; for that he would let loofe the enemy, not to hurt his own children, but to punifh the inhabitants of the world for their iniquity. And under the found- ing of the remaining trumpets, heavy and multi- plied woes mould come upon the earth. CHAP. IX. Verse i. And the fifth angel founded, and I Jaw a ftar fall from heaven unto the earth ; and to him was given the key of the bottomlefs -pit. THIS is the fifth extention of the gofpel, which took place in the latter part of the fixth century i and it was in a different way to all the reft. For now the popes being come within a ftep of univerfal jurifdiction, took upon themfelves authority to fend miffionaries to fpread the gofpel. At this time it was, that Auftin was fent to preach the gofpel to the Saxons in Britain. And though it was brought by a corrupt meffen- ger, of the BOOK of the REVELATION. i$i ger, fent by ufurped authority, the fcripture of truth was thereby introduced to our anceftors; which is the gofpel of our falvation. And now what followed was fo remarkable, that John, as reprefentative of the church, faith, I Jaw I The things which followed upon the founding of the former trumpets are only fimply related j but this is delivered with this fpecial remark, A star fell from heaven to earth. This was not a natural ftar from the firmament, nor any one man, who could not pofiibly have done what this did ; this ftar was the devil in his delufive light, who was got into heaven, that is, into the church of God ; where he flayed till Michael cafl him out, Rev. xii. 9. And with him were cart out all his angels, his falfe minifters, the grand body of his clergy, whom he had filled with his fatanical delufions. It was this falfe light, im- pregnating fo large a body, that made fo vifible a blaze ; this was the time of the feparation be- tween the church of the firft-born, and the church of the infernal demon. The nominal church had been long in polluting by divers gradations, yet hitherto had retained fome part of heavenly truth ; but now fell entirely from all fpiritual purity, and attended to nothing at all but what was earthly, fenfual, and devilifh. And this, the members of the true church, believers in Jefus, being children of light, plainly faw: and from that day, all the N 3 difciples 1 82 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION difciples of the Chrift of God forfook the national church, and fled into the wildernefs, or went forth without the camp, bearing the reproach of Chrift. Since that time, they never communica- ted with national churches, nor ever made any refpectable figure in the world. This was the calling of the dragon out of heaven, when the true church, the children of God, Ihut him out. To this falling ftar was given the key of the bottomlefs pit -3 that is, power to open the very abyfs of fatan j that through the hearts of thefe wicked men, all the deceits and abominations of hell might find vent into the world j becauie for their idolatry and hypocrify the wrath of God was come upon them to the uttermoft •, and he now delivered them to the will of him, whole children they were, and whofe works they would do, John viii. 38, 41, 44. 2ThefT. ii. 3, 4, 8 — 12. Ver. 2. And he opened the bottomlefs pit, and there arofe a /moke out of the pit, as the fmoke of a great furnace ; and the fun and the air were darkened by re of on of the fmoke of the pit. THE fmoke of the pit is the doctrine of devils, under the name of the doctrine of Chrift ; and the opening of the pit was the propagating of thofe doctrines by the ions of Antichrift. Men's hearts being deceitful, and defperately wicked, Jer. of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 183 Jer. xvii. 9. and the fpirit of devils joining with them againft the Lord, and againft his anointed, undertook the moft daring enterprize, to thruft the Son of God out of his throne, and to dignify man in his place. For inftead of learning from Chrift, the true prophet and teacher, they fet up fchools, academies, colleges, and univerfities ; to teach the things of heaven by earthly wifdom. And hereby the true fun of righteoufnefs, the light of Chrift, in the word of his grace; and the pure air, the vital influence, and fpecial guidance of the fpirit of truth, were totally obfcured. For where this fmoke of the bottomlefs pit, human learning, is introduced into the church, the true light is fo darkened and confounded by the falfe light, Luke xi. 34, 3$. that the truth, as it is in Jefus, has no refidence there. For this earthly learning and wifdom of men is fo idolized and taken into the place of the true light of the fpirit, that wherever it fo prevails, as for the knowledge of God to have any dependence thereon, the Son of God has no longer the dominion in that church, or in that foul. But the traditions of men, as the fmoke of a great furnace, drive away the pure light of the gofpel ; and under this veil of darknefs, the authority of Chrift is rejected ; and men take upon them to dictate what is to be believed, and what is to be practifed, and to have dominion over the people's faith. For this N 4 I appeal i84 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION I appeal to the confcience of every man that efteems himfelf unlearned, and yet thinks human learning necefTary to the knowledge of God, that he has no faith of his own, but that for which he is dependent on fome learned man, or men -, therefore it cannot be faith in God. And forafmuch as learned men of every denomination clafh, difpute and contend one againft another, almoft in every thing, which party muft the poor man follow ? In this he can have no director but his own fancy. This way it came about, that the myftery of iniquity, the unfathomable deeps of darknefs and corruption prevailed j and the nominal chjurch became an habitation of devils, Vf;R. 3. And there came out of the /moke locujls upon the earth j and to them was given power, as the Jcorpions of the earth have power. LOCUSTS are a kind of fly, or, as they are called in the law, flying creeping things ; and are a great plague to the earth, where they come : they go forth by bands, and fpread over the earth as clouds, devouring every green thing where they fettle. To thefe the priefts and minifters of Antichrifl are compared j who fpring forth of the fmoke of the bottomlefs pit j even from the ftrong dclufions of fatan, propagated by the wif- dom and traditions of men. From thefe delufions they have their exiftence, as leaders of the people; and of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 185 and by thefe delufions they live and prevail. By their numbers they carry all before themj and by their deceit and violence devour every thing in their way : the truth of the gofpel, the ufe of men's reafon, the peace of their confciences, and even drain them of the comforts of life. And as God had left this falfe church to fatan, he being caft out into the earth, and being the God of this world, he gave power to thefe his minifters, as the moft malignant fcorpions, to ftrike, to fling, to poifon, and torment. For when people dis- regard the word of the Lord, and give themfelves up to the teachings of men, they are certain to fall into the hands of falfe teachers, that is, the minifters of fatan j for every man that pretends to preach the gofpel is either true or falfe, for there is no neutrality; he is either fent of God, and baptized with the fpirit of Chrift j or he is an impoftor, fent of the devil, and infpired with the fpirit of devils. And by thefe they will afiuredly be turned unto fables, and poifoned with damnable herefies and dodtrines of devils ; and getting power over men's confciences, will tyrannize and torment. Ver. 4. And it was commanded them, that they Jhould not hurt the grafs of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only thofe men which have not thejeal of God in their foreheads, WHAT- i86 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION WHATEVER licence the Lord may give to fatan at certain times, in divers cafes, and for wife purpofes, he never lets the chain flip out of his own hand, but reftrains him at his pleafure. I find the faints compared to grafs, to herbs, and trees, Pfalm lxxii. 16. Ifaiah lxi. 3. lxvi. 14. thefe the wicked one has no power to touch. But if by thefe vegetables mould be intended the pafture, the food, the fpiritual provifion for the faints, it is ftill the fame j the ferpent is confined to his duft, he fhall not devour the children's bread, Ifaiah lxii. 8. lxv. 25. The children of light will not follow thefe thieves and robbers i John x. 4, 5. they are called from among them, and have left the Antichriftian church j and be- ing fecured in another fold, fatan has no licence to hurt any of Chrift's fheep, be they weak or ftrong. It is only thofe who willingly follow thefe locufl fcorpions that they have power to hurt; or thofe men which have not the feal of God in their foreheads. We are not hereby obliged to underftand fuch as were not fealed among the peculiar number, mentioned to be felected at one time j for every child of God, in every age, has his Father's name in his forehead. Ver. 5. And to them it was given that they Jhould not kill them, but that they Jhould be tormented five months ; and their torment was as the tor- ment of ' a/corpont when he ftriketh a man. THE of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 187 THE power of thefe locufls was not to kill men's bodies, but to torment their confciences; though they have been the caufe of many being killed i as Auftin is faid to be the caufe of many poor people being killed near Bangor in Wales ; Calvin is faid to be the caufe of the death of Servetus -, and the popifh bifhops in England to be the caufe of many being burnt in Smithfield; but it was not done with their own hands, but by inltigating fecular powers. The time is fixed for five months. Many have fought for fome period to fix thefe five months, and fome have waded among the Saracens to find it ; though the things fet forth under the found- ing of this trumpet never had any relation to that people : but 1 think it may be gathered from the facred oracles. Be it obferved, one day is compared to a thoufand years, and a thoufand years to one day j then be it obferved, God created the world in fix days, and appointed the feventh for reft : and be it alfo obferved, that as the fun was created on the fourth day, fo the fun of righteoufnefs made his appearance at the end of four thoufand years : as God began to create the living creatures on the fifth day, fo he began to bring life and immortality to light through the gofpel at the beginning of the fifth thoufand years , and as he formed man, and finifhed the creation 1 88 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION creation by the end of the fixth day, fo we have reaibn to expect (according to the beft computa- tion that can be made from the things to be ga- thered in the prophefies,) that the word of life will be fpread through the whole world before the end of the fixth thoufand years. On the feventh day God relied : and if we confider, that the happy time of Chrift's reign over the nations, in the univerfal extent of the gofpel, is fpoken of as a period of considerable duration, Ezek. xxxvii. 26, 27, 28. Dan. ii. 3$, 44, we have ftrong reafon to conclude, that the feventh thoufand years fhall be a true fabbath of gofpel reft to the whole world. According to this calculation, it makes the time of the gofpel, from the afcenfion of the Lord to his fecond coming, to be three thoufand years ; of which I have no doubt. Now be it noted, that this whole time of the gofpel is called a year, the acceptable year, the year of my redeemed, &c. Now then, if three thoufand years of time bears the denomination of one year of gofpel glory, what will five months of that year amount to ? The anfwer is obvious : it makes 1250 years, which, as near as months can bring it, is the fame as the number fo often mentioned, 1 260 days. And in what light foever thefe five months are to be underftood, it is certain the time of thefe locufts will continue during the reign of Antichrift, and no longer. And during this of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 189 this period, they have it in their power to bind and to torment the minds and confciences of thofe that receive the mark of the beau;, even as if a fcorpion did ftrike with his fling. Ver. 6. And in thofe days Jh all men feek death, and jhall not find it ; and jh all dejire to die, and death Jhall flee from them. IT is no wonder that men fhould defire death, to be delivered from fuch ferpents of the duft. Sometimes caufing their bodies to be tormented with racks and tortures, prifons and inquifitions ; fometimes loading them with heavy burdens, in obferving their invented fuperftitions j fometimes terrifying them with excommunication out of the kingdom of God; others tormenting their minds, by reprefenting the immutable God of truth and love as the mod capricious, deceitful, and tyran- nical being •, telling us, that God created a great part of mankind with defign for damnation ; and that he decreed them to be finful, and by his decree made fin unavoidable, that they might be miferable : and then pretending to folve the ab- furdities, by the moft perplexing delufive argu- ments, fufficient to torture the underftanding to diffraction : and others telling us, that God fixed fuch a conftitution in Adam, that his fin fhould bring his pofterity into a flate of inevitable and eternal damnation ; and others terrifying perfons with i9o A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION with fears, that if an infant mould die, the parents not having taken care to get an Anti- chriftian prieft to profane the moft facred name over it in their mock baptifm, to warn away its imaginary original guilt, that the child will be damned through their neglect, and themfelves in danger of damnation for being guilty of fuch neglect ; with numbers of fuch tormenting flories, fpringing out of the abyfs of the bottomlefs pit. Ver. 7. And the Jhapes of the locufts were like unto horfes prepared unto battle •, and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. AS the 'intention of falfe minifters is to make a prey of mankind, like devouring locufls, they are fure to prepare war againft any that do not comply with their felfifh views, Micah iii. 5. Their fhape is not corporeal, but myftical and diabolical ; and they make themfelves formidable, and are dreaded by men, like the warrior's horfe. Their very minds are formed to engage in battle againft the truth of Chrift ; and for the defini- tion of the fouls of men, in turning them from the truth. They have counterfeit crowns, as it were like gold j but far from true gold, if they come to be tried ; being only the falfe honour which themfelves take, and fools give; in refpecl: to thofe things which are highly efteemed among men, of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 191 men, but are abomination in the fight of God. Howbeit, they hold the dominion, and reign over the blind confciences of the people, and are greatly idolized ; by fome out of fuperftition, by fome to obtain favour, and by fome out of fear. They have faces like men : they make a fair fhew of being men in human learning, wifdom, and understanding, as well as being poiTefled of hu- man virtues ; as alfo of being pofTefTed of the tenderer!; affedtion for men's falvation. But be- ing falfe to God, it is impoffible they fhould be fincere to men. Ver. 8. And they had hair as the hair of women,, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. HAIR is an ornament both to men and women, but frequently worn in a different mode ; and take the woman's hair in a good fenfe, as being long, for a covering, in token of modefty, it is a glory to her ; but as a man ought to appear bold and open, it is a mame to him to be covered with long hair j for that which in a woman is juftly efteemed modefty, is in a man juftly cenfured as a cover for fome villainy. And this is the cafe with the minifters of Antichrift, they are always crying out for modefty, that the things of the kingdom of God fhould not be laid too open ; the truth of Chrift fhould not be preached too bold i the bleffings of the fpirit of grace fhould not 1 92 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION not be exprefTcd too pofitive : the true reafon is, they want to obfcure them from others, becaufe themfelves are ftrangers to them. But if the hair of women be taken in an evil fenfe, as having refpect to them that plait, broider, and decorate their hair in a foolifh wanton manner, with lewd defigns, fuch as is difguftful to men of modeity and prudence, but pleafing and alluring to fops, rakes, and fools. In like manner do thefe fons of darknefs drefs up the things they teach and practifej that they are abominable to the true difciples of Jefus, but alluring and enticing to hypocrites and carnal perfons. And as it is laid of lewd harlots, that they frequently rob and often murder the perfons whom they entice and enfnare ; fo do thefe falfe teachers to all that they can beguile ; they rob them of all truth, peace, and happinefs ; and with the weapons of hell murder their fouls. For they, being the natural fons of the great roaring lion, and having teeth as the teeth of lions, in refemblance of their fa- ther, they perpetually go about feeking whom they may devour. Ver. 9. And they had breaft-ptates, as it were breafi -plates of iron ; and the found of their wings was as the found of chariots of many horfes run- ning to battle. THESE armies of the prince of the power of the of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 193 the air have two forts of breafl-plates, whereby they are ftrongly armed for war againft the king of princes. One is the fecular powers, whereby they ate maintained and defended ; the other is a hard heart, or a feared confciencc, whereby they are ftagnated paft feeling, like cafe-hardened iron. They have alfo their wings, wherewith they fly above other men in natural arts and fcience, and in fpecious pretenfions of holy orders, and the facrednefs of their high office. Thefe carnal boaftings, with their numerous bands, makes fa great a found, that it is like the noife of chariots of an uncommon fize, even like chariots drawn by many horfes. And feeing the day is not come for the Lamb' in his wrath to go forth againft them, their hearts are obdurately bent to wicked- nefs, and their mouths are fet againft the heavens, like chariots in array, which cannot be repelled, but furioufly rufh to battle. Ver. to. And they had tails like unto /corpions, and there were ftings in their tails ; and their power was to hurt men five months. THE fcorpion is faid to be mod dangerous in hot countries, and in hot feafons ; therefore its power continues only five months, or during the heat of fummer. So thefe myftic fcorpions fhall continue no longer than while the heat of carnal principles prevail in the world, -to be a nurfery O to 1 94 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION to them. Thefe fcorpions have their tails j An- tichriftian creeds, and ecclefiaftical canons, orders, and edicts j and in thefe tails they have flings ; anathemas, and pronunciations of wrath and ven- geance, to torture feduced confciences. And fo long as the fmoke of the bottomlefs pit prevails againft the light of the gofpel of Chrift, it will be in the power of thefe meffengers of fatan thus to hurt men. Ver. ii. And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomlefs pit, whoje name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue he hath his name Apollyon. IT is well known, that the bifhop of Rome took upon him to claim univerfal authority over the church ; but it is only the Antichriftian church over whom he reigns -, for the true church of Chrift never did nor ever will be fubject to fuch an impoftor : but among his own party he has fo far prevailed, that for many ages, and in many nations, he has reigned defpotic over his own locufts. The arrogancy of the pope, the pernicious doctrines and abominable practices by him propagated in the church of Rome, do fully demonftrate him to be this deftroyer, according to his name both in the Hebrew and Greek tongues, the angel of the bottomlefs pit, the vicegerent of Antichrift. Many indeed have called the of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 195 the pope Antichrift, but that is not true ; nor is it any thing but a fubtil device of fatan to have him fo called ; only to deceive people, and make them believe that if they are not profeffed papiftsy they are not of the party of Antichrift. It is true, the pope is Antichrift's generaliflimo, the firft peer in his realm ; but he is not Antichrift him- felf, nor does he command his whole kingdom : Antichrift is the carnal principle, falfe dodtrines, and traditions of men, fet up in the place of the truth of Chrift. When the pope firft ufurped univerfal jurifdiclion, there were a number of his brethren, as real fons of Antichrift as himfelf, who never would fubmit to his dominion ; and now there are a number of his fons [the proteftants] who refufe fubjection to him, yet they are of the fame family j all the difference is this, they faw fuch extravagancy and diforder in their father's houfe, that they betook themfelves to a feparate apartment, to live in a little more decorum ; but they are ftill of the fame family, for reformation can never bring a falfe church to be a true church of Chrift j If any man be in Chrift, he is a new creature, not an old one mended or reformed. And I confefs I never knew any feci:, party, or denomination of profeffed chriftians, but taking them as a body, or party together, it was eafy to fee that Antichrift had the chief dominion over them 5 notwithftanding the pope of Rome, the O 2 prime 1 96 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION prime minifter of Antichrift, is abhorred and de- tefted by them. Ver. 12. One zvo is pafy and behold there come two woes more hereafter. WHAT has now been fpoken relates to the firft wo, and the other two remain to be fpoken of; but as to the accomplifnment, the fir ft will not terminate before the fecond begins ; for they are very near cotemporary with each other, and are both in accomplifliing at this very time ; and fhall come to a conclufion about the fame period. Vir. 13. And the fixth angel founded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar y which is before God. THIS is the fixth fpreading of the gofpel in the world, or fending forth of the word of truth to the Gentiles ; and it appears to have been to- ward the eaft, that is, toward the river Euphrates, Mefopotamia, Chaldea, Arabia, &c. as the other five appear chiefly to have been toward the weft. It v/as in a different part of the earth, and pro- bably had not been forwarded by the fame means as the others were, and therefore is called the fixth founding of the trumpet j notwithstanding it might not be later than the others in order of time : for the firfl epiftle, of Peter appears to be written of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 197 written from Babylon, where there was a church in his days. But fome will have this Babylon to mean Rome, which would have been unbecoming the clear language of an apoftle of Jefus, to direct his epiflle from a place under an ambiguous or fictitious name. Others tell of fome place in Egypt called Babylon, but we find no fuch place mentioned in fcripture : to me it plainly appears to be Babylon in Chaldea, which was not then totally deftroyed, though now it be no more. Howbeit, the gofpel does not appear to have made fuch a rapid fpread towards the eafi as towards the weft -, but it certainly had fpread into thefe parts of the world before the things that followed upon the founding of this trumpet came to pafs, otherwife the effects could not have fucceeded. The golden altar before the throne of God was a clear reprefentation of Chrift in his afcended glory j the prieft that approached the altar was a reprefentation of Chrift in his high office; and the incenfe offered thereon was a reprefentation of Chrift in his effential precioufnefs, as the de- light of God, afcending in his effectual inter- ceffion to give accefs to the prayers of his people. This altar was of fhittim wood, a figure of the human nature -, it was entirely covered with gold, to fhew that the man Chrift Jefus is perfectly- infolded in the Divine Effencej and the horns O 3 were 198 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION were of the very fame, which were both for or- nament and defence, and might refemble the love, the truth, the wifdom, and the power of Chrift: going forth towards his church. And as the opening of the feventh feal, under which thefe trumpets founded, was introduced with the intercefiion of Chrift, together with the prayers of all faints upon this altar, for the fuccefs of the gofpel, the voice that came from the four horns thereof could be no other than a gracious anfwer to their fupplications, granting their requefts, in giving fuccefs to the founding of the gofpel of the grace of God among the nations. Ver. 14. Saying to the fixth angel which had the trumpet, Loqfe the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. BY the angel here, we are not to underftand an individual perfon, either from heaven or earth. An angel is a mini Iter, or mefTenger, and may intend a bleffing, a judgment, an army, a dif- penfation of providence, or any going forth of the hand of God. And when God gives a com- mand, it is not always directed to intelligent beings, but to winds, feas, clouds, &c. he com- manded and they were created. And this command to the angel fignifies the will of God, that the word fhould be preached in thofe countries about the river Euphrates. Not that it fhould produce any of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 199 any evil, for no evil can pofiibly proceed from the pure gofpel of Chrift ; but that it fhould become fo extenfive, as would open a door to thofe who were waiting for an opportunity to execute their own defigns; as the braking up of the ground, to fow the wheat, gave opportu- nity to the enemy to fow tares. That which is reprefented as following the founding of this trumpet, is no other than the Mahometan power and ravage ; not one particular empire, as Sara- cens, Perfians, Turks, &c. but the whole reign of that herefy, power, and tyranny. And the foolifli doftrines, mimickries, and impoftures, of which that religion is prolifick, could not pofiibly have been invented, had they not had the gofpel of Chrift to aflift them with ideas. Thus the glorious gofpel of the Son of God was made a handle to the moll monftrous fables of that moft infamous impoftor. But as, to the four angels which were bound, and now loofed, fome may think them to be the immediate fucceffors of Mahomet, whofe victories were fo exceflive rapid ; but I do not learn that thefe had been bound, though doubtlefs the loofing was by thefe accomplifhed. Or fome may think it intends the four feels, into which the Mahometan religion and power is faid to be divided -, but as thefe were not then fprung up, I fee not how they could be bound and loofed : O4 but 200 A SCRIPTURAL. ILLUSTRATION but this we know, that divers countries have names given them from the rivers that run by or through them. Therefore by the river, I under- Hand the counries adjoining to the river Euphra- tes; and by the angels-, I underftand the nations inhabiting thole countries on the banks of that river; which fome hiftorians tell us, were at that time under the emperor of the profeflfed chriitians, by whom the) thought themfelves not well ufed ; therefore bound, and were waiting an opportu- nity to deliver themfelves. And when Mahomet had invented a new religion, which was fo ac- commodated to the carnal mind, and to the grofs ideas of a people, who through long bondage had loft all refined tafte, and were become rude, boorifh and belbtted, fo as he gathered a nu- merous band of vulgar people to become his followers ; and being of an enterprizing genius, he and his fuccefibrs were found fit men to fhake off the yoke of the emperor of Conftantinople ; which when they had done, and found themfelves in power, there were no bounds to their ambi- tion, or to their ravage. And to this day, their offspring and their followers continue the fame principles and practices, fo far as God is pleafed to permit them to be loofed. Ver. 15. And the four angels were kofed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 201 months and a year, for to flay the third part of men. THESE four angels probably might be the four nations of Arabia, Chaldea, Melbpotamia, and Syria. However that might be, doubtlefs the few real chriftians which might be living in thofe parrs in the feventh century, did know how this prophefy was fulfilled -, for however dark the prophefies may appear to carnal men, however they may baffle the learning of the world, or how far the children of light may be from a clear underftanding of them, while at a diftance, God certainly does not fpeak to the air : when a prophefy comes to be fulfilled, it appears clear to all thofe faints whom it immediately concerns, and who are living at the time and place. Thefe angels were prepared for an ap- pointed critical period, to be a fcourge to the apoftatizing profeiTors of Chrift,*at the time when they had cart off the fear of God, forfaken the truth of the gofpel, and funk into all abomina- tions. Thefe were the people they were, pre- pared to punifh -, for they are complained of for their incorrigiblenefs in their fins, Verfes 20, 21 j which ihews they were perfons who profeffed, or had means of knowing better, Amos iii. 2. And forafmuch as thefe pretended chriftians did not return to the Lord, nor repent of their wick- ednefs, the punilhment which might have been only 202 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION only for an hour, was extended to a day, and to a month, and to a year j that is, to continue to the end of the prefent dark period, or to the time when the feventh trumpet fhall found. Thefe were to flay the third part of men ; not to kill their bodies, or deftroy their lives, which would have been fuch a carnage as never was under the fun j but to deftroy their power, government, and liberty; and to bring them into fubjec~tion, under their tyranny, fo as to have it in their power to flay whom they would. And this, it is computed, they have done to about a third part of this eaftern hemifphere, or a third part of the world, fo far as it then was known. Ver. i 6. And the number of the army of the horfe- men were two hundred thoufand thoufand : and I heard the number of them. THE maxim of this people is, that the reli- gion of Mahomet is to be propagated by the fword; and their foldiers in general are horfe- men -, and this is the number of their army : not the number of one army, in one place, at one time, which no man in the ufe of his reafon could conceive ever to have been : yet it does not ap- pear to me to be an hyperbolical number, given to raife admiration, for John declares he heard the number of them : fo I conceive it to be the real number of troops which fhould be employed by of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 203 by the Mahometan powers, from their firft rife, to their laft extinction, which muil be a number exceeding great. And if we confider the time fince they began, with the time they may yet continue, and then confider their vafl multitudes, the empire of Morocco, the ftates of Barbary, Turkifh empire, Arabians, Perfians, Moguls, Tartars, and all other Mahometans, it is not at all incredible, that a people fo numerous, fo ad- dicted to war, and for fo long a period, might have^ two hundred thoufand thoufand men in arms. Ver. 17. And thus If aw the horfes in the vifwn% and them that fat on themy having breaft-plates of fire , and of jacinth, and brimftone : and the heads of the horfes were as the heads of lions ■, and out of their mouths ijfuedfire, and f moke 3 and brimftone. WHATEVER the prophets have feen in vi- fion, the church of God either have (een or ihall fee in fact. The number of thefe horfes John heard expreffed in its true fignification ; but he fees them in virion, reprefented in a figure. They that fat on the horfes had breaft-plates, which are for defence, to make men invulnerable, that they may be hard and bold in war. That which has made the followers of Mahomet hardy and defperate, has been the fire of blind zeal, ima- gining 204 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION gining themfelves to be fighting for God, and for his high exalted prophet. The jacinth, the imaginary appearance of heaven ; that is, their notions of unfruftrable fate, and being infatuated to believe, that the man that died in fighting for the caufe of Mahomet mould immediately go to paradife. And brimftone, the fulphureous fteams of covetouihefs and ambition, in cafe of victory here ; and the grofs expectations of a fenfual paradife, in cafe of death. By thefe three, they are made infenfible of danger, and void of fear ; and the heads of the horfes, the captains and commanders of their armies (not the creatures they ride upon, which are like other horfes) are as the heads of lions, for terrible roaring and de- duction. And out of their mouths, the very- breath of their inward parts, ifTued the fire of rage and deftruclion to mankind ; fmoke, to darken all true light ; and brimftone, to fuffbeate the breath of life with their fenfual, grofs, per- nicious doctrines. Vr.R. 1 8. By thefe three was the third 'part of men killed) by the fire, and by the fmoke, and by the brimflone, which iffucd out of their mouths. THE third part of the nations have been fub- dued, their power and freedom deftroyed, and the people made vaffals to their ambition, blind zeal, and falfe worfhip ; and this has been done bv of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 20$ by the fury they fhewed, and the terror thereby fpread upon the nations ; and by the fmoke iffuing from their falfe fire the people's minds were dark- ened ; and by their vain ftories of a paradife, fuited to the groflHl inclinations of men, their minds have been bewitched to infatuation. Ver. 19. For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails : for their tails were lite unto ferpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. THE princes and potentates are compared to lions, with mouths to devour the prey ; and their priefts and falfe teachers are compared to ferpents, to bite and poifon men's confciences; the ancient and honourable, he is the head ; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail; as the tail follows the head, fo thefe falfe priefts follow the reigning powers. For it is not any clear light in their doftrine that brings converts to their faith ; but it is their caliphs, fultans, or empe- rors that conquer nations, and then their preach- ers teach them as they are directed •> fo that they are mere tails to the ruling powers, as the priefts and clergy are in all national churches. Yet thefe ferpentine tails have heads, fuperiors, muftis, or archbiihops, whereby they are compact as a body, and become formidable, to fubject men to their abominable herefies. Ver. ao6 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION Ver. 20. And the reft of the men which were not killed by theje plagues, yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they Jhould not worjhip devils and idols of gold and ft her, and brafs and ft one, and of wood: which neither can fee, nor bear, nor walk, THE outrages of the Mahometans feem not to be directed againft the open heathens, who never pretended to the knowledge of the true God j though many of thofe might fall into their hands, whereby they could not be in a much worfe condition than they were before j but the plagues feem to be directed againft the apoftati- zing chriftians, who profefTed to know God, but in works denied him. Yet thofe nations who efcaped the oppreflion of thefe invaders, ftill con- tinued their abominable practices $ for the wor- fhip of faints and angels is the worfhip of devils j every thing that is worfhipped as God, if it is not the true God, it is a devil -, and every image or likenefs, made under pretence of reprefenting the true God, is an idol. For it is impofiible that the Godhead fhould be like unto any thing that neither can fee, nor hear, nor walk j or any thing formed by men's hands, contrived in men's hearts, or feen by flelhly eyes. But there be many that mainly cry out againft, and deeply condemn the worfhip of images ; and fancy them- ielves not to be guilty of it, becaufe they do not fall of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 207 fall down to dead lumps of gold, filver, brafs, ftone, or wood -, who neverthelefs worfhip a god formed in the chambers of their own imagery, or in the wifdom of learned men. For the wife men of this world have taken upon them to de- fcribe the attributes and perfections of God, ac- cording to their own ideas j and affirm his coun- fels, ways and works to be fuch as coincide with their own tafte ; or according to the judgment they have formed of what is good and right in their own imaginations. This is not the God defcribed in the infallible word of truth, nor ac- cording to the declaration of him who is in the bofom of the Father, John i. 18. yet this is the god they worfhip -, though as far from being the true God, as thofe worfhipped by Heathens, Ma- hometans, or Papifts. Ver. 21. Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their forceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. IN the church of Rome thefe fins are faid to be countenanced in their grofs nature ; their fynagogues faid to be afylums for murderers and thieves ; fornication is faid to be openly licenfed ; and forcery is faid to be univerfal -, pretended conjurations, and calling figures; attending to fortune-telling, and prognoftication ; tales of goblins and apparitions j idle ftories of figns and omens, do8 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION omens, of good and bad luck, &c. &c. They that allow themfelves in fuch gro.fs abominations as thefe, are i'ndifputably the ions of hell, and enemies to the kingdom of God. But which is the molt wicked, the fenfual productions of the flefh, or the myftical productions of the bottom- Ids pit ? To deftroy, or take away life, is murder. The word of God is appointed for men to live upon, therefore nothing can be more deep and effectual murder to men's fouls, than fhutting up the light of the gofpel of Chrift from them pi or, which is the fame thing, amufing them with the wifdom and traditions of men, to darken and confound the truth of the word of God, that they may not fee the true light, Luke xi. 52. To amufe, decoy, or terrify perfons with. pre- tended magick, is forcery ; lb to infpire peonle with principles of devotion, and excite them to be religious, by pretended miracles, vifions, &c. is religious forcery and feduc~lion ; forafmuch as there is no fuch thing now upon earth, or ever- more will be, as miracles, vifions, or any kind of immediate monitions from heaven. Alfo to prompt perfons -to fancy they belong to Chrift, are in a Itate of grace, or are beloved of God, becaufe they have fuch and fuch fymptoms, im- pulfes, impreilions in the mind, agitations of the paflions, of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 209 pafhons, &c. this is the deep forcery of hell, Jer. xxiii. 28. Impure connexions and mixtures of the diffe- rent fexes, where there is no true relation to each other, is fornication j fo to join, to mix, and confound the things of men with the things of God ; to fet men's wifdom, power, or righteouf- nefs, as taking a part with the wifdom, power, and rrghteoufnefs of God ; or any thing of man to bear a part with Chrifl, either in doctrine, worfhip, or in our acceptance with God ; this is myftical fornication. Alfo to feed ourfelves with fancies, that we are accepted of God, that we have the grace of God, and that we belong to Chrifl, becaufe we find in ourfelves fome certain marks, figns, tokens, good defires, . heavenly motions, virtuous difpofitions, &c. this is fata- nical fornication, Ezek. xliii. 8. To take, without licenfe, what pertains to ano- ther, and put it to our own ufe, is theft j fo for perfons to take upon them to preach the gofpel, when Chrifl has not called them to it, or given them authority by committing it to them; to arrogate to themfelves the power which Jefus gave to his difciples, to bind and to abfolve upon human authority ; to apply the fcripture, according to men's opinions, to thofe purpofes for which it was never intended j and to claim to themfelves, or to teach others to claim the P promifes 210 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION promifes of God, which were never adapted to them, or defigned for them ; or to call them- felves of the kingdom of heaven, when God has not fealed them thereto ; this is diabolical theft, Deut. xviii. 20. Jer. xxiii. 30, 31. CHAP. X. Verse i. And I Jaw 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 fun, and his feet as pillars of fire. WE muft remember, that this is after the founding of fix of the trumpets, and be- fore the feventh ; therefore it belongs to the fame vifion, or the fame chain of events , and was done while the effects of thofe oppofitions which arofe againft the founding of each trumpet flill exifted, but efpecially the fifth and fixth ; thefe were nearly cotemporary, and the outrages of fatan, which followed upon them, made their appearance in the feventh century ; and both of them feemed to be come to the height of their ufurpations by the fifteenth or fixteenth centuries. About which time, this mighty angel made his appearance, which John in vifion law; and all the church of God, or the few fouls that fhould be of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 211 be found fearing God, mould fee in that day, as it has manifeftly come to pafs. The defcription given of this angel cannot poflibly appertain to any but the Son of God. Mighty, Pfalm lxxxix. 19. coming down from heaven, John iii. 13. clothed with a cloud, Ads i. 9. a rainbow on his head, Ezek. i. 28. his face as the fun, Mat. xvii. 2. his feet as pillars of fire, Chap. i. 15. And in thefe characters, not in per- fbn, but in power and majefty, did the Son of God come down about thole days. Ver. 2. And he had in his hand a little book open : and he Jet his right foot upon thefea, and his left foot on the earth. ANTICHRIST had fo far prevailed, through the agency of his viceroy the pope, and his adherents, that he had darkened the fun and the air by the fmoke of the bottomlefs pit, fo as to debar the common people of the ufe of the word of God. This was the utmoft height of oppo- sition to the Lord of glory, to which it was pofTible for men and devils to proceed -, though no man can make me believe, that Jefus would fuffer his people in the wildernefs to be deprived of his word, Ifaiah lix. 21. the children of Ifrael had light in their dwellings, when darknefs co- vered all the land of Egypt, Exod. x. 23. the fire-brands of hell cannot interpofe between the P 1 faints ai2 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION faints and their God, Ifaiah lx. 2. But certainly to deprive the world of the light of life, a more unrighteous thing never was attempted by created beings ; it was equal to the crucifying of the Son of God. Such an infult was this to the Chrift of God, as he would not always bearj but in his power and majefty, with the book of his precious gofpel open in his hand, he came to aflfert his authority. He raifed up men to proteft againft this wickednefs, and to ftand up for the right of all people, to have the perufal of the fcriptures -, this the enemies fiercely oppofed, but it was of God, they could not overthrow it ; he whofe feet were as pillars of fire, fet his right foot upon the fea of ecclefiaftical influence, and his left foot on the earth of civil jurifdiction, and held them both under fubjeclion, as in a chain, and fet his gofpel at liberty. Ver. 3. And cried with a loud voice as when a lion roareth : and when he had cried, /even thunders uttered their voices. IF the lion of the tribe of Judah is pleafed to utter his voice, no power in earth or hell is able to withltand. He opened the eyes of many people and nations, to fee how unrighteoufly they had been treated, made dupes, and tyrannized over ; and gave them refolution to contend for liberty. For notwithstanding the people of all nations were devoted to worfhip the beall of Antichrift, and of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 213 and it was not with him they fell out, but con- tinued as loyal to their old prince as ever they were -, but it was the beaft of Rome with whom they had the quarrel, that is, Antichrift's chief deputy, and his under officers ; thefe had gone too far in their ufurpations, fo that the people groaned under their oppreffions. And it hap- pened, as it commonly does in fuch cafes, when a perfon receives great injuries from another, it makes him open his eyes upon many faults in his oppreflor, which he would have connived at if himfelf had not been a fufferer ; fo the grofs abufes which the nations had felt caufed many heavy outcries among proteftants againlt papifts, which had never been heard only in fpleen and refentment. Howbeit, the Lord over-ruled thefe things, being determined that his word fhould have free courfe, and be fully fet open ; and he moved the hearts of many princes to give licence that the fcriptures mould be publifhed and openly read by all ; and not only fo, but he caufed the art of printing to be introduced about the fame time, whereby the bible became eafy to be ob- tained, even by the pooreft people -, a privilege, beyond what the world had ever enjoyed before, and which continues to this day. And the roaring of the lion in this word, all the locufls of the bottomlefs pit, and all the fcorpions of the earth, are not able to filence. But fatan was ready to play his old game, to P 3 undermine 2i4 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION undermine and overthrow the work of Chrift ,by feigned friendfhip, and by counterfeits to miflead, deceive, and impofe upon the unwary : to make them fancy they are following Chrift, when they are only following the feductions of fatan by a falfe light. For ib foon as the glorious Lord had uttered his voice, feven thunders uttered their voices, as if they would abet, or join, to forward or increafe the voice of Chrift. Seven powers, or governments, declared for the refor- mation, and were zealous to eftabliih it in their dominions j as the kings of England, Scotland, Sweden, Denmark, ftates of Holland, a body of the German princes, and a number of the Swifs Cantons ; but what thefe did tended only to amufe and divert people from the truth of Chrift, and to render his work abortive. For fo much of the church of Rome as was within the jurif- diction of each of thefe powers, they reformed, fo far as they judged convenient j carting away what they pleafed, and retaining what they pleaf- ed i and fo fixed a national church, each of their own. Thus each one of thefe became a reformed branch of the church of Rome 3 they ftill grew upon the fame ftock, being only a little primed ; but retained the fame nature, not being tranf- planted. The old members of the Romifh church were members of thefe new formed ones, provi- ded they would fubmit to the alterations that were made ; the profane baptifm of the church of Rome flood for baptifm to thefe s and the oltf idolatrous of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 215 idolatrous priefts became minifters to thefe new modelled churches, provided they would turn their coats to the new fafhion j fo the whole was nothing elfe but a human fabric. For no national church can poffibly be a church of Chrift, being built upon a different foundation, formed on a different plan, and maintained by a different power; nor is it poffible that a church, only reformed from a falfe church, mould ever be- come a true church of God's Holy One ; in whom old things are pall away, and all things are become new. For as the church of Rome is their mother, either me is a true church, or all her offspring are falfe churches. But perhaps fome conceive of thefe feven thunders to be the thunderings of the firft re- formers, and proteftant writers, againft the abo- minations of the Roman church, which they call thundering againft Antichrift. And we find their writings full of thunders againft the moft grofs tenets of that great whore ; fuch as the fupremacy of the pope, and infallibility of the church of Rome 3 keeping the people in ignorance, pro- hibiting the reading of the fcriptures, and having their worfhip in an unknown tongue ; adoration of faints and angels, and worfhipping images j forbidding to marry, and commanding to abftain from meats ; the priefts affuming authority to grant pardons and indulgences; tranfubftantiation, or priefts pretending to change bread and wine P 4 into 216 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION into the fubftance of the body and blood of Chrift; the doctrine of purgatory, and praying for the dead, &c. &c. &c. Yet thefe are only amufe- ments, to draw people's minds from the life and fubftance, by making them imagine, that if they efcape thefe grofs abominations, they are free from Antichrift ■, whereas a man may avoid all thefe, and yet be as far from the very truth, as it is in Jefus, as thofe that are involved in the depth of them. Howbeit, the grand point which the angel of the covenant had in view, he would and did accomplifh ; to bring fortl) the fcriptures of truth into full and open light. Yet the prince of darknefs followed with another of his devices j perfuading the people, that notwithstanding they had the gofpel light fet open before them, they muft not pretend to understand it, nor expect the illumination of the fpirit o{ truth to guide them into it; but mud depend on the learning of fchools and univerfities to inform them what was the meaning of it : and to this all the people in general were content to fubmit, and to fhut them- felves up in darknefs as clofe as the pope had Hint them up before. And as the fathers did, fo do the children to this day j they are willing to abide in darknefs, and be lulled into a dead fleep, with the word of the living God open in their hands. Ver. 4. And when the /even thunders had uttered their of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 217 their voices, I was about to write : and I heard a voice from heaven, faying unto me, Seal up thofe things which the thunders uttered, and write them nGt HERE the revelator, John, perfonates the few believers that fhould be found in thofe days, who were fo pleafed with thefe appearances, that they were ready to write upon them, or to expect fome great work to be performed in the earth -, perhaps fome might be ready to think the univerfal reign of Chrift was at hand. But the Lord would not fuffer his own fheep to be carried away with carnal fhew -, they were admcnifhed by a voice from heaven, that is, the voice of the Son of God, in the word of truth, that they fhould not be carried away with founds, or fair fliews, nor give credit to fuch as come in fheep's cloathing ; but attend to fee what fruit the tree bears; not regarding them that fay lo here, or lo there, nor believe every fpirit -, but try the fpirits, whether they be of God. Upon which they were certain to find, that the noife made in the nations, at the time called the reformation, was only a bubble, to be fealed up and laid afide; and not to be written, nor followed by the fheep of Chrift ; whofe bufinefs was to attend to that, and that only, which was contained in the little book which was open in the angel's hand. But it may be, that fome may think thefe thunders 2 1 8 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION thunders to be a number of worthy and gracious men, who were thunderers againft Antichrift; fuch as WicklifT, Jerom of Prague, John Hufs, Waldo, Bucer, Luther, Calvin, &c. But what zeal foever thefe men might mew, in teftifying againft the innovations and herefies of the church of Rome, they were not of the number that dwelt in the wildernefs, or that had gone out without the camp ; for they endeavoured to make a figure in reforming the camp, or the city Ba- bylon ; a work which it is utterly out of the nature of things for a faithful minifter of Jefus Chrift ever to attempt. It is the work of every faithful minifter of the gofpel, to the utmoft of his power, to open the blind eyes, and to turn men from fatan unto God ; to call them out of the world to the knowledge of the Father and the Son ; but I am perfuaded there is not a man living under heaven, who truly underftands the nature of a gofpel minifter's commiffion, that could be made to believe, that a minifter qualified and fent by the Lord Jefus could ever attempt a thing fo foolifh as to reform nations, countries, cities, or national churches. To reform the world belongs only to the men of the world -, and had thefe famous men come in the fimplicity of the gofpel of Chrift, they never had been famous ; for had they not 'brought fome mixtures adapted to the carnal mind, they had never been renown- ed in the world, we probably had never heard of their names. Ver. of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 219 Ver. 5. And the angel which I Jaw fiand upon the Jea3 and upon the earth, lift up his hand to heaven. THE children of light, in all ages, have their eyes upon the Holy One of God , they behold him in his effential perfection, in the high ftation in which he ftands, and in his works both of grace and providence towards his church j and while they behold his hand ftretched out to them in the riches of his goodnefs, they alfo view his hand lifted up to his Father, devoted to his will* and ftanding in his truth -, they fee him as fove- reign Lord of all, holding all the creation under his feet ; they fee him as being perfectly one with the Father, in all that he is, in all that he reveals, in all that he performs, and in all that he communicates ; they fee him as their head, their hufband, and their life j in every time, m every place, and in every circumftance, flill de- voted to their felicity, their peace, and their glory. And while their eyes behold him in this pofition, they cannot fail to truft him with a firm dependence, to love him with fixed hearts, and to wait for him with all their fouls. Ver. 6. And Jw are by him that live th for ever and every who created heaven and the things that therein a.re, and the earth and the things that therein are, and thefea and the things which are therein, that there Jhould be time no longer, GOD 220 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION GOD will not have his children held in fuf- penfe; they fhall know him to be the God of truth; for nothing of a doubtful nature can be of God. And that their hearts may be fixed im- moveable in his eternal veracity, he condefcends to confirm it by an oath, Heb. vi. 17 ■ and this oath is by himfelf, becaufe he can fwear by no greater. And when the Father fwears by the Son, Ifaiah lxii. 8. it is the fame thing as here, when the Son fwears by the Father; they being abfo- lutely one. It is not for the world, but for his faints the Moft High is pleafed to fwear. But wherein is the difference between hispromife and his oath ? In regard to himfelf, the difference is nothing at all; for every word of God is a moil: folemn oath ; as it is the declaration of the truth of him, to whom it is impoffible to lie ; and is as immutable as his eternal throne, Luke xxi. 33. His oath, therefore, is no other than pointing out, and prefenting before his children, the ab- folute perfection of him that fpeaketh ; and that it is no other but he himfelf. That by a delibe- rate review of what God is ; and that it is God that fpeaks ; and that it is to them his word is directed, they may profefs the infallible certainty of the things fpoken, Ifaiah lii. 6 : and beholding the immutability of him that made heaven, earth, and fea, and all things therein ; and that in his word he hath pledged all his perfection, they may be eftablifhed in ftrong con folation above the fhakings of all the powers of hell. For in his oath of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 221 oath are contained two immutable things : the one is, the thoughts of his heart j or the eternal counfel of his will. The other is ; the manifefta- tion of that eternal counfel in his abfolute pro- mife, through the fon of his love, the efTential truth of God. Now, the almighty Son fwears by the abfolute, infinite, immutable perfection of the eternal Fa- ther, 'That there Jh all be time no longer. The an- gel that perfonated the Son of God before his in- carnation, lifted up his hands to heaven, and fware by him that liveth for ever and ever; That it fhould be for a time, times, and an half, Dan. xii. 7. Now the Son in his own perfon fwears ; That there fhall be no more prolonging of time, af- ter the time, times and an half, given by the former angel, are fulfilled. Not that time itfelf fhould then ceafe to exifl -, but the time of trial to the world ; and the patience of the Lord in fuffering their wickednefs, fhould no longer con- tinue after the given time was expired. They had been tried with the gofpel under heathen per- fecutors : they had been tried under profefiing Chriflian Governours ; and now they are tried under the falutary difpofing hand of Chrift, hold- ing earth and fea under his feet, that his word fhall not be bound, but that every man may have the free enjoyment thereof: yet have they grown more and more infenfible ; more formal, more obdurate, and more alienated from God. There- fore, 112 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION fore, the time of the wicked fhall be no more prolonged. But the faints may wait in full ex- pectation, that when this one time is finifhed, their time of rejoicing will be at hand. Ver. 7. But in the days of the voice of thefe-jenth angel, when he fhall begin to found, the myjlery of God fhall be fini/hed, as he bath declared by his Jervants the prophets. UNDER the opening of the book of the glori- ous gofpel, or the fhining light of the word of the truth of Chrift, men's fouls will be fo alienated, their minds fo corrupted, their hearts fo hearden- ed, and their understandings fo darkened refpect- ing the true light, that the religious party in the world will trample on the Son of God, and on the Spirit of Truth, and will kill them in their tefrimony ; and will infult the life and fpirit of the gofpel, after they fhall think they have killed it. And this will not be done by papifts, nor by the common bulk of proteftants ; for from thefe the truth of Chrift, and the power of his fpirit, have fubfided long ago ; that at this day they know nothing of them, nor feel any torment from them. But it will be by thofe whofe con- fciences have been vexed, and their minds pro- voked by the light and truth of the fpirit and word of life. Thefe are they who have had fome gofpel light in the theory, but not in power; and in profeffion have come the neareft to the truth of Chrift ; of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 223 Chrift ; and have been the moft artful in counter- feiting the grace of God. and transforming them- felves into the minifters of Chrift, and the difci- ples of Jefus. Yet, by reafon of the teftimony of the Son of God, and the witnefs of the fpirit in the pure gofpel of the grace of God, glaring in their confciences, and detecting their falfe faith and fpurious experience, they could not make their counterfeits pafs current : for the light and truth of the word of God, would at times fling them with terror, and ftrike them with torment- ing conviction ; notwithstanding their fpecious pretences to Chrift, and falvation by his grace. This will kindle in them fuch deteftation and op~ pofition, that they will manifeft themfelves to be of thofe, who have both feen and hated both Chrift and his Father. Now when they ftiall have prevailed by their traditions, fables, counterfeits and untempered morter, fo as to bring all the world to difregard the truth as it is in Jefus ; to content themfelves with the empty found and fu- perficial appearance, and utterly to defpife the gofpel in its life and power j fo as they fhall think it is totally filcnced, or killed j then fhall their bands be made ftrong, and their confciences fear- ed ; they will fet their mouths againft the hea- vens, and congratulate one another upon fo great a vi&ory. But after a fhort fpace mail the God of life revive the true teftimony of his grace j and then fhall 224 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION fhall the happy day appear, when the feventh an- gel fhall found the everlafting gofpel to the ends of the earth. Then fhall the myftery of God be finifhed, and all the prophefies refpecting the church of God fhall be fulfilled, till the fecond coming of the Lord. For then fhall all the ene- mies of Chrift be fubdued, as the prophets have foretold, Ifaiah ii. 10 — 22. xxv. 10, n, 12; and all the blehlngs foretold to the church fhall be fulfilled, fo far as fhall be compatible with a date of mortality, Ezek. xxxvii. 20—28. Hab. ii. 14. Not that the end fhall immediately come j for I doubt not but that this happy ftate fhall continue at leaft a thoufand years ; but being one uninter- rupted ftate of tranquillity, will neither be the fubjecl: of prophecy, nor hiftory -, being one and the fame thing from the beginning to the end, Pfalm lxxii. 7, 8. Ver. 8. And the voice which I heard from heaven [pake unto me again, and /aid, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which fiandeth upon thefea, and upon the earth. THE fame voice of God in his word, which forbids the faints to regard the pompous appear- ances of religion in the world, commands them to pay the utmoft attention to the gofpel of truth in the hand of his anointed. For now, notwith- standing this happy opening of the fcriptures has had little or no effect upon the profemng world, only of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 225 only to corrupt the word in favour of their own tradi- tions and pre-conceived opinions ; to maintain contro- verfy, and feed their carnal minds with imaginary ideas, becaufe they received not the love of the truth; it is of fpecial benefit to all that feek the Lord in fincerity: they are guided by the fpirit of Chrift to embrace it with their whole hearts, and to make the utmoft im- provement of it in their power; they fee the word of life in the hand of the Great Prophet ; they go in fearch of the truth thereof, and the bleffings therein contained, by diligent reading and meditation -, and being deeply fenfible of their own finfulnefs, weaknels, and darknefs, and of the all-fufficiency of him that is the fountain of all bleffednefs, they go to him by prayer and fupplica- tion, to remove every obftacle from their hearts, to open their understandings, to unite their affections to himfelf, and fubject their wills to his word of grace, and to caufe it to operate with fpirit and power in their hearts. And forafmuch as his ket, like pillars of fire, ftand on the fea, and on the earth, they fecurely depend on his truth, wifdom, love and power, which they find fo abundantly manifeft in that word of life which the Father gave unto him, John xvii. 8. Ver. 9. And I went unto the angel, and /aid unto him, Give me the little book. And he /aid unto me, Take it, and eat it up ; and it Jhall make thy belly bitter, but it Jhall be in thy mouth Jweet as honey. THE religious world can content themfelves with, uttering founds of their own, in imitation of the voice of him that brings the gofpelj but the children of light Q^ muft 226 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION muft have the gofpel itfelf out of his own hand ; and as they are commanded, they gladly obey the heavenly voice. They make immediate and diligent application to the Lord of glory, to blefs them with the knowledge of his will, and he is as ready to give, as they to afk; they afk with fubmiflion, acknowledging it a free gift; he freely bids them take it, and eat it up, as it is the bread of life ; for his word is himfelf, in his commu- nications of life; and by his word his fulnefs is convey- ed to his elect, the members of his body. Therefore his command to eat is the gift of life to their fouls ; for they live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. This is the cafe with the children of light at this day; wherever an individual is to be found, if there were only three in ten kingdoms, they all feed upon the true living bread; though it is now a day of deep, dark, dead fleep to the profefiing world, as their common language fully demonftrates, yet it is a day of light, life, peace and unfpeakable joy to all that love the Lord Jefus Chrift in fmcerity. The common pro- feflbrs know nothing of the faith of God's elect, or of their heart-felt experience, or of their ftrong confola- tion ; yet the carnal and formal profeffors call them- felves chriftians, believers, difciples of Jefus, &c. not- withstanding they are total ftrangers to what a true believer is; and fuch. ftrangers to the bleffings of the gofpel, to the truth, life and power of the fpirit that dwells in the faints, that they do not think there is any fuch thing in exiftence. For if one mould fpeak of the riches, excellency and glory of Chrift, as it fhines in the everlalting gofpel, they of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 227 they neither know nor defire to know any thing of it ; it gives them difguft and pain, like a flafh of lightning upon a tender eye ; they cry out, arrogancy, high flights, ftrange notions, &c. and are all on fire to raife a fmoke to darken the light, becaufe their fouls hate it. And if one fhould attempt to defcribe a difciple of Jefus, in the lowed character that can be confident with the very lead babe in the kingdom of God, they are fenfible it is far above any thing that they enjoy, and are very zealous to beat it down. Then they cry out, " But where will you find any fuch ? Thofe mud not be chridians of the common fize ; thofe are believers of an extraordinary dature : fuch tall cedars as thofe are very rare, if at all to be found in the world, &c." For they are confcious that themfelves bear no fuch characters, as every foul undeniably bears who is born of God ; and it raifes their refentment to hear them mentioned. Or if one fhould attempt to defcribe the difference between the true light, and darknefs ; be- tween the life that is in Chrid, and the carnal mind, which is death ; between the regenerate foul, and the hypocrite, &c. they find themfelves galled, as with a dagger dabbing their confciences ; and their anger rifes, crying out, O uncharitable ! O cenforious ! O narrow-- fpiritednefs ! &c. And with thefe out-cries, they deafen the clamour of their own confciences, which otherwife would tell them they had neither known the Father, nor the Son. Now this is the thing that the mighty angel allures his difciples, that eating the book fhould make their belly bitter i and they do find, that the more richly Qj2, their 228 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION their fouls are fed with the truth and power of the word of his grace, the more their hearts are grieved to .fee that blefTed gofpel fo contemned in the world ; and efpecially to fee it handled fo deceitfully by them who pretend to embrace it. But to their own fouls it is fweet as honey in the mouth ; more to be defired than fine gold i the joy and rejoicing of their hearts, Jer. xv. 16. Ver. io. And I took the little book out of the angeVs hand3 and ate it up ; and it was in my mouth fweet as honey -, and as Joon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. THE gofpel is called a little book, becaufe it is little efteemed, and fcarce known in the world ; and even among thofe that make the higheft profefTion of it, the life and truth is fcarce known at all. It is little, notwithstanding it contains things of the greateft ex- cellency; as it is in the wifdom of God, accommodated to our little capacities. It looks to men as it were contracted, becaufe it does not direct to a multiplicity of objects; but to one fingle object, Chrift Jefus, in whom all fulnefs dwells. And though it contains all the completion of blefTednefs that creatures in a mortal nature can poffibly enjoy, it is but a little portion, compared with what the faints fhall enjoy of God in immortality, i Cor. xiii. 9, 10, 12. 1 John iii. 2. And this book, or meifage of grace, or teftimony of God, the faints take out of the hand of Chrift, as given from himfelf; not as from men, or as it were the word of men, but with their whole hearts, and their whole fouls. of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 229 fouls, they receive it as it is in truth, the word of God j they embrace all his falutary doctrines, and have refpedt to all his commandments ; they do not mince nor mangle the word of God, they eat it up ; for every word which the Lord hath fpoken is meat and drink to their fouls j it is the very delight of their hearts j fweeter than honey, or the honey-comb. For here they tafte all the bleffednefs that poflibly can exift, fo far as their prefent conititution can be made partaker, or their earthen vefTels can contain ; the everlafting, effential, immutable, fuperlative love of the Father •, the infinite fulnefs of grace and truth in the Son; the light, com- fort and power of the Holy Ghoft -, with the everlafting felicity and glory of the world to come. And they can never ceafe defiring to be more and more fanctified by this word of truth, till they be ripe and ready to be gathered into the eternal manfions of light. But ftill all the real believers who are alive at this day, do find their bellies made bitter, or their hearts deeply grieved, to fee how their Lord is defpifed, and his word rejected by all forts of men ; by profane and profeflbrs equally difhonoured. Some difregarding the divine record, as if it had no exiftence"; fome profaning it, as if it had only come from an heathen idol ; fome treating it as a fable, denying its authenticity •, fome pretending to read it, as the rule of their faith and worfhip, but in the matter of faith and worfhip, the traditions of men bear all the fway, and the word of God is only regarded as an empty Speculation ; fome attend to it only as an amufement; fome attend to it only to pervert, corrupt, or handle it deceitfully, to Qj gratifV -jo A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION gratify fome bafe principle. But the greateft grief of all is, to fee thofe that pretend to acknowledge Chrift as all in all, falvation by free grace, the power of the fjpirit, ox, that they are endeavouring to draw a veil over the glory, to reprefent all in a low, flat and dry light, fo as every man, however diftant he be from it, may think he knows and enjoys it, and may fancy him- felf to be a chriftian. Thus to depreciate the glory of gofpel grace ; turning the life and power into bubbles and chimeras ; to accommodate the things of the fpirit of God to the carnal mind -, to feduce the weak and ignorant, and to buoy up hypocrites to imagine them- felves to be faints, &c. Ver. ii. And he Jaid unto me, Thou muft prophefy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings. AS the prophet Ezekiel muft eat the roll, that he might go fpeak to the houfe of Ifrael, fo it is now, and in all ages.; the Lord never fends any to preach his word, till they have firft eaten it themfelves, and have it dwelling in them. The people of God muft preach the gofpel again, that is, now the fame as before ; not expecting to find any material alteration in the world ; for the peoples, nations, tongues, and kings are in fact the {df fame they always were, whether bearing the name of heathen or chriftian, papift or proteftant ; the carnal principle ftill reigns, and the alienation from God is ftill the fame. There is indeed this difference, through the gofpel being more received in the notion, and not in power ; the prince of darknefs has gained the greater advantage to introduce his deceptions and impo- of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 231 impofitionsj and by mixing darknefs with the light, to turn it into the fhadow of death, and make it the grofTer darknefs. But whether they will hear, or whe- ther they will forbear, the fervants of God are never to ceafe bearing an open teftimony to the truth of God, as it is given them in the gofpel of Jefus Chrift. CHAP. XL Verse i. And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel flood, faying, Rife and meajure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worfhip therein. THIS reed is given to the church immediately after their having eaten the book, and their being told they mull prophefy again; which muft be done by fpecial rule, to fhew that in thefe days of proteftantifm, wherein feductions and counterfeits fwarm more than ever they did before, the faints ought to give the more earneft heed, and walk by the moll exact rule ; that they may efcape the fnares, and that they may be faithful in this day of apoftacy and corruption, in which one cries, lo here, and another, lo there. A reed is a convenient inftrument to meafure withal -, and from its being fo commonly ufed for that purpofe, it became cuftomary to call any measuring inftrument by that name, whether it was a real reed or not. So we are told of a golden reed, Rev. xxi. 15. likewife the reed here given to the faints was not of a brittle nature, but firm and ftrong, like a rod ; and its being given them fhews, that by Qj. feeding 232 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION feeding on the word of God they receive not only per- fect rules of direction, but ftrength and {lability to walk therein. And the great angel, the Lord of glory, keeps his ftation, holding the fea and the earth in fub- jection, that his children fhall not be interrupted in receiving and obeying his word. And now we ought to remember, that this is the very day in which this word is fulfilled, and all that fear God are the perfons to whom it is fpoken. His firft command is, Rife, to alarm all the faints to avoid every thing of a drowfy nature ; and that nothing can be done in the caufe of Chrift without vivacity and alertnefs. The next command is to mea- fure -, for God is a God of order, and all his works are perfect proportion, i. The temple of God. Chrift is the eflential temple of God, and his fulnefs cannot be meafured, being abfolutely immenfe ; but by his word, the riches of his grace is defcribed, as confident with his own perfection, with the glory of his Father, and with the perfect felicity of his faints; and fo as to dif- tinguifh it from all the delufions of religious cant. 2. The altar. Chrift is the altar, with all its appur- tenances, the facrifice, the fire, the incenfe, &c. And we ought to take heed, that we embrace nothing as matter of redemption, righteoufnefs, peace, purifica- tion, or acceptance with God, but what is of Chrift alone -, for nothing can come before God acceptably, but alone in his Holy One. 3. Them that worfhip therein. Thefe are they that worfhip the Father in fpirit and in truth ; therefore we are to take heed, that we imbibe no fancy of perfons being chriftians — belie- vers— children of God — in a ftate of grace — in a ftate of of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 233 of falvation — fincere fouls — godly perfons, &c. unlefs they verily be born of God, new creatures, rifen with Chrift through the faith of the operation of God. Ver. 2. But the court which is without the temple, leave out, and meajure it not : for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city Jhall they tread under foot forty and two months. THE outer court is a real appendage of the temple, that is, the doctrines of the gofpel of Chrift in the letter or theory, and his ordinances in the external mode ; and though thefe are not the traditions or com- mandments of men, they are capable of being trodden down of men ; either by being mixed with human in- ventions, or by being fet in the place of the life and power. Therefore they are not to be meafured as be- ing of the fame effence with the temple, or being the fame with the altar itfelf ; nor are perfons to be num- bered with the faints, or defcribed as true worfhippers, merely becaufe they are zealous for the truth of Chrift in the letter, or becaufe they are tenacious of the wor- fhip of God in the external form. For perfons who are total ftrangers to the fpirit and power may embrace thefe with much parade ; and fubftitute the empty hufk and fhell, inftead of the living fubftance; they may continue Gentiles as much as ever they were, notwith- standing they have received and do maintain thefe ap- pendages of the gofpel church as an approved fyftem. Therefore whatfoever can be made common to carnal profeflbrs, the faints are forbidden to meafure, as an eflential of the temple of God ; or to embrace perfons as God's eleft, merely becaufe they make an outward ihew 2J4 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION fhew of zealous affectation. For thefe having a form of godlinefs, denying the power, do tread under their feet, as far as their influence will extend, every thing that is vital holinefs ; forming the doctrines into creeds of human conftrudtion, and fixing the worfhip and order according to human direction, and therein making the whole to confiit ; and though their image is deftitute of life, truth, fpirit and power, every party fattens it with nails, that it fhall not be moved. So much, and in fuch a light, fhall be believed and practifed, and no further, nor any otherwife. The faints therefore are commanded ftriclly to leave them out, and not to meafure along with them -, but to meafure all things by the perfect rod, the word of God; that they may embrace and inherit that which is ; Prov. viii. 20, 21. and relinquifh and cad away that which is not : though nothing angers the hypocrites more than this, to fee the things of the kingdom of God meafured by the line of the truth and fpirit of God, whereby they and their religion are left out. But this the children of God are commanded, and this they do, that they may efcape being carried away with the fpirit of the world. For they know that the world, or the proteftant nations in general, or profeffors of every particular denomina- tion, are no more truly chriftianized than the papifls; for notwithstanding their high pretences to reformation, they ftill continue to follow their harlot mother, in treading down the holy city ; and fo they will continue to do till the time pointed out by the Holy Ghoft, when the reign of the bead of Antichrift fhall come to an end. Ver. of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 235 Ver. 3. And I will give 'power unto my two witneffes y and they jhall prophefy a thoufand two hundred and three/core days clothed injackcloth. THE word power in this verfe is only a fupplement, which in this place, inilead of being a help to the un- derftanding of the reader, is only a detriment, and tends to contract his conceptions ; as it would confine his ideas to that one gift of power, unlefs our minds be properly expanded to underftand the word power in its full latitude. For this promife, I will give to my two witnejfesy is of univerfal extent, and includes all the fulnefs of God, light, life, love, grace, truth, &c. fo as they fhall be able to teftify of ail that God is ; for in thefe two witneffes dwells all the fulnefs of the God- head. He whom God hath fent, fpeaketh the words of God; for God giveth not the fpirit by meafure unto him. The words before us are exprefTed by the great meffen- ger, who flood on the fea and on the earth, but they are fpoken in the perfon, of the Father j for whatfoever the Father fpeaks, is pronounced to us by the Son. And he does not fpeak in general of two witneffes, as it might be uncertain who they were -, but he peculiarizes them, my two witneffes. And every foul that is taught of God knows who thefe two witneffes are j that they are two, and no more; and that whatever fubordinate witneffes there may be, there never were nor ever will be any other original and infallible witneffes of God to his church, befide the Son of God, and the fpirit of truth. These fhall prophefy, that is, they fhall fully make known 236 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION known the whole will and counfel of God to his chofen ; and this they fhall do in fackcloth, during the time that the bead fhall reign ; the church fhall be in the wilder- nefs, and the gentiles fhall tread down the holy city. But be the times ever fo dark in the world, the faints always have light in their dwellings ; for thefe two witnefTes never leave them, Mat. xxviii. 20. John xiv. 16. and by their light, the faints behold the meafure of the bleffings of the temple of God, and the per- fection of the altar, which is our Lord Jefus Chrift; by whom we find accefs to God, and acceptance in the beloved. And alfo they are taught to behold the meafure to which the difciples of Jefus may expect to arrive in the fulnefs of the fpirit, Eph. iv. 13. yet during this period there is mourning, fignified by fack- cloth. For verily, the truth of the gofpel of Chrift is fo defpifed, trampled on, corrupted and mifreprefented in the world, efpecially by the religious world, that it feems to be in perpetual mourning. And the children of light do perpetually mourn to fee the whole world lying in wickednefs; and which will continue the fame, notwithftanding the boafting of proteftant light and reformation, until the number of the days of darknefs be accomplished. But this mourning can only refpect the world for reflecting the true church of the firft- born, thefe are the days of the pouring out of the fpirit, in which it is faici, your heart Jhall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. Ver. 4. Thefe are the two olive-trees , and the two can- dkfticks ftanding before the God of the earth. HE of the BOOK of- the REVELATION. 237 HE points them out to be the fame olive trees fpoken of by the prophet Zechariah, Chap. iv. which emptied the golden oil out of themfelves, to fupply the bowl which fed the light in the candleftick, that is, in the church ; which cannot poffibly be the true character of any other beings, but the Son of God, and the fpirit of truth. For whatever meffengers may be fent to pub- lifh the gofpel, it does not proceed out of themfelves, they only carry the treafure in earthen vefTels; but all fulnefs is effential to the Son and the Holy Ghoft, they being effentially one with the Father. Neither do any other beings ftand by, though all creatures ftand before the God of the whole earth, as thefe do, Zech. iv. 14. only the two feraphs, who claim equality with the Father, and ftand by him on his throne, Ifaiah vi. 2. To the children of light this needs no explanation, it is to them familiar. But the prophet mentions only one candleftick, which evidently intends the church of God -, with feven lamps, which are the fruits of the feven fpirits of God -, fupplied from a bowl upon the top of it, which is the gofpel of grace, and which receives its fulnefs from the two fons of oil, which they convey through two golden pipes; which pipes, or ways of conveyance, are the mediatorial facrifice of Chrift for our juftification, and his prevailing interceflion for our fpiritual confolation. But now thefe two anointed ones are called candlefticks, they being the lights from whom the one candleftick is fupplied -, and it is as confiftent for them to be called two candlefticks, as to be called two witnefles ; for witnefTes teftify what they have feen, or received -, and thefe 23S A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION thefe two holy ones afcribe all to what they have re- ceived of the Father, Rev. i. 5. John iii. 32. xv. 15. 1 John v. 6. And as candlefticks convey the light they have received, fo do the Son of God and the Holy Ghoft; yet that which they receive of the Father is the eiTential fulnefs of God ■, or properly, they are the eiTential fulnefs proceeding from the Father, John xv. 16. xvi. 13, 14, 15. Col. i. 19. Ver. 5. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, aud devour eth their enemies -, and if any man will hurt them, he mujl in this manner be killed. IT cannot be, that thefe two holy ones mould be hurt by man, otherwife than in their teftimony, by oppo- fing or corrupting the truth : in that fenfe, perfons may perfecute the Son of God, and the fpirit of holinefs, by blafpheming his gofpel, and infulting his people. But if they do, they ihall affuredly be killed; not by the common fword of man, but in this manner : by him whole word is as fire; who wilt flay the wicked with the breath of his lips. They fhall be flain with the fword which proceedeth out of his mouth ; and with the fpirit of his mouth fhall they be confumed, 1 ThelT. i. 6, 7, 8, 9. Ver. 6. 'Thefe have power to fhut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy : and have power over the waters to turn them to blood, and tofmite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will, THIS of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 239 THIS is a power which creatures never were poffef- fed of; God has given power to his fervants both to fmite and to heal, when it was his own pleafure ; but to do it at their own will, never was given to any mere man. But thefe two anointed ones being per- fectly one with the Father, cannot poffibly have any will, but what is effentially his will. It was by the word and ipirit of God that all things were created, for God never was known to fpeak a word, or perform a work, but what was done by thefe two omnifcient omni- potent agents : but the power afcribed to them in this place, does not appear to relate to things grofsly ear- thy, nor yet to things truly heavenly ; but to their power to fubjugate all the powers of darknefs ; to re- ftrain their falfe light; to cut off their vain hopes; and fmite the confciences of men with wrath and horror9 when and how they pleafe : yet all this is done alone by the teftimony of the gofpel, which is made to affecT. men's hearts according as the good pleafure of God is. It is not fhutting the natural heaven againft common rain, nor turning common waters into blood, nor fmi- ting the natural earth with external plagues, though they have power to do thefe things when they pleafe. But thefe are not the things in prefent view, but what is here fpoken relates to the effects that follow the preaching of the gofpel. Neither is it fhutting the heaven of gofpel rain ; nor turning the waters of the fanctuary into blood ; nor fmiting the people of God with plagues ; for the work of the witneffes is, to fend fhowers of bleffings; to caufe the river of grace to flow with pure water, and to enrich the faints with all blef- fings 24o A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION fings. But to fhut the imaginary heaven of human wifdom, power, righteoufnefs, and traditions of men, from which hypocrites imagine they receive waterings of light, peace, comfort, Sec. And to turn the water of the rivers of human virtue and will of man, to make them appear what they really are, mere blood and death, when compared with the life and truth of God : and to fmite the confeiences of earthly men with rays of light, to make them tremble with horror and dif- traftion, Acts xxiv. 25. None in heaven or in earth, befide thefe two witnefTes, have power to do thefe things; neither can any other bearwitnefs to the truth, or reveal the will of God, John iii. 13. vi. 46. All men that are fent to preach the gofpel, are only fubor- dinate mefTengers, fent by the authority of Chrift, un- der the illumination of the Holy Spirit ; and the doc- trine they are commanded to deliver relates to no other thing, but to the love of the Father, opened in the light of the Son, and communicated by the power of the Holy Ghoft. Ver. 7. And when they Jhall have finijhed their tejlimony, the beaji that ajcendeth out of the bottomlefs pit Jhall make war againji them, and Jhall overcome them, and kill them. THIS is not fuch a finifhing of their teftimony, as that they fhould no more bear witnefs to the truth j for their teftimony mall henceforth become more open, extenfive and univerfal than ever it was before j but as God faid of the old world, my fpirit Jhall not always Jlrive with man. So when thefe two witnefTes mall have of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 241 have testified by the word of the gofpel, till all the world fhall be hardened paft remedy, they fhall ceafe to contend with their ftubborn fpirits any longer; they fhall then turn the other edge of the fword, and de- ftroy their enemies with a flood of vengeance; and fhall raife up another generation, by whom their tes- timony fhall be received. But be it obferved, that after the ceffation of their teftimony, and before they go forth in another way, there fhall be a fhort interval, in which the world fhall be left to the ravage of the beaft that afcendeth out of the bottomlefs pit ; during which period, he fhall prevail to overcome and kill thefe witnefTes, that is, in their teftimony, by feducing men's hearts with diabolical deceptions, falfe doctrines, and vain fhews of falfe worfhip, till mere religion fhall take the place of the truth of Chrift, fo far that the teftimony of the Son of God, and the fpirit of truth, fhall be utterly difregarded, and lie as dead. But who is this beaft ? It is not men, kingdoms, or ftates, for however thefe may be corrupted with the flench of the bottomlefs pit, yet as men, or as powers, they did not proceed from thence. This is no other than the falfe Chrift, or the darknefs, falfe doctrines, falfe worfhip, falfe ideas of God, and falfe objects fet up with a pompous appearance of devotion, religious zeal and formality, to ftand in the place of the true Chrift, 1 ThefT. ii. 4. But how fhall the. wit- nefTes be killed ? They can no otherwife be killed than in their teftimony, nor by any other power than that of religion; profanenefs may flay its thoufands, but it is religion that flays its ten thoufands. The delufions R of a42 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION of the devil, with the delufive wifdom and fophiftica! traditions of men, prefenting fuch pleafing images, with fuch enchanting feductions to the carnal mind, that the deception fhall univerfally prevail in the hearts of men, and the truth of Chrift fhall totally be defpifed, and, at leaft to the view of the enemies, fhall be en- tirely banifhed out of the world. And in this, not only protectants, but diffenters of every denomination may be expected to have as high a hand as papifts, mahometans, or any people whatfoever. Yer. 8. Aitd their dead bodies jh all lie in the fireet of the great city, which Jpritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where alfo our Lord was crucified. TO underfland what any being is when dead, we mud know what it was when living. Chrift is the Son of God, the word made flefh, Emanuel, God with us ; the very image, glory and delight of the Father ; the mediator between God and man; the teacher, of whom his people delight to learn ; the commander, whom they delight to obey ; the great High Prieft, by whom alone they approach to God. He is the falva- tion, life, peace, righteoufnefs, joy and hope of all his people; he is their great fore-runner, who is entered into heaven, and as their advocate and interceflbr, ap- pears now and for ever in the prefence of God for them. The Holy Ghoft is the fpirit, truth and power of the living God, dwelling in his faints ; that is, God himfelf in his fpecial out-goings, operations and com- munications in the hearts of his people ; opening their understandings, enlarging their conceptions, and uni- ting of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 243 ting their affections, to receive and enjoy the fulnefs of the Father and the Son ; to make them ftrong in faith and love, humility and holinefs, patience and hope ; that they may be truly refined from fin, fanftified to God, and made lively to follow the Lamb, till they arrive at the glory of his eternal kingdom. But when thefe two anointed ones are banifhed from men's intel- lectual powers, the life of the gofpel from their doc- trines, and the fpirit and power from their worfhip, they are then become dead to thofe perfons j and their dead bodies can be no other than the empty names of the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit; the empty no- tions of New Teftament truth, and the empty forma- lities of gofpel worfhip, which are ftill retained as images, to be worfhipped by the fons of darknefs -, for they can be familiar with the dead, though they hated them alive. The place where they mall lie is in the ftreet, which is the open part of a town or city, where any thing that lies becomes expofed, to the wonder, the contempt, the remarks or infults of all that pafs by. So do the religious world by every thing that pertains to Chrift, however they pretend to revere it 5 for as they retain nothing but the dead body, they are like the heathens by their idols, for knowing them to be dead, they pre- fumed to infult them when it fuited their inclination. And it is the ftreet of the great city, not a local city, or metropolis, as Jerufalem, Rome, London, &c. it is a city which is fpiritually or myftically called ; there- fore can be no other than the body of Antichrift, the counterfeit Chrift, built upon the traditions of men. R 2 For 244 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION For it is not any local habitation, and it cannot be the profane world ; neither can it be the Jews, Heathens, or Mahometans, for none of thefe pretend to any thing fpiritual, nor can be charged with fpiritual wickednefs; it can therefore be no other than the religious profefling chriftians; and what Sodom and Egypt were in carnal things, fo is this city in fpiritual things. The defcrip- tion of Sodom is pride : this appears in profefled chrif- tians, fetting up the wifdom, virtue and authority of men in the place of Chrift. Fulnefs of bread : the fin was in the wanton ufe they made of this plenty, as proteftant profeflbrs do of that plenty of the gofpel which they enjoy. Abundance of idlenejs : this appears in profeflbrs, fporting away the life and glory of gofpel truths by jangling difputes, mixing them with men's fancies, and reprefenting them in the mod vague, life- lefs, abfurd and delufive light -, as well as making per- fons imagine (as preachers in common do) that every fooliih whim, agitation of the paflions, fudden extafy, or enthufiaftic emotion that floats in their brains, is the fpirit of God, Nor did Jlrengthen the poor and 7ieedy : they that feed upon hulks with fwine, can only feed others with hufks to puff them up with falfe dreams; but to the real hungry they can adminifter no fpiritual bread. As for Egypt, fhe was notorious for pride : that is the fame fin with Sodom. For deceit : they whofe coming is after the working of fatan, it is with all deceivablenefs of unrighteoufnefs in them that perifh. For idolatry : for this they are more noted in icripture than any nation: and it is reported of them, that their idols were not only exceeding numerous, but of the moil contemptible kind, as beafts, birds, reptiles, of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 245 reptiles, &c. But they could not much exceed the numerous forms, and contemptible figures by which the God of all glory is reprefented by the counterfeit profeflbrs of the chriftian name. It was in this fame city of imaginary human excellency, making void the word of God by tradition, zeal without knowledge, form without power, enmity againft the truth, and a falfe profeffion of the true God, that the Lord of glory was crucified in perfon. For it was folely upon religious principles the Jews put him to death ; and it will be upon the fame principles, and from the fame motives, having both feen and hated both him and his Father, that the profefling chriftians will kill him in the grace and truth of his glorious gofpel. Ver. 9. And they of the people, and kindreds, and tongues, and nations, /hall fee their dead bodies three days and an half, and jh all not fuffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. IT is not here faid, that all the nations fhould fee and treat their dead bodies in this manner, but they of the people, &c. From whence it fhould feem not to be the bulk of the nations, or common national churches, who mould have the chief hand in thefe things; for they know little, and think as little concerning the truth of Chrift, either for or againft: only that they keep a vague round of religion, true or falfe, it matters not to them. But it rather looks to intend fuch as pro- fefs higher things, and would be thought to be called out of the nations, though in fact they remain Gen- tiles as much as ever they were ; and by this greater R 3 profeffion, 246 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION profefiion, being come to greater light, it has produced in them the more inveterate hatred, John xv. 24. Yet notwithstanding their avowed averfion to the truth, life, fpirit and power of the gofpel, they would be called by (Thrift's name ; they are fo pleafed with the empty name, found and falfe appearance, that if they may poflefs thefe, abstracted from the fubftance, they will preferve them, and not fuffer them to be buried out of %ht -, for as their carnal mind is death, whatever is dead is falutary to them. The time given is three days and an half, which, if we muft confine to natural days, would make the time utterly too fhort for any fuch tranfactions -, and if we allow it to be three years and an half, which is fre- quently underflood in prophetic meafurement, a day for a year, this feems but a very fhort time for a work fo univerfal. But this time is not given for the killing of the witneffes, which doubtlefs will be much longer, but for the period of their actually lying dead ; which I am willing to hope, that after the teftimony is totally filenced throughout the whole earth, fo as the truth, as it is in Jefus, fhall no more be publicly maintained in the world, that then it fhall not be more than three years and an half before the Lord of hods fhall awake as one out of fleep, and fhout as a mighty man; which fhall alarm the whole earth, and make all the world fee his glory. Ver. 10. And they that dwell wpon the earth fhall rejoice over them y and make merry, and fhall Jend gifts one to another j of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 247 another ; becaufe thefe two prophets tormented them thai dwelt on the earth. AT this very day, thofe denominations of people who make the higheft profefiion of following Chrift, and do actually come the neareft in found of doctrine, and mode of worfhip, arefometimes terribly tormented; becaufe here and there one is rifing up among them, who are ftill prefenting fome rays of gofpel light, and fetting before their eyes the difference between the carnal notions, and the living power ; and they cannot fhut their eyes fo clofe to prevent the light from flam- ing in their faces, and the truth from flinging their confciences. For though they profefs heavenly things, they are only poflfefled of earthly principles ; therefore when the heavenly light makes manifeft what thefe fons of Antichrift want to conceal, it is in very deed a torment to them. But when they fhall have banifhed the truth of Chrift, and the teftimony of the Holy Ghoft from their minifters, from their congregations, and from their confciences, and fhall be left to reft in their delufions, and to fleep unmolefted, they will then rejoice and make merry ; and then fhall they fend gifts of congratulation to footh and flatter one another, and build them up in their hypocrify and vain deceit, that they are found chriftians, have an excellent religion, make a fincere profeflion, hold true doctrines, enjoy fpiritual experience, attend to pure worfhip, and walk in a holy converfation ; and that they wear the marks, figns and tokens of God's elect, and of a real work of grace, true faith, a holy difpofition, a heavenly mind, and being born of God, &c. &c. R 4 Ver. 248 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION Vjer. ii. And after three days and an half the fpirit of life from God entered into them ; and they food upon their feet, and great fear fell upon them which Jaw them. NO change can poflibly come to thefe two fons of oil, in regard to their effence, or divine perfection, but only in their teftimony ; and as they fhall continue to bear witnefs to the truth, till this total darknefs fhall commence, there is no doubt that during this period there will be fome of the children of light in whom the truth lliall remain, who fhall enjoy the light in their own fouls, and fhall have underftanding of the times ; and while they look to the earth with forrow to fee the prince of darknefs reigning defpotic over all the univerfe, and that they may not mention the Lord in truth and righteoufnefs, or if they do, there fhall be none to regard them -, ftill their hearts fhall be fixed upon the Lord, waiting with patience and earneft fup- plication, as Daniel did, for the expiration of the time, and fulfilling of the promife, Dan. ix. 2, 3. And at the end of the days appointed, the fpirit of God mall come upon thefe, or upon others who fhall be raifed up, and fhall infpire them with zeal and courage to fpeak the truth boldly -, and fhall give them a mouth, and wifdom, to make manifefl the myftery of the gof- pel, which all their enemies fhall not be able to refill. So that the light of the two candlefticks fhall again fliine forth, the two olive trees fhall again pour out their golden oil, and the two witnefTes fhall ftand upon their feet in fuch power and majefty, that all the powers of the man of fin fhall never more be able to ftand before them j then the efTential boundlefs love of the Father^ of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 249 Father, manifefted in the Son of God, and the fpirit of holinefs fhining in the majeftic glory of the ever- lafting gofpel, fhall come with fuch power to all that fhall fee it in its true light, that they fhall receive it with meeknefs and humble fubmiflion, and fhall find their hearts imprelTed with the deepeft awe, reverence, and godly fear : and to his enemies the fight fhall be fo terrible, that they fhall be feized with the deepeft horror and amazement. Ver. 12. And they heard a great voice from heaven, faying unto them. Come up hither. And they afcended up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies beheld them. HEAVEN is the riches and glory of divine love, mining forth from the Father in the fulnefs of the Son, by the light of the fpirit, in the truth of the word of life ; and from the word of God the great voice came, declaring the high exaltation of the two effential wit- nefTes of the Father's grace, faying, I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermofi parts of the earth for thy poffeffion. And again, I will pour out my fpirit upon all flefh. And now the time was come, when all the gracious words fpoken by the prophets mould be fulfilled ; therefore the two Holy Ones are called to come up, that is, to manifeft their power, glory, majefty and riches of grace before all the fons of men. And according to this Almighty voice, they afcended from the low eftate wherein they had appeared before, to fliew their excellent dignity in the heavenly rays of gofpel light and glory ; and their afcenfion was in a cloud, the cloud of witnefTes, the prophets and apoftles, i$o A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION apoftles, who had all borne witnefs to the glory which now was to appear -, as alfo a cloud of other witneffes, minifters that fhall then be raifed up, and fhall bear witnefs in acknowledging and holding forth all that the former witneffes have teftified of the two living olive trees, and of the fruit and the oil they fhould produce. This gave fuch an alarm, that their enemies beheld them ; but not being able to withftand them, the effect was certain, firft, to fill them with fury, rage and madnefs ; then with horror, anguifh and defpair. Ver. 13. And the fame hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth -part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were fain of men f even thoufand -, and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. THIS city is the fame great metropolis of Antichriil, where the witneffes had been killed -, that is, all the body of falfe profeffors of the gofpel, with the ftrong delufions by which they are bewitched, in every nation, and of every denomination, who are in league to make war againft the fpirit and truth of God's anointed. The earthquake does not feem to be a natural con- cuffion of the earth, occafioned by fome violent con- vulfion in her bowels, but to proceed from the tre- mendous majefty of the rifen and afcended witneffes. As it is faid, when God gave the law on mount Sinai, whofe voice then fhook the earth ; but now the voice of Chrift in the gofpel, fhakes the earth, and not the earth only, but alfo heaven. And by its being faid, the fame hour, it appears as if the unexpected fliining forth of the gofpel glory would caufe a fudden and violent trembling of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 251 trembling in the hearts and confciences of the Anti- chriftian tribes j and though it is not to be expected that they fhould all fall by this firft fhock, we are told, a tenth "part of the city fell; by which I underftand, their hearts and fpirits were fmitten by the power and majefty of Chrift, fo as to lofe all courage and refolu- tion to Hand up any longer, or to fight any more in their mailer's caufe, but to fink under the wrath of God. Seven thoufand are faid to be flain, and they are called names of men, or men of name and figure in the city, or body of falfe chriftians ; by which I underftand, leading men, falfe teachers, or minifters of Antichriftj and as they have been deepeft in the abominations, the wrath mail fall upon them firft, and with the higheft vengeance ; all their pleafure, peace, comfort or hope at once deftroyed, and they reduced to abfolute wretch- ednefs and defperation. But there appears to be a rem- nant among thefe falfe pretenders, who were not of them j neither were they, as yet, called by grace, for they were affrighted at the appearance of the glory, which they would not have been, had they been bleffed with fpiritual life in Chrift Jefus. But it appears they were not given up to the ftrong delufions, for they were within the bounds of mercy, and it was the plea- fure of God that the difplay of his glory mould have a gracious effed; on their hearts, for it brought them to give glory to the God of heaven. Ver. 14. The fecond wo is fajl, and behold, the third wo cometh quickly. AFTER 25 2 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION AFTER the founding of four of the firft trumpets, the devil always followed, with all his art and power, to ruin the church of God j and the violence of his per- secutions fhe feverely felt, and likewife his deceit in the working of the myftery of iniquity; fo long as the faints continued to intermix with the formal profefibrs, the herefies and pernicious doctrines introduced by the old ferpent were very diftrefling to them. But when he had carried his feductions to fuch a height, that the children of light were no longer able to bear them, but fled into the wildernefs ; from that time the three fuc- ceeding woes fell upon the inhabiters of the earth. The two firft woes which followed the fifth and fixth trumpets, proceeded from the rage of fatan, as it is mentioned, Chap. xii. 12. The third wo, which fhall follow the founding of the feventh trumpet, will pro- ceed immediately from God to deftroy the dominion of fatan. The founding of all the trumpets, is the preaching of the gofpel ; the evils that followed fix of them, were the oppofitions of the prince of darknefs to prevent the efficacy of the true light. But the third wo under the founding of the feventh trumpet, fhall proceed from the gofpel itfelf 3 and fhall fall upon the minds and confciences of thofe fons of darknefs who have rebelled againft the light of life. As under the fixth feal, Chap. vi. 13. And in future vifions, Chap. xiv. 19, 20. xvi. 18. xix. 20, 21. Ver. 15. And the feventh angel founded, and there were great voices in heaven, faying, 'The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his £hrifl3 and he Jhall reign for ever and ever. THE of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 253 THE evils which followed the founding of the former trumpets, proceeded from men under the inftigation of fatan, with defign to prevent the fuccefs of the gofpel. Four of them proved very irkfome to the true church : the two latter fell upon the inhabiters of the earth ; the faints being efcaped into the wildernefs. But the judg- ments which mail follow upon this, will proceed from God, in vindication of his gofpel, and of his faints ; and mall be the torment which the gofpel itfelf mail produce in the confciences of his enemies. This will be the moft dreadful pouring out of wrath and ven- geance upon the defpifers of God, that ever was fince men were upon the earth. The deluge upon the world, the fire upon Sodom, and the vengeance upon Jerufa- lem, Mat. xxiv. 21, were only fhadows of this. Thofe were upon men's bodies, but this fhall be upon the in- tellectual powers of all the haters of the Lord. And when this univerfal calamity is over, grace and peace fhall reign univerfal, to the latefl period of time, Hab. ii. 14. Pfal. lxxii. 7. And now there fhall be great voices and fhouts of joy among the faints, giving glory to God and to his Chrift, becaufe he hath deftroyed Antichrift, founded forth his gofpel, revealed his glo- ry, fpread his dominion, and communicated the richer of his grace to every people and nation under heaven. This will be the moft univerfal difplay of glory that ever was fince the world began. Ver. 16. And the four and twenty elders, which fat be- fore God on their feats, fell upon their faces, and wor- fhipped God. THE 254 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION THE prophets, or prophefics of the Old Teftament, as they proceeded from God, are always before him ; be- ing the very truth and will of the Moft High ; and they fit on feats fixed, as no word can fail which they have fpoken. To them we are taught to appeal for the truth of all the blefllngs and glories manifefted under the New Teftament ; and the higheft glory is afcribed to God, when the great things by them foretold are accomplished ; as they Ihall be, when this happy peri- od fhall arrive. Mai. i. 1 1. It is not the identical per- fons that wrote the word of the Lord, nor the perfons who firft received their teftimony, and by faith and pa- tience waited to fee the things fulfilled, that ihall now fall down and worfhip, they being already dead. But the teftimony by them left, and by which they, being dead, yet fpeak, Ihall raife the higheft joy and praife in the hearts of thofe faints who Ihall then be alive ; when they fhall behold all their predictions verified in real facts. As it is with the faints now, and in all ages, while they behold the truth of God attefted, and firmly eftablifhed by the united voice of all the pro- phets of the Old Teftament -, and now fee and enjoy the happy completion thereof, under the New Teftament; it cannot fail to excite in them joy unfpeakablc and full of glory. Thus all the prophefies, figures, and Iha- dows of the Old Teftament do perpetually lie proftrate at the feet of Jefus, in whom they all terminate. Ver. 17. Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Al- mighty, which art, and waft, and art to come ; becaufe thou haft taken to thee thy great power, and haft reigned. THE of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 255 THE faints of the Old and New Teftament make one church of the firft-born -, and their thankfgivings and praifes make one harmonious fong. They acknow- ledge the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift in his Omni- potence, and his immutability. He being the fame almighty God now, in the accomplifhment of his pro- mifes, as he was when he declared his will to his fer- vants the prophets ; and will be the fame for ever and ever. For now, the God of all grace has taken his great power, and they that formerly trufted in his al- mightinefs to fulfil his word, have beheld his faithful- nefs in the accomplifhment of thofe great things, for which he had caufed them to hope, A6ls xiii. 32, 23' The Lord has often interpofed his power to hold the world in fubjection, and keep his enemies in awe; but now he has taken the government into his own hand, he will expel all his enemies; and his peaceful reign over his chofen mail never more be interrupted. For now the great promifes and prophefies are come to pafs, and the Lord fits king for ever, Pfalm 1. i. cxiii. 2, 3, 4. Ifaiah xli. 25. xlv. 6. lix. 19. Zech. xiv. 9. Ver. 18. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they Jhould be judged, and that thou fhouldeft give reward unto thy fervants the prophets, and to the faints, and them that fear thy name, fmall and great ; and fhouldeft: deftroy them that defiroy the earth. ALL the nations and denominations in general, who pretend to be chriftians, are determined haters of God, and of his Chrift. And when they can trample upon the 256 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION the glory of the gofpel, they exult and rejoice : but when they find the word of truth prevail, and they are not able to withftand it, then they are angry. And though the Lord is flow to anger, he will not always be infuked by rebellious worms ; his wrath will furely come, Ifaiah xlii. 13, 14. Nahum. i. 1 — 9. Ifaiah Ixvi. 15, 16. The time of the dead in this place, cannot intend the general judgment of quick and dead, after they are called out of their graves at the fecond appear- ing of the Lord ; for the things that immediately fol- low cannot comport with that period, or the end of time: but it is judging the caufe of the dead, and ta- king vengeance on their murderers j whether they have been murdered in their bodies, or in their teflimony; and whether the perfons then living have been the ac- tual murderers, or followers of the deeds of them that were, Luke xi. 47 — 51. For, as all that righteous blood which had been fhed upon the earth fince the foundation of the world, came upon that generation who crucified the Lord in perfon j fo all the righteous blood fhed upon the earth fince that time, fhall come upon that generation who fhall kill him in the teflimo- ny of his word, and his fpirit. Then the cry of the fouls under the altar, as reprefented in the opening of the fifth feal, fhall be fully anfwered, Chap. vi. 9, 10. Then will God give reward to his fervants the pro- phets, faints, and all that fear him, fmall and great; all that pertain to the Lord fhall be partakers of his joy in the riches of his love, Mat. xxv. 21, 23. And they that know the Lord need not be told what this reward is, for it never enters their hearts to think of rewards by way of requital for any fervice done : it is the of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 257 the pleafure they have in walking with God, Pfalm xix. 11. and enjoying the bleffings they have waited for ; to fee their Lord glorified, his name magnified, and the earth lightened with his glory, is the higheft reward or gratuity their fouls can receive. And all that deftroy or corrupt the earth, by deftroying the knowledge of God out of it, fhall be confumed by the Ipirit of his mouth, and punifhed with everlafting de- ftruction from the prefence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. Ver. 19. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was Jeen in his temple the ark of his tejla- ment : and there were lightnings, and voices, and thun- derings, and an earthquake, and great hail. HERE we come to the fummit of excellency, riches, glory and blefTednefs that is pofiible to the church of God, during this ftate of mortality, fojourning on earth, or dwelling in a corporeal habitation. For their deliverance from all adverfaries had been fully exprefTed before, and now the amplitude of their felicity is de- clared in the opening of the temple, or making mani- feft of the way into the holieft; and the revealing of the majefty of God, for their invincible defence againft every enemy, in his thunderings, lightnings, &c. This is the laft account that is given, or can be given, of the ftate of the church till Jefus comes the fecond time. For though I make no doubt of its continuing at lead a thoufand years, yet being one invariable ftate of light, truth, peace and joy, when this ftate is once truly de- fcribed without mutation, there remains no more to S be IS & A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION be faicl of it, unlefs by way of further illuftration ; for where no changes are, there is no fubject of prophefy before, or hiftory afterward. This verfe is the conclufion of the fecond vifion, which, as it extends from the firft to the fecond coming of the Lord, and includes the whole period, the other virions can neither go before, or follow it in fucceflion; unlefs it be the two laft, which do not commence till all the reft fhall terminate, that is, at the fecond coming of Chrift. But of whatever duration the divers vifions may be, their intent is to reprefent facts in their different attitudes ; to give us the more clear and diftinct views of what the Lord has determined to do; and feveral of them are, either in whole or in part, cotemporary with one another. The three following vifions do not all begin at the fame time, but they ail bring us to the fame period with this ; and in divers refpects give a more particular defcription of the de- ftrudtion of the enemies, and difpenfations of God to his church. The temple of God muft be the refidence where the infinite eternal Jehovah dwells ; where the abfolute immutable I AM has his refidence ; not only in his effential perfection, but alfo in his infuperable love and grace to his chofen. And the heaven in which this temple is opened, can be no other than the vaft ex- panfe of the minings forth of the Divine Will ; and the. opening thereof can be no other than the revealing of the glory and majefty of him that dwells in the temple to the fons of men, or to his peculiar elect. Therefore, the of the BOOK of the REVELATION. i$$ the temple is the Son of God, in whom the Father dwells, John xiv. 10. Col. ii. 9. the heaven is the manifeftation of the love of God, in every mode of his going forth; as in the promifes, prophefies and types which went before ; in the incarnation, life, minifhy, death, refurrection, afcenfion, glorification, intercefiion, and communication of the fpirit of Jefus, clearly, diflinclly and glorioufly held forth in the everlafting gofpel; wherein the truth of the Father's wifdom, power and glory, love, grace and bleffednefs appear in ample perfection ; and every thing that heart can wifh fhines in the mod ineffable rays of light, and flows in the mod clear, uninterrupted ftreams of life and felicity from the throne of God, and of the Lamb. But now as this opening is applied to the time yet to come, it cannot be the firft publication of the gofpel, which is already pafl; neither can it be a farther opening of the light of the gofpel than what is already made manifeft; for it is impoffible that the glories defcribed in the gofpel mould ever mine in higher perfection, if we have regard to the revelation itfelf, than they have done ever fince the days of the apoflles. But this opening mull intend the power of the fpirit, going along with the gofpel of the Son of God, to open the hearts of men to receive it in the life and power. For hitherto, notwithflanding the gofpel of Chrifl has mined forth in the mofl pure effulgent brightnefs that ever mortal minds were capable of conceiving, the prince of darknefs has fo blinded the minds of men, that it is doubtful whether one in many millions has ever known any more of this light, than if it had been ten thoufand fathoms under ground. S 2 But 260 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION But methinks I hear the hypocrite's outcry, O what cenforious work ! O what uncharitablenefs ! O what arrogancy ! To fuggeft as if many millions might go to hell, for one going to heaven ! But flop, my friend, and enquire where thyfelf art going ? There once was an age, when there was only one righteous man found in the whole world : and in the days of Mofes, at the time when God fhook the earth with the glory of his majefty, and made his power known to the whole earth, even then, and among the peculiar people whom God had externally redeemed and feparated from among the nations; in an army, confiding of above fix hundred thoufand, only two men were found that feared God. And, excepting the age of the apoftles, there has not been any time fince the foundation of the world, in which many can be found of whom we have any folid reafon to think that they were real children of God. And the time is approaching, and we may judge it not very far off, when among all the learned clergy, reverend divines, celebrated doctors, devout preachers, worthy miniflers, pious paflors, fincere christians, found believers, godly profefTors, and multitudes of devout, gracious, religious people, it will not be openly known that there is a real child of light under heaven. In his temple was feen the ark of his teflament. The ark was a veffel made of the finefl wood, and perfectly overlaid with gold : a compleat figure of the Son of God, whofe human nature is the perfection of man, and wholly inclofed in the perfection of God. This ark contained the tables of the teflament, on which was written the covenant of God with his people ; be- fore of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 261 fore this ark, the high prieft appeared to reprefent the people, and from above it God communed with them. This ark reprefents God's Holy One in his fulnefs of grace and truth ; his teftament is the perfection of divine love, truth, light, life, grace and glory, revealed in his word, fealed by his blood, and fecured in his interceflion before the throne of his Father -, and by his Holy Spirit from the Father, proceeding through the Son, fealed to the hearts of his faints. This is the height of his fancluary, from whence God beholds his people, and where they behold his glory, and enjoy fellowfhip with the Father and the Son, through the communion of the Holy Ghoft. This teftament conveys blefiings as rich as the fulnefs of God himfelf j as familiar as the bridegroom and the bride ; and as firm as the eternal throne : and fhall be in the midft of his chofen for evermore, Ezek. xxxvii. 26, 27, 28. xxxix. 22. Then the faints fhall fee the king in his beauty, and the glorious Lord fhall be to them a place of broad rivers ; the idols fhall be abolifhed, falfe gods fhall be famifhed, and falfe lights fhall no more lead the fheep aftray 5 there Jhall be one Lord, and his name one. The lightnings, voices, thunderings, earthquake, and great hail, are for the terror and deftruction of all the enemies of Chrift, and of his church, who fhall not be able to ftand before his indignation ; nor fhall any more rife up to diftrefs his beloved people. But to them that know the Lord, thefe things will be no terror, but a delight -} confidering from whofe hand they come, and to what end they are fent 3 they pro- S 3 ceed 262 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION ceed from that which is their joy, the majefty of the gofpel : for nothing can be terrible to the faints, Ifaiah xxxiii. 1 8. liv. 14. Here begins the Third Vifion. CHAP. XII. Verse i. And there appeared a great wonder in heaven, a woman clothed with the fun, and the moon under her feety and upon her head a crown of twelve ft ars. THE commencement of this vifion, as well as the expiration, are coeval with thofe of the fecond vifion i for the duration of them both are from the firil to the fecond coming of Chrift. The fourth and fifth vifions, though they reveal matters of very great con- fequence, are but of fhort continuance ; but this con- tains the whole period of the gofpel day. This woman is the fame that is called the bride, John iii. 29; the queen, Pfalm xlv. 9; over whom her God is faid to rejoice, Ifaiah lxii. 5 -, and fhe is here reprefented in her glory, as flie now appears in the gofpel day. The whole Old Teftament is com- pared to the moon, Ifaiah xxx. 26. which, before the coming of Chrift, received all its light from the fun, Pfalm lxxxiv. si. and the church received all her light from thence by reflection. And now the truth therein contained remains to be the very foundation of the faith of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 263 faith of the faints, 1 Pet. ii. 6. and on this ground the church now Hands, as every believer knows, 2 Pet. i. 19. For notwithstanding the Son of God had not per- fonally appeared, it was by his fpirit all the prophets fpake, and of him they teftified, 1 Pet. Lit. therefore the truth of the Old Teftament is the folid bafis on which all the glory of the New Teftament is eftablifhed. And now the fun is rifen, Mai. iv. 2. and in that righteoufnefs which he, of God, is made unto us, the church is clothed, Ifaiah lxi. 10. and with the life of gofpel glory, in the fulnefs of the fpirit, which was promifed and given to the twelve apoftles, after the Lord's afcenfion, John xvi. 7. flie now Hands crowned. Thefe things are familiar to every believer that is under heaven j he knows that the foundation of his faith in Chrift refts upon the truth of the prophets ; he knows the clothing of his foul, by which his nakednefs is covered, and in which he has boldnefs to appear be- fore God, is the righteoufnefs of Chrift -, and he either knows that he has received, and does enjoy the baptifm of the Holy Ghoft, or at leaft he believes the promife, and is waiting for it, John vii. 38, 39. Now this fign, or appearance of glory, is in heaven, that is, in the fpiritual kingdom of Chrift ■, and whatever foul does not ftand in this pofition, is not a fubject of that kingdom. Ver. 2. And jhe being with child, cried \ travailing in birth > and "pained to be delivered. IT is to be obferved, that the church, who is here reprefented in her glory, on her coronation day, muft S 4 have 264 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION have an exiftence before that triumphal period. The child, of whom (lie was pregnant, was no other but the Son of God; and fhe travailed earneftly for his perfonal coming into the world, Mat. xiii. 17. Luke ii. 25 — 32. This part of her pain therefore muft be pad, when he made his appearance among us, and confequently before her coronation ; for it was not poffible that the queen fliould be crowned, before the king afcended the throne of his glory ; neither was it poffible that the crown fhould any longer be withheld from her, after the coronation of the king : but after the Lord was glorified, and the church had received the anointing, fhe flill continues travailing of the fame child, but in another mode. Before time, it was for his perfonal manifestation and glorification ; now it is for the perfe£ting of his body, and completion of his kingdom. And this may be accomplifhed in divers branches, or gradations : they long, they wait, they pray, and wreftle with God for the fpreading of the gofpel in the world, Ifaiah lxvi. 7 — 13. Acts xx. 24. as alfo by prayer, watching, and fupplication for the faints ; even for themfelves and others who have re- ceived the faith; that the riches of the fulnefs of Chrifl may be more abundantly manifefl in them, Gal. iv. 19. Eph. iii. 14. Phil. iii. 14. Ver. 3. And there appeared another ivcnder in heaven , and behold, a great red dragon, having /even heads, and ten horns, andjeven crowns upon his heads. THIS is called a wonder, but not equal to the for- mer; that was a great wonder, as it was from above, but of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 265 but this was from beneath. This was alfo in heaven, but not as the other, whofe proper natural refidence was in the fpecial bleffings of the kingdom of God : this dragon was only an intruder, come to devour and deftroy ; he could not enter the cabinet of their hap- pinefs, nor enjoy any blefling ; he only entered the theory of the doctrine, and the external mode of wor- ihip, if poffible to pervert the truth, and intercept the comfort of the little ones ; to tread down the outer court, and ravage among formal profeflbrs. He is called a great dragon, for his power and fubtilty, and the great fway he bears among the religious people of this world ; and red, from his burning malice and fury to devour. Who he was, we need not enquire ; being told that he was the old ferpent, called the devil, and fatan j he had (even heads, whereby to devour the truth of the gofpel of the Son of God : and where thefe prevail, the pure gofpel of the grace of God has no place, viz. hardnefs of heart, Rom. ii. 5. blindnefs of mind, Eph. iv. 18. felf-fufficiency, Rom. ix. 31, 32. x. 3. flefhly wifdom, 1 Cor. iii. 18, 19, 20. traditions of men, Col. ii. 8. 1 Pet. i. 18. contemptible ideas of God, Pfalm 1. 21. lxxiii. 11. and enmity againft the truth, John iii. 20. Rom. viii. 7. And to maintain the dominion of thefe feven heads againrt the grace of the gofpel of Clirift, he had ten horns, viz. violent oppo- fition, deceitful alluring cant, fophiftical reafoning, falfe reprefentations, loading the truth of the gofpel with contempt, out-cries againfl cenforioufnefs and un- charitablenefs, deriding conceitednefs and angularity, pompous fhew of will-worfhip, extolling famous men, and vaunting of numbers who oppofe the truth. And fo «66 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION fo long as thefe horns can prevail, the crowns will flourifh upon the {even heads ; or they will maintain their dominion againft the King of kings. Ver. 4. And his tail drew the third -part of the Jlars of heaven, and did cafl them to the earth -, and the dragon flood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child asfoon as it was born. THE tail, which follows the horns and heads, is infatuation of mind, infenfibility reflecting the majefty of God, and flrong delufion to believe a lie ; with burning luft to gratify a fordid inclination. And by thefe, great numbers of profeffed minifters of Chrift have been led away with the error of the wicked j and not being freadfaft in the Lord, have fallen from all their own fteadfaftnefs, and have become wandering fears falling to the earth, till it has been manifefl that their minds, doctrines and practices have been deftitute of all favour, only of the earth. And fatan, with the help of thefe falfe ftars, now become his angels, has always been watching to deprive the church of the defire of her foul, in all the manifeftations of Emanuel her Lord, in his bringing forth into the world, in his doctrine, in his works, in the virtue of his death, in the power of his refurrection, in the glory of his afcen- fion, and in his office of high prieft before the throne ; as well as in the publication of the gofpel, the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and the bleiTed hope laid up for them in heaven. In every thing, and at all times, fatan, at the head of his army of falfe minifters, is as a roaring lion, going about to devour the light, the truth, the of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 267 the peace, the righteoufnefs, falvation, grace and glory of Chrift, and deprive his children of the comfort thereof. And when the church appears molt near to her delivery, or the production appears moll near at hand for her confolation, the dragon and his angels are moll furious and vigilant to devour -, for his enmity is fo radically fixed, that his rage againfl the Holy One of God never can abate. Ver. 5. And JJje brought forth a man-child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron : and her child was caught up unto, God, and to his throne. TO rule the nations with a rod of iron is the pre- rogative of the Son of God, which none in the univerfe befide himfelf can claim, Pfalm ii. 9. though he faid he would give this power to his faints, who mould prove victorious, JR.ev. ii. 26, 27. But this is only as they are in his hand, and as he is pleafed to grant them the happinefs to fhare with him in the victory; forafmuch as all his victories, and the deftruction of all enemies are for their fakes, but the abfolute power is inverted in himfelf alone. Nor is it at all incongruous for him to be brought forth by his church, feeing he calls them his mother who do the will of his Father, Mat. xii. 50. and there can be no child of God, but he certainly knows what it is to travail in birth, to bring forth this Holy Child in one refpect or other; and God never brings to the birth, but he alfo caufes to bring forth ; fo that every foul that travails indeed, is certain to enjoy the defire of their hearts, Prov. viii. 17, 34, 3$. The child was caught up unto God, and to 463 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION to his throne. When the Son of God proceeded from the Father, and came into the world, he afcended again by divers gradations, performances, fufferings and vic- tories, till he left the world and returned to the Father: fo in all the fpreadings of his goipel, and all the com- munications of his grace, his work is eftablifhed by his Father; nor fhall he ever fail, till he has advanced all his faints to the fame throne, John xiv. 2, 3. And as this Holy Child, Jefus, is afcended to the throne of his father, above the rage of all his enemies; fo all his children are fecure in his everlafting arms ; and all the powers of darknefs fhall never be able to prevent one of them from arriving to the fame glory ; for he hath laid, Becaufe I live, ye jhall live alfo. Many have talked of this child being Ccnftantine, or fome chriftian em- peror, that the church was pained to bring forth ; but this can only proceed from ignorance of the nature of the kingdom of God. For (whatever the Antichriftian party might do) the real children of the kingdom never travailed for fuch a production, as they could not but know that Chrift's kingdom is not of this world. Ver. 6. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where Jbe hath a place prepared of God, that they jhould feed her there a thousand two hundred and threefcore days. THE travail of the faints to fee Chrift brought forth in the glory of his gofpel in the world, and the riches of his grace in his church, in the abundance of life in their fouls and in their communities, was not a period of a few days ; nor was the bringing forth, one tranfient act,; it continued feveral hundred years. For her flight into of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 209 into the wildernefs does not appear to be fully com- pleated, till Antichrift was grown fo powerful that he actually took the throne in the nominal church, 2 ThefT. ii. 4. not when he firft began to appear, for that he did in the days of the apoftles, 1 John ii. 18. but when he obtained defpotic power, fo as the voice of truth could be no longer heard. And this abiblute dominion he openly proclaimed, in fetting up a viceroy, or lord lieutenant, the pope, to govern in his name, and put his laws in execution. The pope, or popifh power, is not the Antichrift, nor did the pope ever govern all the kingdom of Antichrift j but being one of his chief captains, he ruled with arrogance, fo far as his jurif- diction extended, with fuch arbitrary and uncontrolled dominion, as fhewed his mafter to be an abfolute defpotic monarch. And now it was high time for the fubjects of the king of glory to quit the camp, and fpeed their flight j going forth after their Lord, bearing his reproach. This flight was a great victory, like that of the departure of Ifrael out of Egypt ; for now it did appear, that all the wiles of fatan could no longer de- ceive, nor was all his power able to hold them in bondage. How long the faints had been in removing, or pre- paring for their removal, before their total departure, or whether they all fled together at the fame time, we cannot tell ; for all the writers of church hiftory give us no intelligence refpecling the real children of light: all they inform us relates only to the outer court, and the worldly fanctuary. But a fafe retreat was a&ually prepared for the Lord's hidden ones, and thither their God 270 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION God carried them ; and there they dwell unto this day, fequeftered from the religious profemng world ; and fo ftiall remain, till the time of the reign of the beaft fhall be fulfilled. The Holy Ghoft has given us to under- ftand the time of the total flight of the church, from the habitation of falfe worfhippers, in that he has ftated it as coeval with the unrefifted ufurpation of the beaft of Antichrift; and that her continuance in the wilder- nefs, and his dominion, fhall be of the fame duration, and they fhall both terminate at the fame period. For a time, times, and half a time, forty and two months, and a thoufand two hundred and threefcore days, all come to the fame meafure; and fo long as the beaft reigns, the Gentiles fhall tread under foot the holy city j and fo long as the church is in the wildernefs, the two witnefTes fhall prophefy in fackcloth. And this mufl commence under the founding of the fourth trumpet, or at leaft by the time of the fifth ; for the people per- taining to the heavenly kingdom are fuppofed to be feparated from the earthly church, when the angel pro- nounced the three woes which fhould follow upon the founding of the other three angels ; for thefe were only to fall upon the inhabiters of the earth. The fojourning of the children of Ifrael in Egypt was figurative of the ftate and conflict of the church, from the days of the apoftles, and during the rifing of the man of fin, till he afTumed the throne ; their travail in che wildernefs was figurative of the prefent travail of the church of God in her exile ; the land of reft was figurative of the reft and peace which the church fhall enjoy in thofe happy days, when gofpel light fhall pre- vail of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 271 vail through all the earth. At this day, the children of God are unknown to the world, but hid and fed in the wildernefs. Ver. 7. And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels fought againfi the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels. THE flight of the bride of Chrift into the wilder- nefs has already been declared ; and now the following verfes are not a relation of facts, fuccedent to that emigration, but an explanation of the caufe and means, or a declaration of thofe tranfactions, whereby that event was occafioned •, and then her efcape is repeated in its proper place. The heaven, in which this war was, can be no other than the vifible church ; the war was between the two feeds, betwixt whom no peace is poflible ; nor can the war ceafe, but in the total de- ftruction of the one or the other ; therefore no peace was poflible to be, fo long as this church confifled of a collection of the feed of Chrift, and the feed of the ferpent, between whom the enmity is abfoiutely irre- concileable. Michael, who is as God, in this place, can be no other than our Lord Jefus Chrift. In former days, the archangel was called Michael, becaufe it was he that perfonated the Lord in all thofe places in the Old Teftament, where the Lord is faid to appear ; for the man Chrift Jefus was not made manifeft, and the Godhead never did appear, John i. 18. v. 37. there- fore under the former difpenfation, all the manifeftations of God were by his angels : as it is plain to any that read with underftanding, that when it is faid Godfpake, a or 47* A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION or the Lord appeared, in other places the fame is called an angel. "We alfo read of another angel, called Ga- briel, who is of God ; but whether thefe be the proper names of two individual angels, or whether they be names of office, applied to any of the angels according to the character in which they are fent, I do not pre- tend to determine ; but this I obferve, that whenfoever any angels were fent, they either fpake as reprefenta- tives in the perfon of God, or in the form of fervants, declaring meflages from God. As to the latter of thefe, I find him called the man Gabriel > and the angel Ga- briel; but I never find him fpeaking but in the inferior character, or in the capacity of a fervant: but now the Son of God is come, he is the true Michael, and per- fectly perfonates the Father. In this war, the Son of God fought againft fatan, in and by his faithful mi- nifters, frequently called his angels, for he came to deftroy the works of the devil j and the dragon, the devil, in and by his falfe minifters, called his angels, fought againft the truth of Chrift. In this war, there can be no neutrality, ceffation of arms, or propofals for pacification ; the abfolute extinction of one of the parties is inevitable. Ver. 8. And prevailed not ', neither was their place found any more in heaven. SO long as the truth of Chrift, and the faints of God continued in this general church, it is called heaven, notwithstanding the corruption and contention which had entered into its but when the word of truth, and the fons of light were departed, it is no longer called heaven j of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 273 heaven j and though the devil and his angels reign defpotic in the common church, they have no more place in heaven : for it was not a victory, but a defeat of fatan, when the faints made their efcape, and left him and his fubjects to themfelves, and could no longer be entangled among them. And now they may revel among themfelves, but it is only in the earth j for all their power could not prevail to bind the faints to their meafures ; and thefe chofen ones being called from among them, all that was heavenly is totally departed out of the worldly church, and they never mail refide or make their appearance in heaven any more. But it may be faid, Are there now no mixtures of faints and hypocrites ? I anfwer, the dragon always has his emirTaries to fend among the faints, who go forth in every mode and form to deceive ; and fometimes the fheep may, for a time, be impofed on by wolves in fheep's cloathing, fo as they may get to mingle them- felves among them -, but they cannot mix fo as to cleave together, nor can thefe fons of deceit enter the fanctu- ary; and fo far as the faints can defcry them, they defire no fellowihip with them ; neither do they feek to draw falfe profeifors to them, or to have any con- nection with them j they make no propofals of ac- commodation to the religious world, nor do they ufe any meafures to reform any of the common national churches; they only, fo far as is in their power, en- deavour to convince the blind of their darknefs and mifery, that they may leave the dragon's den. Ver. 9. And the great dragon was cafi out, that old ferpent, called the devil andjatan, which deceiveth the T whole i74 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION whole world ; he was caft out into the earth > and his angels were caji out with him. WHEN the children of God ftand firm to maintain the truth, determined to have nothing to do with the world's religion, nor pay any deference to their grimace or devout appearances, nor to be foothed and mollified into a charitable idea of their doctrines and practices, for fear of being deemed inflexible and rigid, and for fear of condemning fuch great numbers ; but being valiant for the truth, as it is in Jefus, and refufing all afTent to the traditions of men, or to have any fellow- jfhip with thofe that pervert the gofpel j then the dragon is caft out, and if he be caft out, his angels are caft out with him. But fo long as any perfons or people retain what the world calls a charitable opinion of falfe teach- ers, or falfe profefibrs, fo as to hold a tampering dal- liance with them, the devil and fatan is certain to keep poifeflion of thofe fouls, 2 Cor. vi. 14 — 17. But this is fatan's grand murdering piece, or train of heavy artillery, whereby he beats down all before him ; to cry out againft uncharitablenefs, cenforioufnefs, and want of catholic fpirit, faying, " What! muft none be efteemed chriftians who do not receive the truth of Chrift with fuch light, life, and fpirit, as there is not one to be found among many thoufands ? What ! muft we judge fo many fincere pious fouls to be no believers ? Muft we leave almoft all the world behind us, and efteem them caft out ?" The Chrift of God has given us the ample defcription of his faints, and whofoever does not bear thofe characters, are none of his j the dragon and his angels deceive and reign over the whole world ; of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 27$ world ; therefore if I do not leave the whole world behind me, I cannot be a difciple of Jefus. Ver. 10. And I heard a loud voice, faying in heaven, Nozv is come falvation, and firengih, and the kingdom of our God, and the -power ofhisChrifi : for the accufer of our brethren is caft down, which accufed them before our God day and night, THIS voice in heaven, is the rejoicing of the faints in the true church, exulting in their deliverance. God had vifited them with his falvation, and given them ftrength to break their bands, and (hake off their fet- ters. Ifa. xlviii. 20. lii. 2. They now enjoyed the kingdom of our God -, that is, the pure gofpel of his grace, without the mixtures of human wifdom : and the power of his Chrift ; that is, the power of his word, and the life of his fpirit, enriching and fuftaining their fouls -, without being bore down with dead doctrines, carnal reafonings, and vain traditions of men. The devil had accufed them before God: not to God; for God would not fuffer the devils to fpeak to him, againft the children of his bofom. Yet God heard his accufa- tions, wherewith he accufed them to their falfe brethren as evil doers, becaufethey maintained the truth of God: and thofe falfe brethren, in the fpirit of fatan, caft thofe accufations upon them, if poffible, to damp their fpi- rits, to baffle them, and cruili their zeal for . God, and for his Chrift. But now he is caft down; that is, the Lord hath raifed them above all his malice : they no longer regard his accufations, nor the revilings of his fervants, when they load them with calumny ; crying T 2 out, ! i# A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION out, ftrange doctrines, new notions, high flights, ar- rogancy, abfurdity, cenforious, uncharitable, unfoci- able, &c. &c. In regard to the world, fatan is not caft down at all ; he triumphs therein this very day, as much as he ever did. But his calling down is, that he cannot order his kingdom fo craftily, under any de- nomination of profefled christians, but the children of light will defcry either the ferpent's head, or his tail, and will flee from it. So that he hath loft his power among the faints : they dwell on high, and look down with contempt upon all his fair fhew, and all his rage. Ver. ii. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their teftimony \ and they loved not their lives unto the death. ALL the faints are more than conquerors, through him that loved them. Every child of light knows the virtue of the blood of the Lamb: here they behold the inconceivable love of God, in giving the delight of his foul to bear our iniquities ; here they fee the infinite perfection of the Son of God, whofe blood could remove inch a deadly curfe; and from hence, by faith in his blood, they enjoy remifiion of fins, juftification, and peace with God in their own confciences. And thefe things do not appear to them as a lifelefs dream, but in the quickening power of the fpiritj fo that their fouls are kindled into a vital flame of love, and raifed to the higheft pitch of gratitude •, and by feeing how the cap- tain of their falvation has gone before them, they are infpired with invincible courage. Therefore it is in vain for either men or devils to wage war with a chris- tian, of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 277 tian, when the caufe and glory of their Lord comes into difpute : and the word of their teftimony, that is, the word of Chrift's teftimony, by faith, becomes theirs. By this word they are made ftrong to truft in the Lord j by this word they are made valiant in fight, and directed how to engage ; by this word they are allured of victory, and of a crown of life in the end : and fee- ing the captain of their falvation marching before them, their zeal becomes a flaming fire; and trufling in his invincible power, with a fixed dependence on his infal- lible wifdom, to guide them by his word, they follow him with unfhaken ftability ; not regarding their natu- ral lives, enjoyments, character, or any thing in this world : for there is no chriftian upon earth, that counts his life dear to him, in comparifon of the glory of his Lord, and enjoyment of him. Ver. 12. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Wo to the inhabit ers of the earth, and of the . Jea : for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, becaufe he knoweth that he hath but afhort time, THE enemies think they gain the victory, but the faints enjoy the triumph. The heavens of gofpel truth, grace, and glory, and all the chofen that dwell in them, rejoice to fee themfelves fet free from the feduclions of fatan, and from any connexions with his fervants, and their delufive influences ; to be no longer entangled with their religion, piety, carnal devotion, and hypo- critical fhew; efteeming the reproach of Chrift, and for his fake to be counted the very filth of the world, and ofFfcouring of all things, to be a greater honour, than T^ te 278 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION to be reckoned of the canonized faints, among anti- chriftian impoflors. Real chriftians do not feek popu- larity, or to make refpectable appearances ; they never make a great buftle in religion ; their concern and em- ploy is to wait for the Lord, that they may enjoy his love in Chrift, be Hefted with true fanftification of the ipirit, and walk with God in holinefs. Religion is the element of falfe profeffors ; but the truth, as it is in Jefus, is the element of believers. The word religion is feldom heard in a chriltian's mouth ; the meaning of it is fo general, and fo vague, it conveys no determi- nate idea; only it fuppofes fome kind of duty, homage, or devotion, paid to fome being, either to the true God, or the devil. But they that feek truth, chufe to avoid ambiguity, and ufe fuch expreffions as are pecu- liar to the thing intended : as, The faith of Chrift ; To be born again; To worjhip God infpirit; To keep the or- dinances as they were delivered, &c. And the faints are certain to rejoice, when they gain the victory over the world's idol, religion ; leaving it to them that feed upon hulks with the fwine, that themfelves may enjoy the liberty wherewith Chrift has made them free, to wor- fhip the Father in fpirit and in truth. But wo is pronounced to the inhabiters of the earth, and of the fea j to the continent, and to the ifles : or rather, to the profane world, and the religious world. For the devil, being enraged for his defeat and expul- fion out of the church of God ; and being let loofe into the earth, and being convinced, by what has already- happened to him, that he has but a fhort time; he is certain to (hew himfelf a devil indeed, in his own church, of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 279 church, and wherefoever he has power. He will make all to be religious, fo far as he can, that he may make them twofold more the children of hell : and thole whom he makes religious, he torments -, they are never happy •, becaufe they are fet a feeking what they neyer find, peace of conjcience. And as themfelves are tor- mented like a troubled fea, they, with their waves, torment the earth -, that is, the profane world : for the religious have the dominion in every country, and great is the torment which the poor profane wretches receive from them -, for thefe are willing to go to hell, but they would go quietly their own way, and the reli- gious devils will not fuller them, but torment them, unlefs they will go the fame way which they chufe to go. This is the fame wo which was pronounced by the angel, chap. viii. 13. and exprelTed in the fame words : that is, the firfl. of the three woes, by the plague of locufls ; and it may include the fecond, by the deftruetive horfes ; but it cannot include the third wo, for that is not from fatan, but from the immediate hand of God. Ver. 13. And -when the dragon Jaw that he was caft unto the earthy he perjecuted the woman which brought forth the man-child. THE enmity is between the feed of the ferpent, and the feed of the woman. The dragon's fury is againft the man-child; but not being able to contend with him, he turns his force againft her that brought him forth j that is, the whole body of believers. For the true child, the very Son of God, is effe&ually T 4 brought sSo A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION brought forth in every foul that is born of God : for, to be born of the fpirit, and to have Chrift formed in us, and to live by the faith of the Son of God, is one and the fame thing, i John, iv. 13. And forafmuch as the malice of the old ferpent is abiblutely infatiable, notwithstanding he has licence given him to ravage through the whole world, yet can he never reft, fo long as God's holy one holds poffefTion of one foul. Ver. 14. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle , that jhe might fly into the wildernefs, into her place : where Jhe is nourifloed for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the ferpent . THIS is the fame flight that was mentioned before; and now repeated, after informing us how it was brought to pafs. All the powers of earth and hell are engaged againft this woman ; the bride, the queen, the wife.of the Lamb : but her hufband defends and fuf- tains her, and bears her above all their malice. Some- times he bears her in his breaftplate, on his heart ; fometimes on his moulders ; fometimes on his everlaft- ing arms ; and now he is reprefented as a great eagle, tearing her on his wings. And after all the llories told us by expofitors, of this eagle and his wings, every child of God knows, as well as he knows his right hand from his left, upon what wings he is fuftained j and his foul is carried above the hypocrify, idolatry, carnal inventions, vain traditions, fuperftitions, enthu- fiafms, and enchanted dreams of the religious world : for it is the clear light and comfort of the word of truth, and the love and power of the Holy Spirit, Hag, of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 281 Hag. ii. 5. And on thefe two wings the church flies, Exod. xix. 4. Deut. xxxii. 11, 12. into her place of retirement from the world ; the wildernefs without the camp, to difregard and be disregarded by the world, Gal. vi. 14. And on the fame wings fhe is conveyed into her place of facred enjoyment and delight, the bofom of her beloved, Song vii. 11, 12. viii. 3. and here fhe is nourished with all the bleflings of his grace, fecure from all the afTaults of the adverfary ; and from this habitation of tranquillity fhe ihall not remove, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. Ver. 15. And the Jerpent cafi out of 'his month water as a flood after the woman, that he might caufe her to be carried away of the flood. AS the bleflings of grace proceed out of the mouth of Chrift, in the word of his gofpel ; fo the ferpent fends out of his mouth a perverted gofpel, or a ftream of feduction, under the name of the gofpel. He now found it in vain to contend by repellent force ; there- fore he comes behind her, and fends the flood after her -, and the ftream moved the fame way that fhe went, that fne might be the more infenfibly carried away. This can be no other than his counterfeiting gofpel doctrines, and gofpel worfhip, with much appearance of truth -, to come as near as poflible to the word of God, in found and fhew ; yet fo as to retain a lie in the right hand, or a deceivablenefs of unrighteoufnefs concealed therein ; by cunning craftinefs, lying in wait to beguile -, by fubtile arts, and fophiftical gloffes, co- louring over the truth of the gofpel with a falfe paint, to a82 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION to make falfehood pafs for truth, and the wifdom of men to be eftcemed as the oracles of God. And for thefe kind of deceptions, perhaps there never was an age more prolific than the prefent. Do the children of God declare Chrift to be the alone object of their faith ? We fee parties crying loudly for the Lord Jefus Chrift ; but come to examine who this Chriit is, we find only a found of words. Do they confefs the Holy Scriptures to be the alone guide to truth ? We find numbers crying up the Scriptures ; but enquire for what they value them, or in what light they view them, we find little but the hiftorical part, or that they imagine they find fomething to countenance fome peculiar favourite opinion, or they admire fome beautiful ftriking expreflions, but no regard to the folid foundation of truth. Do the faints confefs the glorious doftrine of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft ? We hear a great noife about the Trinity j but examine the ground of it, and it generally proves a vague opinion, gathered from old creeds, without any diitinguifhing light, or any folid foundation for our faith. Do they confefs righteoufnefs and peace alone by the blood of Jefus ? We hear great acclamations of the blood of Jefus ; but if we come to enquire after the virtue, power, and be- nefit of that blood, it is only a dry relation ; and the righteoufnefs and peace enjoyed thereby is only imagi- nary, or a vague uncertainty. Do the children of God confefs their bein^ born of God ? We hear great ftories about regeneration ; but enquire what this operation is, they only intend fome vain amufement, fome enthufi- aftic fancy, ibme occult impreffion, or agitation of the natural of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 283 natural paflions, that has no relation to the kingdom of God. Do believers acknowledge, and wait for the baptifm of the Holy Ghoft ? We hear great pretences to the Spirit j but afk wherein it confifteth, it is fome improvement of the principles of nature, fome unintel- ligible impulfes of the mind, fomething vifionary or miraculous, or fomething foreign to the life and power. Do the faints pray and wait for fanclification ? We hear a great noife about fan&ifkation ; but fee to what it amounts, it is either a ftricl attention to fome moral virtues, or an overflow of zeal for religion, or fome extraordinary diligence, or abftinence, according to fome tafk which the perfon has laid upon himfelf, thereby to perform fome work of fupererogation, or fomething caufed by painful fear, &c. &c. &c. Thus, by fubtile devices, the ferpent feeks to beguile; pre- tending to acknowledge whatever the faints confefs, to draw them into a fnare, by being made to believe that his children worfhip the fame God that they do, Ezra iv. 2. that being drawn into a good opinion, they may contract: an intimacy, and fo be led away to embrace the truths of the gofpel in the fame Aiding manner, and in the fame delufive light, as antichriftians do. But the Holy Seed, who fhall bruife the ferpent's head, has otherwife taught his children : Beloved, believe not every fpirit, but try the /pirits whether they are of God, Ver. 16. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and '/wallowed Up the flood which the dragon ca/l out 0/ his mouth. THERE is a very near relation between the dragon and 284 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION • and the earth; that is, the carnal world. His doc- trines are adapted to the carnal mind fo exactly, and with fuch delufive art, that, if it were pofiible, he would deceive the very elect : therefore the earth is ready to open her mouth, to receive whatfoever pro- ceeds out of the dragon's mouth. An ignorant, eafy- minded perfon, of a religious caft, is in the utmoft danger of being deceived, and drinking in the doctrines of devils ; and if they come with fome parade, or plau- fible grimace, it gives them an undeniable fanction : for, as his ideas and his inclinations are more adapted to receive the fmoke of the bottomlefs pit, than the light of gofpel truth, he becomes an eafy prey. The world in general think nothing of looking for a folid foundation, but roll along with the flood of tradition, or fall in with whatfoever comes in a fpecious drefs, to fuit their tafte, without any ferious enquiry, whether it be from God, or of men, Prov. xiv. 15. So that whatever proceeds out of the dragon's mouth, finds eafy accefs to men's hearts ; they eagerly open their mouth, and fwallow it. But it may be faid, How does this help the woman? Or, what advantage is it to the true church of God, that the world fo eagerly drinks up the ferpent's poifon? This is eafy to account for, and 1 have often feen it, in two refpeifts : 1 . When an angel of the bottomlefs pit comes transformed into an angel of light, and brings the found of thofe things which are the life of the faints, they arc ready to be elevated at the firfl hear- ing; and, through weaknefs of mind, and inattention to the commandments and cautions of the Lord (to beware of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 285 beware of them that come in fheep's clothing, and try the fpirits, &c.) they are ready to adhere to this fire- brand of hell, approve his doctrine, and with pleafure to bid him God /peed ; not being aware that the ferpent is under it. Kowbeit, thefe teachers cannot fpeak the genuine truth, without mixture ; nor is that their de- fign : what found of truth they bring, is only for a de- coy. And forafmuch as they feek popularity, and not the truth" of Chrifl; they mix their doctrine as well as they can, to pleafe the crowd: and they are foon aware, that the greateil number are beft pleafed with the groffeil part j and fo they become moil liberal of that which they perceive to be moil fw allowed. By this means the ferpent's head becomes fooner difcovered ; fo that the flieep are alarmed, and fly away. 2. The foolifh rant which thofe religious people make, over the corrupt doctrine they have imbibed, foon bewrays them to be intoxicated with the wine of hell ; and is a reproof to thofe of the children of God, who have given them any countenance, and a caution to efcape and avoid them. Otherwife, if the drofs did not ap- pear, they might take all for gold, and be deceived with the counterfeit, till they had infenfibly been car- ried away with fome deception. Ver. 17. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of herjeed> which keep the commandments of God, and have the tejiimony of J ejus Chrift, WE are not to think thefe things to be a relation of tranfient facts ; for the war is ftill continued to this day. a86 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION day. It is not now in heaven, as it was before the dragon was driven out, and had eftablifhed his king- dom in the earth ; but though they have now been fe- parate kingdoms above eleven hundred years, there is no ceffation of the war: for the enmity is againft the woman's feed ■> the man-child, whom the woman brought forth, who was manifefted that he might deflroy the works ofthedev-il. And fince the dragon could nei- ther devour the child, nor fwallow up the woman -, he now goes forth, in all his violence and deceit, to make war with every individual of the Holy Seed, to the ut- moft of his power. But he never fhall prevail againft the leafl babe in the family : they are built upon the rock ; their life is hid with Chriil in God ; none fhall pluck them out of his hand. In defiance of the dra- gon, that old ferpenr, called the devil and fatan -, m defiance of earth and fin, death and hell; they fhall for ever retain their true character, children of the king- dom : yea, they fhall for ever wear the uniform of the King of glory, to keep the commandments of God, and hold the teftimony of Jefus Chrift. Let them therefore be faithful unto death ; the Captain of their ialvation will give them a crown of life. CHAP. of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 287 CHAP. XIII. Verse i. And I flood upon the f and of the fea, and Jaw a beaft rife up out of the fea, having /even beads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blafphemy. WHERE John tells us he flood and he faw, he there perfonates the believers that are, or mall be, in the days when thofe events fhall come to pais : for the faints always have their eyes open, to fee how matters go in their own days, Mic. vi. 9. The fea is the common worldly carnal church, built upon the tra- ditions of men ; or the flefhly wifdom of carnal profef- fors, pervading the whole body of earthly worfhippers. The true church, having efcaped the furious waves of this fea, flood upon the fhore, beholding what the dragon would bring up, to carry on this fecond war, or rather to form this fecond campaign ; and fhe faw a formidable beaft arife, but not inftantaneoufly, for he had been long in riling before he came to his full fta- ture. This beaft is truly called Antichrift -, that is, the filfe Chrift : the wifdom, power, virtue, and will of men, fubftituted inftead of the fulnefs, majefty, and glory of the true Chrift of God ; or the truth of Chrift, by the wickednefs of men, turned into a lie : for now the dragon drew up all his force into one body of reli- gion j this being the moft damnable thing that ever proceeded out of hell. And as there are very few that can 288 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION can form anyjuft conceptions of the name Antichrijl ; the morteft, trueft, and mod exprefiive name whereby we can call this bcaft, is Reli?ion. Seven heads. Not the fame which were upon the dragon, though they are the natural production of them. Thofe were diabolical difpofitions in the hearts of men -, thefe are diabolical doctrines, proceeding from thofe wicked difpofitions, refpecting the things of the kingdom of God, viz. grofs ideas of the God- head j grofs conceptions of the will and counfel of the Father ; . extravagant notions of the Son of God, the word made fleih ; carnal imaginations concerning the Holy Spirit of truth ; foolifh notions refpecting the operation of grace, faith, the new creature, &c. vain, confufed, carnal notions of the worfhip of God j flrange, grofs, carnal ideas of the nature and glory of the life to come. In thefe things, the truth of God is fo abo- minably corrupted, that each of thefe heads wears the name of blafphemy. As for the horns, by which the beait defends his heads, and tears his prey, and pufhes all he hates, they are much the fame with thofe of the dragon ; as any one, by obfervation, may fee and judge how the falfe do£r.rines, or the religion of the world, is defended and propagated, by violent oppofi- tion againfl the truth, by deceitful alluring perfuafions, by cunning fophiftical reaibning, by falfe reprefenta- tions of the truth, by pouring contempt upon the gofpel of Chrift, by crying out of the uncharitablenefs of Chrift's doctrine, by deriding the conceitednefs and fingularity of the followers of Chrift, by great lhew of will-worlhip, by extolling the perfons of famous men, by of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 289 by contrafting the number of Antichrift's followers with the followers of Chrift. But in thefe the beaft has made an advance ; for the dragon had crowns upon his heads, but now every horn wears a crown, every one proclaiming the beaft, and defying any to make war with himj for in defence of him, each one of thefe reigns defpotic as a king. Ver. 1. And the beaft; which I Jaw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion : and the dragon gave him his power, and his feat, and great authority. THIS beaft is compared to the three beafts, to which the Babylonian, Perfian, and Grecian monar- chies are compared j only the order is inverted. The leopard's fpots defcribe the mixture and confufion that reigns in the falfe church. The bear's hind feet, re- fembiing the (cct of the human fpecies, may decoy perfons to follow his fteps ; but with his fore feet he both holds faft, and tears. The lion's mouth is moil terrible for devouring all prey that he can lay his paw upon. And he received his dominion from the feven- headed and ten-horned dragon, who is exprefsly faid to be the devil and fatan ; thus collecting earth and hell in one, to fhew, that all the tyranny and oppreflion, fraud, deceit, mifchief, and malignant poifon that ever did exift, are united in falfe religion : and yet this is the thing that prevails in the world with the greateft authority ; and holds his feat, or throne, as fovereign over all. . U Ver. ago A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION Ver. 3. And If aw one of his heads as it were wounded to death ; and his deadly wound was healed : and all the world wondered after the beaft. THAT head of the beaft Antichrift, which gives life to ail the reft of the heads, is, grofs conceptions of the Godhead ; for it is from falfe notions of the Divine perfection, that all the heads of blafphemy are nou- rifhed. This head is faid to receive its wound by a fword ; that is, by the word of God : as all the faints have feen, and do fee, all the idolatrous reprefentations of God flain, by the pure teftimony of Jefus. But by the united power of the feven heads of the dragon (from whom this beaft receives life and power) the minds of dead profeftbrs are Co infatuated, that they are infenfible to ail fpi ritual light and truth: yea, they ex- pel the teftimony of the gofpel of Chrift from their hearts; and by this means, the deadly wound of the beaft is healed, and they go on in their idolatry, as if the word of God had no exiftence. And after this beaft, Carnal Religion, all the world wondered ; that is, all nations where the found of the gofpel has been received : for where the true Chrift has not been heard of, there can be no counterfeit Chrift •, but where the name of Chrift is acknowledged, all worfhippers, who are deftitute of his fpirit, become worfhippers of Antichrift. Ver. 4. And they worfhipped the dragon which gave power unto the beajl : and they worfhipped the beaft, faying, Who is like unto the beaft ? who is able to make war with him ? THE of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 291 THE dragon is the devil, and the bead is his off- fpring. Now, if we duly obferve, we do not find grofs outward abominable practices, and wretched filthy communication, charged upon the devil, but called works of the flefh. The things imputed to the devil, are fuch as tend to give falfe ideas of God ; to degrade his excellency, or fix fome falfe conception of his perfection, his works, his word, his worfhip, &c. to draw men afide to fome idolatry, which they call religion. It is true, the word religion may be applied to things that are jull ; and once in Scripture, I find it uied in a good fenie, James i. 27. But in that place, it is not applied to the worfhip of God, but to an up- right converfation among men : but through vain cuf- tom, the word is now become fo corrupted, that it is feldom heard, but what it naturally conveys fome cor- rupt idea. I do not underftand this beaft to intend all the religion in the world; as Heathen, Mahometan, &c. for though thefe are of the devil, they are not his mafter-piece, as the Antichriftian beaft is : fo when I read of this beaft, I neither conceive it to be any thing more, nor any thing lefs, than what is commonly meant, and commonly underftood, by the word Cbrif- tian religion. In worshipping this beaft, they, of confequence, worfhipped the dragon, the devil, from whom the beaft received life. All idolatry is of the devil : and whofoever worfhips any idol, is a worfhipper of the devil ; in whofe name and place, and by whofe power, that idol is fet up, 1 Cor. x. 20. And all that follow a Chrift, as he is delcr'ibed, or fet up, by the wifdom U 2 of 292 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION of men ; thefe, under pretence of being worfhippers of Chrift, are only worfhippers of a falfe chrift, a being which has its exiftence from the fuggeftions of devils, and the phantafms of men's brains. It is impoffible to worihip the true God, if they do not know him -, and it is impoffible to know the true God by the teachings of any man, without receiving it from the pure word of truth, Acts xvii. it. Therefore that image which is impre fifed upon their brains, by thefe falfe reprefent- ations, prefented by men, but coming originally from fatan (and whofe picture foever he pretends to draw, he never paints any real image but his own) this is the thing they worfhip. Yet, forafmuch as they are igno- rant of the true Chrift, they have no conception of any other, but the falfe image which floats in their be- witched brain; and they fancy that delufive religion which they follow, is fuperior to every thing, and that they can challenge and defy any being in heaven or earth to overthrow it. Ver. 5. And there was given unto him a mouth /peaking great things and blajphemies ; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. WHEN we fpeak of doctrines, principles, cuftoms, practices, &c. we do not mean that they, in them- felves, are perfonal fubfiftents, or felf-acting agents, to walk, fpeak, &c. but as they refide in fome fubject 5 as deceit muft be in the deceiver, wickednefs in the wicked, and blafphemy in the blafphemer. So this damnable delufion fpeaks blafphemies, but it is by the mouth that is given it; that is, by the children of hell, who of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 293 who devote themfelves to propagate the blafphemous doctrines : and by reafon of the power given it from fatan, whereby it operates in the hearts of men, it is reprefented as a mighty empire, or univerfal monarchy; for fo fure as perfons haftily take up a profeflion with- out the mod deliberate fearch after the truth of God, the moft earneft prayer and fupplication for the guid- ance of the Holy Spirit of God, and the moft humble fubmiflion to the will of God, that they may receive the gofpel of the kingdom as little children, fo certain they are to fall into the delufions of the devil. And the more they go on therein, or allow themfelves to be taught by the precepts of men, the more they grow in hardnefs, blindnefs, and alienation, till they become incorrigible in blafphemy ; for nothing that ever was upon earth produces fuch enmity againft God, as reli- gion ; and their blaiphemies are much more deep, hor- rible, and mifchievous, than thofe that proceed from common profligate curfers and fwearers, As to the power given to this beaft to continue, it is not in the power of the devil to prolong time ; for he knows that himfelf hath but a fhort time. But it is the good pleafure of the Lord, that the patience of his faints fhall be tried to fuch a period ; therefore he fuf- fers the devil fo long to reign in the children of difobe- dience. As to the length of the time, we find it men- tioned under divers figures ; a time, and times, and the dividing of time ; a time, times, and a half; forty and two months ; a thoufand, two hundred, and three- fcore days ; which all come to the fame meafure : and counting a day for a year, mews the time the beaft of U 3 Antichrift 194 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION Antichrift is expedted to reign. As to the time of his commencement, it is certain he exifted, and was very powerful, before he arrived at the throne ; but we can- not fix his abfolute dominion before he fet up the fe- cond beaft, the pope, to enforce his laws. From that time his authority was fully manifefl -, for it is indifpu- table, he exercifed defpotic power: and from that time, it is certain, the true church fled into the wildernefs, as it was impoflible for her to flay any longer. Ver. 6. And he opened his mouth in blafphemy againft God, to blafpheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. THE fpirit of falfehood and delufion opens his mouth in the mouths of them in whom he dwells; and the mod religious people are the moft deteftable blaf- phemers ; for while the abominable wretches of the profane world blafpheme the name of God in derifion, and bid him open defiance, thefe blafpheme his name with ferious grimace, as if they did it by fanction, and maintain their blafphemous affertions as if they were heavenly doctrines j' which is much more bewitching, and tends more to eftablifh bale ideas of God in the minds of men, than thofe of the moft abominable con- verfation, or the openly wicked in the ftreet. They blafpheme the name of God, and make it contemptible, by the mean, bafe, low, degrading light in which they reprefcnt the God of glory, in all his ways and works, even when they pretend to praife and magnify him. In like manner they blafpheme his tabernacle: the Son of his love, the delight of his foul, in whom the God- head of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 295 head dwells. Yea, they blafpheme them that dwell in heaven ; even the God of all grace, in all his glorious characters, relations, and manifeftations j the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghoft j the Three that bear record in heaven, which Three are One j by the mod difhonourable and inglorious reprefentations j when they mock them with feigned adoration, they make them the fcorn of fools. Ver. 7. And it was given unto him to make war with the faints, and to overcome them : and power was givew him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations, AS God gave power to Pharaoh to opprefs his people Ifrael, fo it is his pleafure to give power to the falfe Chrift to moleft, opprefs, and afflict his chofen. By perpetual war he overcomes them, at leaft in his own imagination, and in the fight of men ; perhaps fometimes to kill their bodies ; to banifh them from one country to another ; or by op£>reffion, to hinder the fpreading of the gofpel at fome periods : and fo far he perpetually overcomes them, to load them with execration and calumny, to prevent them from making any refpectable figure, and to hold all the world at en^ mity and in oppofition to them. But in other refpects he never did, nor ever fhall be able to overcome one of the leaft of the lambs of Chrift ; that is, in any thing pertaining to their Father's kingdom : for this motto is indelibly infcribed upon every one of them -, More than conquerors, through him that loved us. He never did draw, or drive any of them from Chrift : he never beat a foldier of Jefus Chrift out of the camp, or ever U 4 caufed i96 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION caufed one to defert his ftandard -, for by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their teftimony, they overcome the dragon, from whom the beaft receives his power. Therefore his victory is only in his own province, the world : the faints are built upon the rock, againft which the gates of hell fhall not prevail. But unlimited power is given to this beaft, over all na- tions, kindreds, and tongues ; and he leads them cap- tive without controul. Ver. 8. And all that dwell upon the earth jhall wor/hip him, whofe names are fiot written in the book of life of the Lamb, Jlain from the foundation of the world. THE deceptions of a falfe Chrift, and a falfe pro- feflion, are certain to prevail over them whofe dwell- ing, and portion, and names are written in the earth. Some exceptions may be ; but in general, it is not at all a difficult matter to perfuade perlbns to be religious ; for in all religion, in common, there is fomething a- dapted to the flelhly mind, to gratify the carnal prin- ciple. For as it is of men's own invention, they are fure to form the image to pleafe themfelves ; and they order it fo fuitable to their own tafte, that they worlhip it, and give it fuch an alluring afpecl, that thofe who know not the true God, are eafily induced tojoin with them in the devotion : for what Jefus Chrift is to the believer, that religion is in the imagination of the car- nal profeflbr ; they adore it, fancying it to be divine, and truft in it for falvation ; they admire and ferve it with zeal and fervency, and are all in a flame if it be oppofed i for men are ftrongly addicted to worfliip the works of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 297 works of their own hands, and the imaginations of their own hearts. I never yet knew any denomination of profeffors, taking them as a denomination in a body, but more than nine tenths of their religion was the tra- dition of men ; notwithstanding the great noife they make about the Holy Scripture, and pretending to make it their ftandard. And indeed they are very te- nacious of fome parts of Scripture, the found whereof feems to pleafe them ; and dropping the fpirit and life, with a little of their own comment upon the letter, they fet them up for pofts and boundaries : but they are commonly fo mutilated, and fet up in fuch a ftrag- gling manner, that they fignify very little, only as cyphers. So that all the dwellers upon earth are wor- shippers of the beaft, except the feledl few. In the fore-ordination of God, the Lamb of God, Jefus Chrift, the Son of his love, was flain from the foundation of the world, 1 Pet. i. 20. And in the fame everlafting appointment, all God's elect were fecured in his book of life, engraven in the bofom of the Father's love, before the world began, John xvii. 23, 24. Eph. i. 4. Tit. i. 2. Thefe the Father fent the Son to re- deem, and to bring them to God : the Son brings them, prefents them to the Father, and commends them to his care ; the Father feals them with his Holy Spirit, and eftablifhes them fecure upon the rock, againft which the gates of hell lhall not prevail. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and none is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. Ver. 9. If any man have an ear, let him hear. IF aoS A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION IF any man have an underftanding, let him employ- it, to learn the cautions and admonitions given us againft the man of fin. Open profanenefs may be called the woman, the weaker fex of fin ; or, more properly, the child, as it is the offipring of ungodly principles : but religion is the man ; that is, fin in its greateft ftrength -, and by it, men are made twofold more the children of hell. Here the Spirit clearly fhews us, that the higheft improvement of the prince of the bottom- lefs pit, in his war againft the Son of God and his fe- ledt bride, is by religion, a corrupted gofpel, the truth of God turned into a lie ; and this is the very thing which Chrift, above all things, took care to admonifh us againft. Beware of thejcribes •■> beware of the leaven ; beware of falfe prophets j go not after them, nor follow them ; if any man fay, Lo, here is Chrift, or there, believe it not ; if they fay, Behold, he is in the defart, go not forth ; Behold, he is in the fecret chambers, believe it not. Mark xiii. 22, 23. Ver. 10. He that leadeth into captivity, Jhall go into cap- tivity : he that killeth with the fword, mujl be killed with the fword. Here is the patience and the faith of the faints, THE Lord is a righteous Judge, and will repay equal recompenfe to his adverfaries -, and becaufe their ways are rebellious againft God, and injurious to his people, he will render double according to their double wickednefs, and make them drink the very cup which they filled for his faints. It is the falfe light, the falfe gofpel, the falfe Chrift, the falfe doctrine, the falfe worihip, of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 299 worfhip, the falfe peace, the falfe hope, &c. which fo prevails, that it is reprefented by a mighty bead, as all the earthly monarchies were : but this is much more monftrous, than any fecular power ever was, both in its univerfal dominion, abfolute authority, and malig- nant nature. But it is a truth known to all, that no king can reign without fubjects ; no more could this ufurper reign, if he had not the hearts of hypocrites to be the feat of his government. Thefe are the fubjecls of Antichrift, and the perfecutors of the faints ; whom the Lord, for the confolation of his elect, declares he will deflroy : he will refcue his church from their ty- ranny, and vindicate his own glory, Jud. xiv. 15. And as the Lord is pleafed to prove the patience and faith of his faints, it is his will to fuffer this beaft to make war upon them ; and at the fame time, to give them firm aflurance of victory in the end. If there were no affliction, there could be no patience ; and if there were no promife, there could be no faith, or ground to hope for deliverance : but while a foul is exercifed with affliction, and at the fame time trufts in a promife, he patiently waits, earneftly feeks, and pours out his heart before God, to the great ftrengthening of his inner man, and intimacy with the Lord. Ver. 11. And I beheld another beajl coming up out of the earth ;. and he had two horns like a lamb, and he /pake as a dragon, THE church of God is not left to be furprifed by her enemies unawares -, flie fees them rifing, is alarmed of the danger, and admonifhed to be upon her guard ; and 300 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION and ought to give earneft heed to the admonition (o often given her, and learn to watch. The former bead arofe out of the fea, of darknefs, herefies, human tra- ditions, and doctrines of devils : this afcends out of the earth, of pride, love of the world, ambition, and arrogancy of men ; who finding to what dignity the former beaft had arrived, enlifts under his banner, and becomes his vicegerent, lord lieutenant, prime mini- fter of ftate, or captain general of his army, to put his laws in execution, to maintain his dignity, and fuper- intend the affairs of his kingdom. This is no other than the pope of Rome ■, that is, the power and jurif- diction of the pope, or the Roman hierarchy : for by them the abominations of the falfe Chrift are propa- gated, enforced, and eftablifhed, to the utmoft extent of their power. This government, of which the pope is the head, has two horns, arrogating both civil and ecclefiaflical power; or rather, he claims the twofold power of Chrift, both over men's conferences, and over their eternal ftate. Thefe he pretends to be the two horns of the Lamb of God : but he fpeaks with all the fubtilty, poifon, and fury of a dragon of the depths. It is common with writers to call the pope Antichriftj but this is a miftake ; or rather, it is a fubtle device of the devil, to make people fancy they are free from An- tichrift, if they are not of the body of papifts. The pope is only a fervant of Antichrift ; neither does he govern the whole realm. Antichrift as really fits king in every denomination ; only none of his other ftandard- bearers carry the banner with fo high a hand. Ver. 12. And he exercijetb all the power of the firfl beaft before of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 301 before him, and caujeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worfhip thefirfi beaft, whofe deadly wound was healed. IT plainly appears there were two diftin<5t beads, and the fecond was fervant to the firft, and that he was fo highly dignified, fo far as his jurifdiction extended, that he exercifed all the power of his fovereign. The former beaft began to rife in the days of the apoftles, 2 TheiT. ii. 7. 1 John ii. 18. but the latter, fo far as we can learn, did not begin to fhew his head till the days of Conftantine, by whom he was firft brooded; though it was long before either of them arrived to their full growth. The former could not govern by his own immediate power, only as he might influence men's minds ; but the latter takes upon him to com- mand, and force men to worfhip the beaft that was be- fore him : for he pretends to be invefted with the power of heaven and earth, whereby he either inveigles or ter- rifies men into his meafures ; and if thefe will not do, he has power to perfecute their bodies, and has all kinds and degrees of officers to put his orders into exe- cution ; but all this is to caufe them to worfhip the. firft beaft, whofe deadly wound was healed. Ver. 13. And he doeth great wonders, Jo that he maketb fire come down from heaven on the earth, in the fight of men. THIS needs no comment ; for all that are acquainted with popifh hiftory, mult have been informed of their miracles, figns, and lying wonders. Only it may be obferved, 3o2 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION obferved, that they are nothing but legerdemain impo- fitions, to amufe the ignorant and credulous ; they are only in the fight of men, who are willing to be de- ceived ; they are no real miracles in the fight of God, nor in the fight of his people ; for they that know God, know the true ufe of all figns and miracles, and that no real miracle was ever done but by the finger of God, and that the finger of God never was put forth in that way fince the end thereof was accompliflied, which was the confirmation of the gofpel, and was compleated in the days of the apoltles. Ver. 14. And deceiveth them that dwell on the earthy by the means of thofe miracles which he had power to do in the fight of the beajl, faying to them that dwell on the earth, that they fhould make an image to the beafi which had the wound by the f word > and did live. IT is the fecond beaft that does the miracles, but they are done in the name of the firft bead ; that is, the delufions of men and devils fet up in the place of the true Chrift ; and there is no truth in all that he doth; he only deceiveth the men of earthly minds, for he cannot deceive any whofe converfation is in heaven. He had power to do miracles, but what power was it ? He was an enemy to God, therefore his power was not from God : and the devil never had power to work a real miracle, for if he had, then mighty works and miracles might be done by perfons with whom God was not ; which is known to be impoffible, John iii. 2. And if fo, what muft the miracles be ? They are nothing but cunning deceptions, falie arts, and juggling tricks, to of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 303 to infatuate men's minds to believe lies ; they are done in the fight of the bead, in confirmation of thofe abo- minable fuperftitions, inventions of men, and doctrines of devils, whereby the hearts of men are alienated from the truth of Chrift. But as miracles never have, nor evermore will exift, fmce the time of the apoftles, whenfoever the children of light hear of any people of any denomination pretending to any thing of the kind, they infallibly know that thofe perfons are under the delufion of the devil. But the falfe miracles are in- vented to induce men to make an image to the firft beaft, who was wounded to death in the fight of all the children of light, by the word of truth ; but made to live in the fight of the children of darknefs, through the ftrong delufions of the devil. And to make this image, is to admire, adore, acknowledge, and render homage to the pope and his clergy, or any other falfe teachers, who verily are, and fully bear the perfect image of the falfe Chrift. Ver. 15. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beaft, that the image of the beaft Jhould both/peak, and caufe that as many as would not worfhip the image of the beaft Jhould be killed. THE power which this fecond beaft had, whereby he ruled in the name of the firft beaft, was no other than by his witchcraft and deceit, with which he in- fatuated the minds of men to fubmit to what he pleafed. Falfe doctrine is the foul, and falfe worfhip is the body of the beaft of Antichrift; and thefe being perfectly formed in the unholy orders of falfe apoftles, who conftitute 304 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION conftitute the fecond beaft, thefe become the image of the firft bead. This body of clergy, or minifters of the falfe Chrift, being the fecond beaft, and the exprefs image of the firft, have power to make themfelves live in the imaginations of the people j fo that their devotees admire them as fuperior beings, adore their infallibility, fubmit to their authority, and reverence them as divine, calling them divines, &c. They have power to fpeak, to command, to blefs, and to curfe, and the people affent to what they pronounce, deeming it to have the autho- rity of God ; or that whom they blefs is bleffed, and whom they curfe is curfed : and they have power to caufe that as many as refufe to worlhip them fhall be killed, either in their confeiences, by the terror of their bulls, curfings, anathemas, &c. or in their bodies, by the fword of the fecular power; or in their characters, being ftigmatized as heretics, fools, enemies to reli- gion, &c. And though they may not all have the like power, yet the minifters of fatan, in every denomina- tion, have all the fame fpirit; for along with their zeal for the diabolical doctrine, they always have a zeal for their own importance. Ver. i 6. And he caufe th all, both Jmall and great, rich and -poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads. THIS is a thing fo well known, that it needs no comment. All men know, that fo far as the pope's jurifdiction extends, he binds all, from the king to the peafant, either to give their hand to maintain his power and dignity, or at leaft openly to acknowledge his fu- premacy, of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 305 premacy, with the authority of the church, and all the falfe doctrine and falfe worfhip which they propagate ; for all mult be fervants and (laves that dwell within his dominion. Ver. 17. And that no man might buy or Jell, fave he that . had the mark, or the name of the beafi, or the number of his name. THE church of Rome, which is the fecond bead, do not efleem any to be fit for common converfation, to have any dealings with, or even to live, who are not marked as the property of the falfe Chrift, the firft beaft, and devoted to him ; who do not openly con- fefs, and call themfelves by his name ; who are not ready to acknowledge him, to number him, and ac- count of him as a god ; and to fall in with the number of component parts which contribute to his exiftence, or whereby he is conftituted an idol ; that is, the carnal notions, counterfeit reprefentations, grofs ideas, vain conceits, fophiftical inventions, herefies, and fuperfti- tions, whereby a lie of the devil is conftituted as the object of faith, inftead of the truth of Chrift. Or ra- ther, that a number of objects be fet up as idols, com- pofing one monftrous body of idolatry ; for this is what fatan has always fought, to make a number of gods, that himfelf might be worfhipped as one of them, or in them all, Gen. iii. 5. Deut. xxxii. 17. Ifa. lxv. 11. Jer. ii. 28. xi. 13. Ezek. viii. 10. 2 Theflf. ii. 4. Ver. 18. Here is wifdom. Let him that hath under- Jlanding count the number of the beafi. For it is the X number 306 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION number of a man; and his number is fix hundred three- fcore and fix. THE wifdom here mentioned is noted by the fpirit of God, therefore it is wifdom in truth, and not any wifdom that can be attained by human learning, which is foolifhnefs with God. Nor is the counting the num- ber of the beaft a fally of wit, a nicknack, a rebus, a crotchet, for children's amufement, as all the expofi- tors make it that I have feen. I think I remember, at lead, nine or ten expofitions of this number, but not one that afcends any higher than a child's play, for they never appear in the lead concerned to know the true meaning j for they have already fettled it in their heads, that they will bring it to the pope of Rome, therefore all their ftudy is, how to make the bell, tink as they are determined to think; or to make it out, fenfe or nonfenfe, that a glofs may be put upon this number to favour their opinion. It is not the fecond, or Roman beaft, but the firft, or Antichriftian beaft, that is here defcribed. A man may efcape the Romifn tyranny, yet be in equal danger of being devoured by the falfe Chrift in other denominations. Nor is the wifdom fo much to be employed to tell what is the meaning of the given number fix hundred threefcore and fix, as to diftinguifh between the falfe- hood reprefented by that number, and the truth of God reprefented in more perfect numbers. The wifdom and underftanding is the true fear of the Lord, Job xxviii. 28. Pfalm cvii. 43. cxi. 10. Prov. \. 7. ix. 10. Ifa. xxxiii. 6. Hof. xiv. 9. James iii. 13, 17. It is called the of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 307 the number of his name, whereby his nature is de- fcribed ; and the wifdom is, to difcern the deceivable- nefs of his nature, fo as to efcape his feductions. It is a broken number, or number of defect, compared with the pei feci; numbers ufed by the Holy Ghoft, Ihevving how far he falls ihort of what he pretends to be : for he fetteth himfelf up as a god, and to his votaries he lheweth himfelf that he is god -, but to them that have wifdom, he appears to poffefs nothing beyond the num- ber of a man, and herein the impofition is difcovered. Therefore whatever the given number may defcribe, the true intent is, to direct: us to fee the difference be- tween the truth of God., and the wifdom of men in their higheft attainments, or the greateft improvements they can pofiibly make in the things of the kingdom of God ; that all that have the true fear of the Lord may clearly lee, how far the mod fpecious counterfeits of human wifdom fall Ihort of the truth as it is in Jefus. If we attend to any of thofe numbers which the Holy Ghoft has frequently made ufeof, to fet forth the things relating to the kingdom of God, we find them always to be complete numbers ; and if we compare this num- ber with them, we find it only to make a fcrap, a fhread, or a broken piece of fuch complete numbers ; as the number one thoufand is frequently mentioned in Scripture, to reprefent fome perfection in the works of God. The number fix hundred threefcore and fix is juft two thirds of that number, as near as integers can exprefs ; as if it were to reprefent thofe profeffors that fhall peri 111. In all the land, faith the Lord, two farts therein jhall be cut off> and die. X2 The 3o3 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION The faith of the believer refts in the Three that bear record in heaven; the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghoft ; which Three are One. The religious world makes a great empty found about the Father and the Son ; but there is no denomination whatfoever that acknowledges the Holy Ghoft, in the true and clear light in which he is fully reprefented in the New Tef- tament j without which, the Father and the Son can never be truly known. One may read a thoufand au- thors, hear a thoufand preachers, and converfe with a thoufand profeffors, before they can meet with one that appears to have read with understanding, thofe parts of the glorious gofpel which clearly hold forth the pro- mife of the Father. And we may obferve the three gradations of divine knowledge, in which it pleafed God to bring forth the light of his kingdom, under three different difpenfations : firft, from the beginning, before the days of Abraham ; fecond, to Abraham and his offfpring ; third, by the appearance of his beloved Son Jefus Chrift our Lord : and we find, in general, preachers and profeffors will feem to acquiefce in what is revealed under the two former difpenfations ; but if we come to fpeak of the fuperior glory revealed under the New Teftament, they cry out, arrogancy, pre- fumption, high notions, &c. and are ready to exert all their powers, to find fomething in the Old Teftament expreffed in a lower ftyle, to be a veil to cover and conceal the. New Teftament glory; for their very fouls rage at the veil being taken away, Ifa. xxv. 7. 1 Cor. iii. 12 — 18. Heb. ix. 3,8. 1 John ii. 8. forthetrue light they hate with perfect hatred. The things of the kingdom of God are frequently reprefented by the num- ber of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 309 ber twelve, and this kingdom fhines forth in three glo- rious gradations : firft, the glory Alining in the perfon ofChrift, John i. 14. fecond, the glory fhining in the hearts of his people, 1 Cor. iv. 6. third, Chrift and his church glorified together in immortality, Rom. viii. 17. The carnal minds of men have been much employed about thefe things ; but inftead of the per- fection of the number twelve, they end in fix, in each denomination of numbers, units, tens, or hundreds : they can only attain one half j that is, a natural com- ment upon the letter j for let their pompous flourishes be whatever they may, they never come to the truth of the fpirit and life. But there is one peculiar number, which above all others is ufed by the Holy Ghoft, both in the Old and New Teftament, to exprefs the completion of divine things, which I conceive to be the number verily here intended j againft which this number, compofed of three denominations of fixes, is fet in contrail, or op- pofition -, that is, the number feven. From the begin- ning, the Lord appointed the feventh day to be a fab- bath of reft. Under the law, the figures of heavenly things were performed by fevensj as fprinkling of blood, of oil, water of purification, days of purifica- tion, daysoffeafts, years of jubilee, &c. Yea, under the Old Teftament, almoft every thing and action was directed by this number : and under the Gofpel, the heavenly things themfelves, and fuch things as pertain to them, are reprefented by fevens ; feven churches, feven ftars, feals opened, trumpets founding, horns of the Lamb, eyes of the Lord, being the {even fpirits of X 2 God. jio A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION God. Now be it obferved, the number of the bead comes to fix only, in each denomination of numbers, and never arrives to the number feven. The fons of darknefs never enjoy the truth, as it is in Jefus, being ftrangers to the life and power ; but they ferment their minds into carnal difpofitions, as near as they can to refemble the truth ; and they coin doctrines of fiefhly wifdom, as near as pofllble to refemble the doctrines of (Thrift; and they footh themfclves into a vain conceit, that they are the real things of the kingdom of God. And with thofe things by which themfelves are deceiv- ed, they deceive others ; as Jeroboam did with his calves, faying, Thefe be thy godsy 0 Ijrael. But as his calves were deftitute of life, fo is all their fpecious doctrine, experience, and worfhip. It ftays in the number fix, the number of a man; or in the higheft attainments that human virtue, or excellency, can pof- fibly afpire unto ; but never attains to the number feven, the number of the truth of God. The life and truth never were enjoyed, nor ever could be taught, by an unregenerate man ; whatever advances they might make in appearance, or whatever flourifh and parade they may mew, to deceive the hearts of the fimple. And thefe are the moft dangerous of all deceptions and counterfeits, which have the neareft refemblance of truth, but are not the truth itfelf ; and herein confifts the true wifdom, to diftinguifh between the truth of God, and the glittering {hew of men and devils. And this wifdom is given to every foul that believes in Jefus: for faith worketh by love, and love infpires him to at- tend to the word of God with all his heart and foul ; and the word is fuch a perfecl: light* that he cannot be held of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 311 held in darknefs, Pfalm xix. 7, 8. Jer. xxix. 13. John viii. \z. CHAP. XIV. Verse i. And I looked., and lo, a Lamb flood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thou/and, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. IN thefe days, now the witnefTes are prophefying in fackcloth, the holy city is trodden under foot of the Gentiles, the true church is in the wildernefs, and the man of fin reigns defpotic, thofe that believe in the Man of God's right hand are looking to fee the event ; and by and by, they fhall fee the Lord of glory coming in the power of his gofpel, and gathering a glorious church; and himfelf, in the riches of his grace, and the power of his fpirit, ftanding in the midft of them : and thefe, in oppofition to them that carry the mark of the bead, have his Father's name written in their foreheads. This is the fame feal, the fame number, and the fame people which are mentioned in the feventh chapter; being a felect number, which fhall firft be gathered when the witnefTes fhall be raifed, and the feventh angel fhall found : and Chrift fhall dwell among them, until he fhall have enriched, illuminated, and filled them with his Holy Spirit, fo that they fhall be compleatly qualified to preach the gofpel to the X 4 whole 3i2 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION whole world ; and then he mall fend them forth to all the nations under heaven. But whether this be the number of minifters which the Lord at that time will fend forth, or whether it be the number of faints of which the church at that time mall confift, and out of which a fufficient number of minifters fhall be called, time will make manifeft. And whether they fhall be all together in one country, or in divers parts of the earth -, and whether they fhall be fent forth all at one time, or at different periods, does not clearly appear. Thefe things to know, does not fo much concern us, as they will concern them that fhall be alive in thofe days. However it be, thefe fealed ones are the fame with the feven angels, or bodies of minifters, who carry the feven vials : for thofe plagues are no other than what the enemies of Chrift fhall feel from the glory of the gofpel ■, and whatever way they fhall go forth, the fame fhall thefe. Ver. 2. And I heard a voice from heaven as the voice of many water ms, and as the voice of a great thunder : and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps. THE voice which the church fhall hear, when the Lord fhall appear in his glory to build up his felecl: body, is the voice of God from heaven. It is as the voice of many waters ; or it is the voice of the prophets and apoftles united, by whom the word of God came. It is as the voice of a great thunder j for it comes not in word only, but alio in power, and in the Holy Ghoft : and by this power it is received, and effectually worketh in the fouls of his faints, and caufeth their hearts of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 313 hearts to refound like harps to the praife and glory of God j and that not with an unmeaning found, for they fhall be real harpers, who can play fkilfully with a loud noife, and fing praifes with underftanding. Such the church fhall be, when fhe comes out of the wildernefs, having defcried the number of the beaft, and efcaped all his fallacies. Their King fhall go before them, and their voice fhall be heard on high. Ver. 3. And they Jung as it were a new Jong before the throne, and before the four beafts, and the elders : and no man could learn that Jong but the hundred and forty and four thoufand, which were redeemed from the earth. IN this fong there may be fomething new, beyond any thing that ever was before j for before this time it never could be faid, that the Lord had taken his great power, and reigned over the nations. But the fubftance of it has been fung by all the faints, ever fince the Lord afcended into his glory, and the Holy Ghoft was fent down from heaven ; which fong will be for ever new. And every foul that is bleffed with the faith of Jefus, in every age, perpetually lings this fong before the throne of God, bleffing, praifing, adoring, and ex- tolling his holy name ; before the four beads, for all the glorious light that mines in the New Teftament j and before the elders, for the folid foundation laid in the Old Teftament : and this fong is of fuch a fpiritual nature, that no man breathing under heaven can pof- fibly enter into the life, fpirit, and excellency thereof, but thofe that are redeemed from the earthly principle, the fpirit of the world, the darknefs of the flefhly mind, and 3i4 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION and feduction of Antichrift. And as all the faints of the former ages will then be dead, and the numerous millions yet to come will not then be called, there will not be a living foul in the univerfe that will be capable of understanding the pure language of the New Testa- ment, only that feledt number called the hundred and forty and four thoufand. Ver. 4. Thefe are they which were not defiled with women , for they are virgins ; theje are they which follow the Lamb whitherfoever he goeth ; thefe were redeemed from among men, being the firji fruits unto God, and to the Lamb. THE children of God are all prefented as chafle virgins to Chrifr. ; they do not defile themfelves with the filthinefs of natural fornication, 1 ThefT. iv. 3, 4, 5. neither do they defile themfelves with the abomination offpiritual fornication; they abhor idols, Kzek. vi. 9. and though they cannot attain to the perfection of their leader, the Holy Lamb of God, they follow after with all their might, Phil. iii. 12. They follow him in his word, to learn his will ; they follow him to the throne of grace, to receive his bleflings ; they follow him in his ordinances, to have their fouls enlarged in his love; and they follow him in his commandments, to fhew their loyalty to him as their king. Thefe are chofen and called out of the world, and redeemed from among men ; they are redeemed from the curfe by the precious blood of Chrifl; and in the virtue of the fame precious blood, manifested in the truth of the gofpel, through the power of the Holy Spirit, they are redeemed from the of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 315 the dominion of* fin, and from their vain conversation ; they are now become new creatures, and are no more of the world. Thefe are called the firft fruits unto God, and to the Lamb : fo all that are begotten of God are a kind of firft fruits of his creatures, James i. 18. But in a more peculiar fenfe, this feleft company may be called the firft fruits ; as they appear to be the firft that fliall be called, after the refurrection of the wit- nefTes, and prepared for the founding of the feventh trumpet. Ver. 5. And in their mouth was found no guile : for they are without fault before the throne of God. I DO not find any thing faid of thefe, but what is true in all the faints, in all ages ; as they are all one body, and baptized into one fpirit : only at this time it is more remarkable, as they were juft emerged out of the darknefs and abomination in which, as an over- flowing flood, the whole world had been fwallowed up. Otherwife the faints are always reprefented as free from guile, Ifaiah lxiii. 8. Zeph. iii. 13. and they are always reprefented as perfect and faultlefs before God, becaufe they ftand compleat in the fpotlefs Lamb, Song iv. 7. vi. 10. Jude 24. Not that they are perfonally without fault, for there is no man that finneth not j but it is before the throne of God that they fland faultlefs, becaufe they do not appear there in their own perfonal characters, but as reprefented in the perfection of the Son of God. Yet to arrive at fpotlefs perfection in their owy perfons, is what they all thirft after, wait for, and 3i6 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION and fliall, in due feafon, arrive to, Eph. iv. 13. v. 26, 27. Ezek. xxxvi. 25. This reprefentation of the Lamb and his train upon Mount Sion, appears to be the fame thing, though fet in a different attitude, with the afcenfion of the two witnefles up to heaven, after their refurrection ; being a preparative to the founding of the feventh angel. And we may obferve, that the founding of each of the trumpets flill fpread the gofpel in the world to fuch parts where it had not been before ; and by the laft, it fhail be extended to all the ends of the earth. Now as fix of the trumpets of the angels have founded long ago, and the feventh fhall not found till after this glorious appearance of the Lamb in the midft of his redeemed, it mould feem as if this one hundred and forty four thoufand would be called out of thofe nations where the gofpel has already been acknowledged. And re- flecting the times, who can fay if the thirty years, added to the twelve hundred and fixty, is not appointed for the calling and qualifying of this company for the £reat work ? Dan. xii. 11. And when thefe are fent forth in the founding of the feventh angel, if the other addition of forty-five years is not appointed for fpread- ing the gofpel throughout the world ? Dan. xii. 12. Ver. 6. And IJaiv another angel fly in the midft of heaven, having the everlafting gofpel to preach unto them that dzvell on the earthy and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. THE flying of this angel is the going forth of this fclcft of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 317 felect prepared number ; and through the midft of heaven is the fpreading of the gofpel through the whole world, according to that which is mentioned of the fame felect number, chap. vii. 4, 9. immediately after the fealing thereof, the innumerable multitude are col- lected out of all nations, &c. This appears to be the feventh angel that had the trumpet, and was prepared to found -, and he is called, another angel. This muft have relation to the fix angels who had founded before, for no angel had been particularly named fince the commencement of this vifion j and he is hereby noted, not only as being a diftindr. one from the reft, but as his going forth fhall be moil remarkable, and his found- ing the moil extenfive. Nor is it another after the feventh, for before this time his found had not gone forth ; but it anfwers to the very fame, and truly is the feventh angel. And however varioufly this thing may be reprefented, and at what periods, or in what divi- fions thefe minifters may be fent forth, the founding of the feventh trumpet, and the flying of this angel, are the fame thing; and contain all the goings forth of the gofpel, from the expiration of the reign of the beaft, till the Chrift of God fhall become the one Lord, and fovereign King over all the earth, and fhall be acknow- ledged, ferved, and obeyed by all the nations. Ver. 7. Saying with a loud voice , Fear God, and give glory to him : for the hour of his judgment is come : and worjhip him that made heaven and earth, and the fea, and the fountains of waters. WHEN the gofpel fhall go forth under the found- -ji 8 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION ing of the feventh angel, the voice fhall be fo loud, that the roaring of all the heads, and rattling of all the horns of the bead of the falfe Chrift, or the perverted gofpel, fhall not be able to overcome, or to confound. And the hour of the judgment of God being come, the voice of the Almighty in his word to them that are the enemies of his truth, fhall come with the utmoft terror that ever founded in created ears. But in his chofen, every word fhall take place as the mod falutary cordial, and fhall be fpirit and life in their fouls ; and as he fpeaks, fo mail they do, forafmuch as his gofpel fhall come, not in word only, but alfo in power -, they fhall fear God with all their hearts, and give glory to him with all their fouls ; they fhall worfhip the living God in fpirit and in truth ; and in the light of the glorious gofpel, they fhall diftinguifh him from all thofe gods who did not make the heavens and the earth, and which mail be utterly famifhed, and from all the idols of the nations, which fhall be totally abolifhed ; they fhall experience and acknowledge the abundance of hea- venly bleffings communicated to their earthen vefTels ; they fhall behold the fulnefs of that expanded fea, the word of grace, and enjoy the fountains of living water fpringing up in their fouls, through the power of the fpirit of truth. Ver. 8. And there followed another angel, faying, Baby- lon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, becaufe fhe made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her forni- cation. IN this book, the name Babylon feems to intend, or of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 319 or to be particularly applied to the church of Rome -, as lhe is the mother, and the mod notorious of all the harlots. And by fo much as fhe has taken upon her to reign in temporal power, it is not improbable that her external greatnefs mall be deftroyed by temporal judgments ; which may be intended by this other angel which followed. But be it as it may, it is certain, this angel is a meffenger from God, to pronounce the de- ftruction of that great city, or mighty body of people, who by their witchcrafts, and by their power, have fubdued fo many nations, and brought them to partake of their fornication, and to drink the wine of intoxica- tion, till it rilled them with fury and madnefs ; for we may expect the vengeance to come upon her, the fame way as her wickednefs has been exercifed. Ver. 9. And the third angel followed them, faying with a loud voice , If any man worjhip the beafi and his image > and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand. THIS is a different meffenger to him that went laft before him, proclaiming a temporal overthrow. This takes hold of the confciences of all that follow the falfe Chrift, of what church, profefllon, or denomination foever they be; for the judgments by him pronounced, are of a fpi- ritual and eternal nature. This is the flaming fire of vindictive wrath from heaven, on them that know not God, and that obey not the gofpel of our Lord Jefus Chrift. If any man receive the falfe doctrine taught by a falfe Chrift, and under pretence of worfhipping the Son of God, worlhips that imaginary Chrift, to which thofe pernicious doctrines and traditions of men have led 320 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION led him, this is a worfhipper of the bead: or if he gives implicit afTent to what is delivered by men, and follows them upon the credit of their eloquence, piety, learning, or pathetic fervency, this is to fet thofe men in the place of God, and is deemed a worfhipping of them j this is to worfhip the image of the bead j for the true minifters of Jefus never defire to impofe their words or doctrines upon any man for divine truth, but to draw every one to a diligent fearch of the word of truth, that they may receive it upon the infallible tef- timony of God alone, John vii. 16, 17, 18. Gal. i. 11. 1 Pet. i. 19. Or if any man receive the mark in his forehead, by an open profeffion ■, or in his hand, by aflifting in fpreading or infinuating thefe feduftions ; they thereby acknowledge, or devote themfelves to fuch a Chrifl, as is not the image of the true God, nor held forth in the word of life. Thefe are the perfons pointed out by this angel. Ver. 10. The fame fh all drink of the wine. of the wrath of Gody which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation ; and he floall be tormented with fire and brimjione in the prefence of the holy angels, and in the prefence of the Lamb. WHAT a perfon receives In full meafure, he is fre- quently faid to drink ; and what tends to great confo- . lation, or great anguifh, is frequently compared to wine, for the influence it has upon men ; and the way of its being conveyed or received, is commonly repre- sented by a cup, becaufe potions, either fweet or bit- ter, are ufually lb given. The oerfons that fhall drink in of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 321 in full meafure, are all that worfhip falfe objects, as before defcribed ; the wine is the wrath of God -y the cup is his indignation, or total rejection, and banifh- ment from his prefence : and they being thus fhut out, deftitute of all mercy from God, the fruit of their ini- quity will come upon them to the uttermoft, without mixture, without all mitigation; and the torment of their wicked hearts, and the fting of their guilty con- fciences, fhall be fo excruciating, that it is compared to fire and brimftone. And to enhance their wretch- ednefs, their abominable wickednefs, and the juft ven- geance of God upon them, fhall be fully expofed to the open view of all the holy angels of God, and even be- fore the Lamb, the tender Lamb of God •, but their implacable enmity, idolatry, hypocrify, and open re- bellion has been fo malignant, it has left no place for his companion. Ver. 11. And the /moke of their torment ajcendeth up for ever and ever : and they have no reft day nor night, who worjhip the beaft and his image, and whojoever re- ceiveth the mark of his name. THIS muft lead us beyond all time to eternal dura- tion, and fhuts up in total defpair, without intermiflion or mitigation. The heat and fiercenefs of the torment is reprefented by the afcending of the fmoke : the idea thereof is almolt too much for the human mind to fuf- tain ; yet it is impoffible for thefe ungodly wretches ever to be extricated from it, forafmuch as the wicked- nefs itfelf is the torment. And they have chofen it, embraced it, and fo entered into it, and it into them, Y that 322 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION that it is become infeparable from their very being ; fo that no place, nor time, nor company, nor enjoyments, nor any thing in the creation of God, can yield them relief, their very exiftence being their mifery. All fin may be forgiven, whenfoever the finner returns to God; but theirs is of fuch a nature, that they cannot return, it being an implacable hatred againft the Father and the Son. It is not any thing that comes from God that produces their anguifh ; it is feparation from God, in whom all felicity exifts, that leaves them deftitute of all blefTednefs, and expofes them to the worm which themfelves have produced, and to the fire which them- felves have kindled. They have defpifed the riches of the goodnefs of God -, they have followed vain imagi- nary objects ; they have worlhipped the bead and his image, and received the mark of his name, in con- tempt and defiance of the God of truth -, they have to- tally forfaken the fountain of living waters, and he hath eternally forfaken them. Thus they are for ever fepa- rated by full confent on both fides ; and to eternity they will never fufFer any more punilliment from God, only the efFecl: of what they have already fuffered in the decifive fentence, Depart from me, ye cur Jed. Ver. 12. Here is the patience of the faints : here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jefus. IN the chapter foregoing, it is laid, Here is the pa- tience and the faith of the faints. There it feems to be fpoken of the trying of their patience and faith j but here it appears rather fpoken of the reward, the happy event, of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 323 event, or victory obtained through faith and patience. As the laft words before, declare the everlafting banifh- ment of all their enemies ; and the next words that fol- low, exprefs the everlafting felicity of the faints : fo thefe words (hew the bleffednefs of them that continue in patience, obedience, and faith ; that is, compleat deliverance from every thing that is ofFenfive to them, and ample enjoyment of every thing their fouls defire, Thefe fruits of the fpirit are not at all the procuring caufe of the bleffednefs, which is the free donation of the Father of lights ; but they are qualifications prepa- ratory to the enjoyment ; or they are the introduction, or firft fruits of the divine bleffings. By faith, we em- brace and appropriate all the riches of grace, exhibited in the record that God gave of his Son : by obedience, in keeping the commandments of God, we cleave to the fountain of life, and depart from the fnares of death ; that is, paying due reverence to the facred name , of the Three-One, glorifying our Father which is in heaven, humbly and openly confefllng the name of Jefus, earneftly waiting for the promife of the Holy Spirit, continuing fteadfaft in the doctrine, fellowfhip, and worlhip of the houfe of God, and walking upright and circumfpect before all men ; and by patience, we commit ourfelves to the Lord, humbly waiting his good pleafure, when and how he will fulfil his pro- mifes, on which he has caufed us to hope. Ver. 13. And I heard a voice from heaven, faying unto me, Write, Bleffed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth : Tea, faith the Spirit, that they may reft from their labours; and their works do follow them.' Y 2 AT 324 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION AT this period, the ears of the faints being opened to attend to the Scriptures of truth, the heavenly tefti- mony, they hear, in that living word, the voice of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghoft, the Three that bear record in heaven, teftifying of the blefTednefs of them that die in the Lord. And the church is directed to write it, that it may be deeply imprefTed on their hearts for a memorial j not for the fake of thole that are departed and are prefent with the Lord, but for the confolation of thofe that are living, that their minds might be perfectly flayed upon the Lord, and never fear them that can only kill the body, forafmuch as the conteft with Antichrift appears not yet to be decided j therefore, for their confolation, they are allured that from the pe- riod of death there fhould be no more infelicity, but perfect blefTednefs for ever : and the Spirit confirms this teftimony in the hearts of all the chofen, flrength- ening them to believe, and wait with patience, what- ever they might now fuffer, in expectation of the ap- proaching happy period, when all labour, grief, toil, and forrow mail for ever fubfide, Ifa. xxv. 8. And the works they have performed in the name of Jefus mall remain upon record ; and the effects thereof, when they are dead, fhall be for the benefit of them that furvive, Rom. iv. 23, 24. Heb. xi. 4. and alfo, in the day or judgment, though the righteoufnefs of Chrift alone fhall go before for their j unification, Pfalm lxxxv. 13. their works fhall follow, as an evidence of their union with Chrift, John iii. 21. Ver. 14. And I lapkedy and behold, a white cloud, and upon the cloud one fat , like unto the Son of man, having on of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 325 on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a Jharp fickle. WHEN the Lord fhall go forth as a mighty man, and ftir up jealoufy like a man of war, and his people fhall have heard and underftood his voice in divers modes, both in his word, and in the difpenfations of his providence, they will then look with earneft atten- tion to fee the fulfilling of his word, and the comple- tion of his works : and they fee a cloud j that is, the teftimony of the cloud of witneffes, the prophets and apoftles. The cloud was white: which fhews, it was the glorious and falutary tidings of the gofpel of the grace of God. This is the fame cloud, which in its brightnefs always overfhadows the church ; but it never was feen before to fpread fo extenfively over the whole earth. He that fat upon it, was like the Son of man > that is, Jefus Chrift himfelf, who alone rides upon the gofpel. This is, the explanation, and the fulfilling of that which was fpoken before, of the angel flying in the midft of heaven, having the everlafting gofpel to preach. Chrift never gives his glory to another ; and whatever inftruments he may pleafe to ufe for publ idl- ing the gofpel, it is his own power that makes it effec- tual, and himfelf fhall have all the glory. He had on his head a golden crown : the Lord is crowned with immortal glory in the prefence of his Father j and in his church he is crowned with glory and praife, Song iii. 1 1. but in the world he never put on his crown be- fore ; but now the time is come, that the Lord fhall be King over all the earth. And in his hand a fharp fickle : the word of God is frequently compared to Y 3 fharp 326 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION fharp inftruments, as arrows, an axe, a two-edged fword, &c. according to the work to be performed thereby ; and here it is compared to a fickle, becaufe the defign of this part of the vifion is to reprefent the Son of God coming to reap his own harveft, or to ga- ther his elect to himfelf ; therefore it can be no other than the word of truth made fharp by the fpirit of life. Ver. 15. And another angel came out of the temple ', crying with a loud voice to him that fat on the cloudy Thru/} in thy fickle, and reap : for the time is come for thee to reap ; for the harveft of the earth is ripe. BY an angel, we are not always to underftand, an individual of fome fpecies of creatures j for it may fig- nify a meflenger, a meffage, or any particular going forth of the hand of God, either by armies, plagues, providences, or by the gofpel, &c. Here it may be obferved, this angel came out of the temple. The Hue temple is Jefus Chrift, in whom all the faints dwell with God •, the fubordinate temple is the church of God, where all the faints dwell together in Chrift : the head and members conftitute one temple, which at that day is reprefented by a Lamb {landing on the mount Sion, and with him one hundred and forty and four thoufand. This is the temple, the church, the nuriery for the minifters of Chrift ; and from hence the angel proceeds -, that is, the felect body of minifters prepared of the Lord for his work, to be fent to preach the gofpel in all the world. Thefe, through their knowledge of the word, and underftanding of the times, will clearly fee that the time is come, and the harveft of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 327 harveft is ripe -3 and finding themfelves filled with the Holy Ghoft, whereby they are truly prepared to exe- cute whatever command he fhall pleafe to entruft them with, they come forth, and prefent themfelves before him, ready to go wherever he fhall direct, with fervent prayers, loud and earneft fupplications, that he will go forth with them, by his mighty fpirit, to make the work fuccefsful ; being on him alone dependent, and knowing it is not in their power to gather any harveft, unlefs the Lord himfelf thrufl in the fickle, Ver. 16. And he that fat on the cloud thrufi in his fickle on the earth ; and the earth was reaped, THE Lord fends his word with light and glory into the world, and with life and power into the hearts of men ; and hereby their minds are awaked to attention, their eyes behold the light, their hearts believe the truth, their fouls are kindled into a vital flame of love, and all their intellectual powers flow together, to the goodnefs of God, and the glory of his Chrift. In reaping of land, the corn, or whatever article ofhuf- bandry it be, is entirely cut down from the flock whereon it grew : fo when the gofpel comes in its power to any foul, it quite feparates him from what- ever was his life before •> wicked practices, wicked prin-r ciples, love of the world, indolence, vain pretence of worshipping God, felf-righteoufnefs, fear of God taught by man's wifdom, following enthufiaftic fpirits, &c, he becomes dead to all, Phil. iii. 7. And when the fruits are cut off from the flock, or the harveft gather- ed, it is devoted to the ufe of the hufbandman, laid Y 4 where 328 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION where he pleafes, and difpofed of according to his dif- crecion : fo is every foul that is called of God devoted to the Lord, to confefs him, to obey him, to fol- low him, to glorify him, to wait for him, &c. and this mail be the cafe of the univerfal world, in that happy period, when the Lord fhall reign over all the nations. But here we may obferve, thefe things are yet to come, though reprefented in the pan: tenfe; as it is ufual in the prophefies, efpecially what appeared in vifions ; they are fpoken of, as they fhall be when accomplifhed. Ver. 17. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he alfo having a fharp fickle. THE church of the firft-born is written in heaven. Chrift is the heaven where his church dwells, Eph. ii. 6. and the Father is the heaven where the Son dwells, Col. iii. 3. From this temple this angel comes forth, from the majefty of God; the miniflers of Chrift going forth in the power of the gofpel ; he that fat on the cloud having put his fharp fickle in their hands, they are ready to execute his commands in publifhing his word, to gather his elect from the four winds of heaven, or from the four corners of the earth. And thefe may be the fame body of miniflers with thofe mentioned be- fore, only directed to another part of the work; foraf- much as the world is full of adverfaries, ranged in bat- tle array, to withftand the gofpel of the Son of God, thefe mufl be cut down or gathered as tares out of the way, that the ranfomed of the Lord may be delivered from their infection j and it is by the fame fickle, the wor<3 of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 329 word of God, only turning the other edge, that thefe enemies fhall be cut down. Ver. 18. And another angel came out from the altar which had power over fire ; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the fharp fickle ', faying, Thruft in thy Jharp fickle, and gather the clujlers of the vine of the earth j for her grapes are fully ripe. THIS angel reprefents the faints in their prayers and fupplications, waiting at the altar, crying to God for deliverance from the enemy, and the deftruction of the haters of the Lord, And they had power over fire ; that is, their prayers were fo prevalent to bring down the wrath of God upon the wicked. And they cried with a loud cry to him that had the fharp fickle ; their prayer was not directed to thofe minifters and fervants of God who were appointed to execute his will, who doubtlefs were themfelves joined in the cry, but their prayer was to God, at whofe direction thofe minifters were fent forth \ and fo the effect of thofe prayers ex- tended to them, when at the requeft of his people the Lord haftened his fervants to the work, and made his word in their mouth effectual to flay the wicked. The commiffion from God was according to the fupplica- tion of the faints, to thruft in the fharp fickle, or caufe his word to go forth like fire, and gather the clufters of the vine of the earth. The falfe church is wholly of the earth, and for her flouriming in flefhly wifdom is compared to a vine, and for her abundant productions is compared to clufters of grapes ; but the chofen of God, being inftructed by his word to know the times and 330 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION and feafons, will be able to judge when thefe grapes are ripe, and will fet their face to feek the Lord by prayer and fupplication, Dan. ix. 2, 3. and crying day and night, will give him no reft, till he fhall call away the wicked of the earth like drofs, and mall appear in his glory to build up Zion, and to make Jerufalem an eftablifhed praife in the earth. Ver. 19. And the angel thruji in his fickle into the earthy and gathered the vine of the earth, and cajl it into the great ivine-prefs of the wrath of God. HE that fat on the cloud thruft in his fickle on the earth, to gather his true grain therefrom ; but this angel thrufts in his fickle into the earth, for the vintage is earth itfelf. His arrows are fharp in the heart of the King's enemies : his axe fhall cut down every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit : and his fword fhall flay eveiy idolater, every hypocrite, every fuperftitious pro- feffor, every falfe worfhipper, every enthufiaft, every one that holds the truth in unrighteoulnefs, and every one that has a form of godlinefs without the power. Thefe fhall be cut down from all their high pretences, from their falfe profeffion, vain confidence, delufive imaginations, fpurious comforts, and vain hope ; not to be gathered into the celeflial garner, but to be caft into the great wine-prefs of the wrath of God, where they fhall fuffer the unremitting vengeance of God for ever and ever. This is not the cafting into the lake of fire after the laft judgment, for this will be done by the fword of the gofpel in their confeiences; yet it will be a preparative to that eternal accurfed condition. Ver. of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 331 Ver. 20. And the wine-prefs was troden without the city, and blood came out of the wine-prefs, even unto thehorfe- bridles, by the /pace of a thou/and and fix hundred furlongs, THE enemies of God, and efpecially the falfe pro- fefibrs and mimickers of his truth, thefe are the grapes ; the flate into which they are cad by thejuftice of God, this is the great wine-prefs ; and the vengeance of God purfuing them, and their own guilty conferences tor- menting them, thefe are the two feet by which their fouls are troden. And it was without the city •, not only abfent from the kingdom of God, totally feparated from all the children of light, and for ever banifhed from all the bleflings of life, but alfo driven out from that external part of the city which they have fo long had in porTeflion, and have troden underfoot ; or, if it be underftood of the city of Antichrift, where they have reigned, paraded, revelled, and committed all their abominations, this fhall be rafed and demolished, fo that it can no more be inhabited, but in the fight and remembrance thereof fhall their torment be, expelled from all their vain hopes, imaginary comforts, and de- lufive dreams. And blood came out -, that is, in this dreadful prefs the life is deftroyed, all the ftrength, health, peace, reft, pleafure, comfort, and hope, is to- tally fqueefed out of the foul, and goes forth in anguifh, torture, lamentation, and defpair. To the horfe-bridles ; the horfe is a ftrong courageous creature, fit for war, and in his ftrength the rider trufts, but it is a vain thing for fafety ; fo all that thefe deceived deceivers trufted in fhall be found vain : they fhall no longer be able 332 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION able to guide or command the ftrength thereof -, it fhall be utterly fwallowed up in their own wretchednefs, be- yond all hope of recovery, or profpect of deliverance. A thousand and fix hundred furlongs. As far as can be learned, this is the length of the land of promife, which God gave to Ifrael, and commanded them to take heed that they did not pollute it. This was a figure of the true relt and bleflings of the everlafting gofpel ; not a type of eternal glory, as thofe imagine it to be who are flrangers to the fpiritual bleflings of which it truly was intended to be a fhadow : but this land they polluted with blood, offered to their idols, Pfalm cvi. 38. and the Lord threatened to confume all things from off the land, and to pour out their blood as duff, Zeph. i. 2, 17. So the falfe chriftians have perverted the gofpel, and have made the worfhip of God a temple of idols -, and have wholly corrupted the truth of Chrift, fo far as their filthy hands have been able to touch It 5 and their abominations have covered the whole land of gofpel grace and truth ; and according to the extent of their filthinefs, fo fhall the wrath of God come upon them to the uttermoft. For fo far as the precious truth of Chrift, and the worfhip of his houfe, have been made contemptible and polluted by them, fo far fhall his fury tear in pieces ; and in vengeance mail he pour out their blood. For the Lord, whofe name is Jealous, is a jealous God. Here of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 333 Here begins the Fourth Vifion. CHAP. XV. Verse i. And I Jaw another Jign in heaven, great and marvellous, /even angels having the /even lafi 'plagues ; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. THE two former vifions began from the coming of the Lord of life in the flefh, but this begins with the coming of the Lord of glory, in his firft dominion, to the tower of the flock. When the Lamb fhall (land with his felecl number on the Mount Sion, after the killing and rifing again of the two witnefTes, and after their afcending to heaven in the gofpel cloud, in the fight of their enemies ; when the glory of the Lord, in his church, fhall make fuch a glorious ap- pearance as the world never beheld before ; having his twelve times twelve thoufand fealed ones {landing pure before him, without any mixture of falfe doctrines, or hypocrites among them ; probably a greater number than ever were upon earth in one age before, if not greater than all that ever had been in all the ages of the world before : but this we do not know. Now in this church, or felect body, a fign appears, great and marvellous; the point of time being come, when the whole earth fhall be bleiTed with the knowledge of the ^lory of the Lord ; and at the fame time, the enemies fhall 334 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION fhall be punifhed with fuch flaming wrath, as human beings never felt before. And both thefe fhall be pro- duced by the preaching of the fame gofpel, the mi- nifters whereof mall proceed from this felecl number, Mich. iv. i, 2. But forafmuch as the prefent defign is to reprefent the fury of the Lordfagainft his enemies, the fame gof- pel, which in its own nature is the highefl blefling that ever the world was favoured with, is reprefented as vials of wrath upon the people of his wrath, i Cor. ii. 15, 16. The feventh angel, founding {even different alarms, is reprefented as feven angels, or feven diftinc~t bodies of minifters of the gofpel, proclaiming the glory of the Lord to the ends of the world ; or fo many different advances in the glory of the gofpel light, which fhall be as fo many deaths or torments to all the haters of the light : it will be the mining forth of the glory of the gofpel, which will not only be the greateft plague to the fons of Antichrift that ever mortals felt, but it will be the laft, as it will extirpate them and their idols together. When the Lord Jefus had foretold fome ex- ternal calamities which are to come upon nations, and men's bodies, precedent to thefe times, he fays, All thefe are the beginning of for rows ; but of thefe which fhall come upon men's hearts and confeiences, the Spirit fays, In them is filled up the wrath of God. Ver. 1. And If aw as it were afea ofglafs, mingled with fire; and them that had gotten the vittory over the beaft, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 33$ number of his name, fiand on the Jea of glafs, having the harps of God. THIS fea of glafs can be no other than the pure gofpel ; and the fire can be no other than the life of the fpirit of God : for here all the faints ftand, in the light and truth of the word of grace, and in the life and power of the Holy Ghofb. tpAnd they have the harps of God : they fing his praifes with the higheft delight, with the clearefl underftanding, and in the trueft order ; but none can be of this number but fuch as are truly viftorious. Over the beaft : fuch as can diftinguifh between the truth of Chrift, and all the falfe glories and falfe reprefentations that are raifed by men and devils to introduce a falfe Chrift. Over his image: fuch as can withftand the overbearing logic, the fubtilties and fophiftries of the minifters, preachers, fcribes and do£tors of this world. Over his mark : fuch as utterly difregard the prevailing cuftoms, celebrated modes, and highly approved forms of religion, or worldly devotion ; nor can, for fear of being puffed ar, counted fingular oddities, charged with pride, felf- conceit, cenforioufnefs, &c. be prevailed upon to ap- pear like the worfhippers of the Antichriftian beaft. And over the number of his name : fuch as can diftinguifh between the pure gold, and the moft finifhed counter- feits •, fo as to know the perfect number feven, the number of God, wherein truth, reft, and holinefs re- fides, from the deficient delufive fixes, made up of the number of a man, or drawn from the imaginary fulnefs of human excellency, which leave the foul in darknefs, mifery, and confufion.. Ver. 336 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION Ver. 3. And they fing the Jong of Mojes thefervant of God, and the Jong of the Lamb, faying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty ; jujl and true are thy ways, thou King of faints. THE vi&orious believers, who (land upon the per- fpicuous fea of glafs, the word of life, and the flaming fire of the fpirit of truth, acknowledge all the record which God has given of his Son j they approve the faithfulnefs of Mofes and the prophets, as fervants, and rejoice to fee their predictions fulfilled in Jefus the Lord -, they rejoice in the faithfulnefs of Chrift, as a fon, over his own houfe, which houfe they are; they acknowledge the great and marvellous works of the Lord God Almighty, which now they behold fulfilled, and in fulfilling, beyond what former ages ever faw ; they now confefs all the ways of God to be juft and equal to every creature, true and faithful to all his chofen ; they glorify the Lamb, as the Almighty Lord Jehovah ; they honour him as the rightful King of faints ; yea, all that believe, love him, fubmit to him truft in him, obey him, follow him, and wait for him, as their Sovereign King, their Lord, and their God, John xx. 28. Ver. 4. Who fhall not fear thee, 0 Lord, and glorify thy name ? For thou only art holy : for all nations fhall come and worfjip before thee ; for thy judgments are made manifefl. AT this happy period, all the faints fhall fee the going forth of the mighty hand of God, to bring the whole of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 337 whole earth to fear him, and glorify his name -, when it fhall be manifeft to all the fons of men, that there is none holy but the Lord j he alone is the Holy One > the fountain, from whence proceeds all the holinefs that is poffefFed by any creature in heaven or in earth. The faints and angels are called holy, and fo they are ; but it is no other than by communication from Him that is efTential holinefs ; for according to the nearnefs of union or relation in which any creature ftands to the Son of God, in whom all the fulnefs of the Father dwells, accordingly that creature participates of his fulnefs : fo it is but one holinefs, how many foever of his creatures may partake thereof, or by whatever ftreams it may be communicated from the fountain. As the light of the fun is but one, by how many rays fo- ever it may proceed, or to whatever creatures it may be conveyed ; fo of all the holinefs that is in the crea- tion of God, there is none holy but the Lord alone. At this period, the righteous judgments of God fhall be made manifeil to the whole world ; and his gofpel fhall fpread to all the corners of the earth, and fhall be attended with the power of his Spirit, fo that it fhall be received in its excellency and glory by all the kin- dreds of the children of men, and fhall bring all the nations under heaven to come and worlhip the Lord in the beauty of holinefs. Ver. 5. And after that I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the tejiimony in heaven was opened. THE faints being advertifed what the Lord is about Z to 333 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION to do, they look diligently to fee the great work per- formed 3 and they behold the temple of the tabernacle of the teflimony in heaven opened. Heaven, or the kingdom of heaven, is the rich bleffings of the fulnefs of Chrift, now manifefted in the everlafting gofpel, to fill his church with his falvation and his glory ; or the church of the firfl-born, filled with the fulnefs of Chrift, may be called heaven, becaufe the Lord reigns there, and the plenitude of the bleffednefs of the kingdom terminates there. The teflimony, is the record which the Father hath given of the Son, and the Son hath given of the Father, in the word of truth : and in the church is this teflimony kept, as the ark of the cove- nant was kept in the tabernacle, and afterwards in the temple. The former was a moveable habitation, e- redled in the wildernefs for the convenience of encamp- ments j the latter was a fixed habitation built in the city, to be removed no more : and though the temple was much more fpacious, and adorned with many em- bellifhments more than the tabernacle, thefe were only external accommodations for convenience of the wor- fhippers j the true excellency, or fanctuary of the Lord, was the felf-fame in the tabernacle as in the temple. The temple was appointed to contain all that was be- fore contained in the tabernacle •, therefore it truly was the temple of the tabernacle. This is the prefent flate of the church ; fhe is in the wildernefs, to be removed as a tabernacle ; yet fhe en- joys all the fpiritual bleflings that are pofTible to mortal creatures, though with perfecution, Mark x. 29, 30. But when the appointed time ihall come, it fhall be a fixed of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 339 fixed temple, to be removed no more, Ezek. xxxvii. 25 — 28. And it truly fhall be the temple of the ta- bernacle, containing all the fame bleflings of divine truth and grace j that is, the church fhall receive and enjoy all the bleflings that ever have been revealed from heaven, or made known to the fons of men, and ihe can enjoy no more : for whatever circumftances may attend the church of God in that day, more than heretofore, there can be no higher communications of love and grace. This temple fhall be opened : not for revealing any new myfteries, for all was revealed in the days of Chrift and his apoftles j nor to give more free admiffion, for the gate of accefs has been perfectly open to every one that believeth, ever fince the Lord afcend- ed into glory : but this temple fhall be open for fend- ing forth the felecT: company of gofpel minifters, to open the glorious teftimony to the ends of the earth. Ver. 6. And the /even angels came out of the tern-pie, having the /even plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breafts girded with golden girdles ; AS the Ifraelites compafifed Jericho feven days, and on the feventh day, feven times •, fo the preaching of the gofpel in the world is reprefented by feven angels, founding feven trumpets ; and the feventh of thofe angels is here reprefented in his fevenfold going forth, by feven angels, having feven plagues ; as there ap- pears to be feven executions of vengeance prepared to be poured on the enemies of Chrift. And this will be done by the preaching of the gofpel , that is, by the wrath kindled in the confciences of the contemners Z 2 and 34Q A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION and corrupters thereof. As the preaching of Jefus tormented the priefts, rulers, fcribes and pharifees ; the preaching of Stephen tormented the councils and the two witneffes tormented them that dwelt on the earth : fo when the two witnefTes (hall be raifed again, and the gofpel fhall go forth with irrefidible power, it will be the mod tormenting plague ever felt by human beings. These angels come out of the temple, being mem- bers of the true church of Chrift, bleffed with the faith of Jefus, and baptized with the Holy Ghoft; clothed with pure and white linen, the righteoufnefs of Chrift, by faith become the righteoufnefs of faints : in this their own fouls were clothed, and in this their doctrine made its bright appearance. And their breads girded with golden girdles : by the gofpel of the grace of God, committed to them, and the power of the Spirit, by which they are anointed, they are made ftrong for the work, not to be moved or fhaken •, they are girded with gold, the pure truth of love and grace, from which line they never depart. And the girdle is about the bread : their affedtions united in love to God, and love to his people; fo as they fhall not count their lives dear to them, if they may be indru- ments to bring^ glory to God, and to bring fouls out of darknefs into the light of life. Ver. 7. And one of the four beafls gave unto the f even angels, feven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever, MANY of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 341 MANY times, when a number are united, one only is mentioned, as being the agent for the whole; lb when the prophets of the Old Teftament are repre- fented as giving inftruction to the faints of the New Teftament, it is faid, One of the elders anfwered. Now it is plain, that by the four beafts is intended the church of the New Teftament, or primarily the New Teftament itfelf, from whence the church receives all her blefiings, and anfwering to the defcription of the four animals j the New Teftament confifts of four diftinct parts, and by the one here noted, we under- ftand the whole, united in one : but if we are hereby to underftand an individual, from whom the minifters (here called angels) received the vials of wrath, then it muft be the lion, the four evangelifts, for in them are the heavieft judgments pronounced from the Lord's own lips : the minifters of the gofpel carry no meffage, but what they are furniihed with from the word of truth. Vials are veflels, convenient to carry any liquid in ; and reprefent the declarations of the will of God, difpofed in perfect order; and they contain a certain meafure, to fhew that the wrath of the Lord is fent forth in exact proportion, according to the wickednefs of his enemies ; and his fervants are commanded to pour it out, according to his direction. The vials are all of gold: to fhew that there is no imperfection in the judgments of God, but perfect wifdom and righ- teoufnefs ; they bear the wrath of God, becaufe it is the majefty of God which the rebels have infulted. They are full : to fhew that there will be no abate- ment or mitigation in the punifhment of the wicked. They contain the wrath of God, who liveth for ever Z 3 and 342 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION and ever : to mew that the worfhippers of the falfe Chrift, whofe fear of God is taught by the precepts of men, will be punifhed with everlafting deftruction, coeval with the life of Him from whom it proceeds. So that if their lives be prolonged, after the torment feizes their confciences, no repentance can be granted; all hope will be eternally banifhed, they having finned pad remedy. Ver. 8. And the temple was filled with /moke from the glory of Gody and from his power : and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the /even plagues of the /even angels were fulfilled. HERE is an allufion to the cloud and fmoke which had frequently proceeded from the glory of the Lord, Exod. xl. 34, 2S' i Kings viii. io, it. i Chron. v. 13, 14. vii. 1, 2. Itaiah iv. 5. vi. 4. This is not a wrathful cloud, or an ofTenfive fmoke ; it proceeds from the glory of God, and from his power. We may obferve, though Moles and the priefts were employed in the tabernacle, as the priefts afterward were in the temple; at certain periods, thofe minifters were not able to enter in, to perform their office, efpecially at the confecration of both thofe places ; becaufe the ftriking majefty of the Lord filled them with fuch glory : for glory, if it exceeds the power of fight, becomes perfect darknefs in our eyes. Hence God faid, that he would dwell in the thick darknefs ; be- caufe he dwells in that light, unto which no mortal can approach ; whom no man hath feen, nor can fee. It is the greatnefs of the ineffable glory that caufes it to of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 343 to overcome us, and appear in our eyes as a cloud, or a fmoke ; or it may be the pleafure of the Lprd, in . condefcenfion to our vveaknefs, to veil his glory as with a cloud, or manifeft himfelf as through a qualifying medium, till he has ftrengthened us to behold his more bright appearance : as he faid to his difciples, I have yet many things to Jay unto you3 but ye cannot hear them now. When the Lord came to give power from on high to his twelve apoftles to preach the gofpel in the world, a milling mighty wind, with flames of fire, rilled the houfe j and when he comes to fend forth this great body, twelve times twelve thoufand apoftles, who fhall be equally filled with his fpirit as thofe twelve were, he will fill his church with his glory and power. For they muft go into every corner of the globe with the fame gofpel, to blefs the world with light and peace to the utmoft extent of excellency and glory, and to tor- ment the enemies of that gofpel with the utmoft horror and anguifh. And till thefe plagues were fulfilled, no man was able to enter into the temple : but here arifes a queftion, whether this intends the believers, whofe mental powers were fo overcome with the ma- jeftic glory of the Lord, that they were not able to take a deliberate view, or enter into the profound myftery of this tremendous difpenfation, till they fhould fee the things actually accomplifhed ; but like Daniel, John, and the difciples, be overcome with the ap- pearance of his glory, Dan. x. 7 — 17. Rev. i. 17. Mat. xvii. 6. the prophet, carried with the ftrong hand of the Lord, Ezek. iii. 14. Paul, who knew not Z 4 the 344 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION the pofition of his own frame, 2 Cor. xii. 2, 3. or the fpoufe, whofe foul was made like fwift running chariots ? Song vi. 12. Or whether this intends the men of the world, that the power and majefty of the Lord fhall be fo vifible in his church, that no hypocrite mail dare prefume to thruft himfelf among them? Acts v. 13. Or whether the meaning be, that of fuch men as were uncalled, none could be brought to the bleflings of the houfe of God, till the gofpel mould have had its effect, to enlighten their fouls, and deliver them from the darknefs of Antichrift ? But probably it will be verified in all thefe fenfes. CHAP. XVI. Verse i. And I heard a great voice out of the temple ', faying to the /even angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. THE Lord is in his holy temple, his church; and from thence it is that he fendeth out his mighty voice. Having perfectly accomplifhed his faithful fer- vants for the work to which he had appointed them, he commands them to enter upon it, Go your ways : not to go at random, wherever fancy mould lead them, but the ways which his own wifdom mould direct. And they are fent to preach the gofpel in its very truth, life, fpirit and power, for nothing fhort of that can bring the wrath of God upon the confciences of hypocrites. This of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 345. This is a general commiffion to them all, to pour the vials of his wrath upon the earth in general, or upon the univerfal globe without diftinction j and fhews that the whole world mall be deeply affected by the over- fpreading of the everlafting gofpel. Yet each one had their particular directions, both refpecbing time, and place, and order, and what operations fhould be effect- ed by their feveral miniftrations. Ver. 2. And the fir ft went and 'poured out his vial upon the earth -, and there fell a noifome and grievous fore upon the men which had the mark of the be aft) and upon them which worfhipped his image. IT is to be noted, that after the founding of each of the feven trumpets, fome deftructive evil always fol- lowed. And thofe things which enfued upon the founding of fix of them, came from fatan, to hurt the church of God •, but the plagues that fucceeded, upon the founding of the feventh angel, were fent from God, to deftroy thofe works of the devil, and to deliver his church from all enemies. So long as the true church continued in one community with the falfe, fhe fuffered from thofe devices of fatan j but when the real difciples feparated from the impoftors, the mifchief fell upon his own party, the inhabiters of the earth, while the bride of Chrifl made her efcape. And now thefe (even plagues, which follow the founding of the feventh trumpet, are directed to the fame parts, in order to extirpate the effects of thofe diabolical plagues. The earth is here diftinguifhed from the other parts, or 346 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION or elements, not as relating to the natural earth, or folid land, nor relating to the nations of the world ; but to things of an earthly nature, palling under the name of heavenly things j as the earthly v/ifdom taught in fchools, colleges, &c. fet up for initruction in hea- venly truth, to which it cannot polTibly bear any rela- tion : and earthly dignities, granted under the name of fpiritualities, as lords, rectors, doctors, reverends, &c. which are directly oppofite to Chrift's kingdom, which is not of this world. Alfo fuch perfons who reckon earthly gain to be godlinels ; and under pre- tence of piety, indulge themfelves in pride, luxury, avarice, malice, &c. which things can have no con- nection with the kingdom of heaven. All fuch things as thefe, with every thing of a grofs nature, which hath intruded itfelf into the name of the gofpel of Chrift, is certain to fall at the firil powerful fpreading of the true gofpel in the world. This will bring upon them that bear the mark of the falfe Chrift, and pay homage to the worldly greatnefs of his minifters, a noifome fore ; tormenting their minds, to fee all their honours, profits, and gratifications taken away, and their names had in juft deteftation. As alfo it will caufe a grievous fore : for light breaking in upon their guilty confciences, will fill them with the keeneft anguifh and torture. Ver. 3. And the Jecond angel -poured out his vial upon thefea, and it became as the blood of a dead man ; and every living foul died in thejea. AFTER the founding of the fecond trumpet, a mountain of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 347 mountain burning with fire was caft into the fea; that is, the church of God, where it fpread death and de- finition. But now, the falfe church having prevailed to banifh the true, or rather, becaufe of their abomi- nations, the true church of Chrift could no longer be held among them, but fled into the wildernefs ; the body of Antichrift is now become the fea, upon which this vial is poured. The gofpel in its purity fhall now go forth in fuch demonftration of the Spirit, with life and power, as nothing fhall be able to withftand ; and as there can be no greater enmity, or ftronger oppo- fition, between any two things that exift, no not be- tween life and death, light and darknefs, heaven and hell, than what is between the truth of Chrift, and the reductions of Antichrift ; therefore where the one pre- vails, it is certain death to the other. If the truth of God, in. Chrift, by the gofpel, through the power of the Holy Spirit, comes into any man's confcience, in its heavenly light, the deceits of Antichrift, falfe doc- trines, falfe worihip, worldly wifdom, and human tradition, will be no more than the blood of a dead man; and every foul who has been deluded into the vain dream of imaginary life, through thofe intrigues of fatan, muft unavoidably die, Rom. vii. 9, 10, 11. But the death may be of different kinds : fome die to rife again, by the faith of Jefus, Col. ii. 12, 13. and fome die to lie down for ever in their fhame. This will be according as they fhall be found : they that are given over to the deceit of their own hearts, fhall for ever fo remain, Ifaiah 1. 11. Ver. 3tf A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION Ver. 4. And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters, and they became blood, THE famous doctors, celebrated divines, reverend fathers, worthy prelates, refpectable authors, pious preachers, godly minifters, and zealous promoters of religion ; even the faithful ambarTadors of Antichrift, or band of learned fcribes, who by their fophiilical logic, enchanting rhetoric, and eloquent orations, have perfuaded the whole world to wonder after the bead ; thefe are the rivers and fountains of waters: for thefe fend forth the poifonous ftreams of hell, the pernicious doctrines of darknefs and carnality, which water the corrupt feed, buoy perfons up in a falfe profefiion, and build them upon a chimerical foundation ; crying peace, peace, when there is no peace ; thefe being the moft wicked fet of men that breathe the vital air under the expanfe of the whole heaven (take them in general, of every denomination). When they fhall no longer be able to withftand the power of the gof- pel of grace and truth, it fhall pierce their hearts with the moft deadly wound, and fting them through all their vitals; then their confeiences lhall become blood j they mail be killed with the great, and fore, and ftrong fword of the Lord ; and all their pompous fliew, all their high efteem among men, all their boafled wif- dom and piety, all their worldly greatnefs, all their peace, all their confolation, and all their hope, lhall for ever die. Ver. 5. And I heard the angel of the waters fay, Thou art of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 349 art righteous, O Lord, which art, and waft, and jh alt be, becaufe thou haft judged thus. THE faithful minifters of the gofpel, being the angds or merTengers of the pure water of life, when they fee the prevailing power of the living teftimony of the Son of God, bringing death upon the minifters of the bottomlefs pit, will exult, and praife the Lord, and magnify his righteoufnefs in the execution of his judgments ; they confefs the juftice and equity of the difpenfations of Gcd towards his rebellious foes ■> they rejoice in that light which thefe infolent wretches have fo wantonly abufed -, they blefs the name of the Lord, for the long patience with which he waited on thefe his adverfaries j and now they behold with pleafure his juft vengeance againfl his incorrigible enemies, which fhall make every one of them confefs the righ- teoufnefs of God, in rewarding them according to their deeds : and all the faints fhall rejoice, and blefs his name for ever and ever. Ver. 6. For they have Jhed the blood of faints and pro- phets, and thou haft given them blood to drink, for they are worthy. GOD never deals unrighteous meafure to any crea- ture, no not to his vileft enemies j nor does he ever punifh them more than they are worthy : and his judgments are fo clear and open, that all the univerfal creation fhall be judges of the equity, juftice, and truth thereof, for which his faints fhall praife him for ever, Thefe rivers and fountains of infernal waters, thefe 350 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION thefe images of the beaft, thefe wandering ftars, thefe leaders of the people, to caufe them to err, have been the murderers of the faints, and fhedders of the blood of the minifters of the New Teflament If we under- ftand it offhedding their natural blood, or killing their bodies, perhaps thefe men of facred functions did not perpetrate it with their own hands, but rather by their inftigation, ftimulating others to do it, which has commonly been the cafe •, as the priefts and fcribes delivered our Lord to Pilate, to be crucified. But if we underftand it in a fpiritual fenfe, to murder and deftroy fouls, this is their conftant practice and employ; to fhut up the kingdom of God againft men, by taking away the key of knowledge, and holding them in dark- nefs, that they may perifh. Yet the life of the real faints is hid with Chrift in God, it is impoffible for any being to deftroy them eternally ; but forafmuch as they bend all their cunning, with the rnofl malignant defign, to raife mifts of darknefs, to lay ftumbling blocks, to entangle, to vex, to difturb, to weaken the hands, and difcourage the hearts of the children of God ; to difcompofe, to make their minds unhappy, and break in upon their comforts, and render them deteftable to all men, and do all in their power to promote their eternal deftruction, did not a fovereign arm interpofe. Therefore they may juftly be faid to fhed their blood ; as the Jews are faid to be the betrayers and murderers of our Lord; though in truth, in the fight of God, he was neither betrayed nor mur- dered ; he purpofely put himfelf into their hands, and the Father delivered him up for us all, and he was righteoufly put to death, according to God's righteous law, of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 351 law, for our offences. But their defigns and actions were treacherous and murderous, therefore it is charged upon them ; and the prophets, the miniflers of the gofpel, thefe falfe teachers may be faid'to Hied their blood, as they conftantly endeavour to touch them in a part much more tender than their lives -, that is, to prevent the fuccefs of the gofpel, to turn men from the faith, to harden them againfl the truth of Chrift, and to render all their work abortive. And this, probably, is the thing chiefly intended ; for the blood now given them to drink, in a way of retaliation, is not material blood, or corporeal death, but death in their confciences, to all peace and happinefs. Ver. 7. And I heard another cut of the altar Jay, Even Jo, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments. THIS may be fuppofed to be another angel, who anfwers to the angel of the waters, that poured his vial upon the beftial rivers ; at leaft it was another voice, and came from the altar. We are before told, that the fouls which were flain for the word of God, and for the teftimony of Jefus, were crying under the altar ; and now their cries are heard, and their blood avenged, they join with thofe that are living (for being dead they yet fpeak) in blefling God, and confeffing his righteous judgments. For the living faints will not only rejoice in their own deliverance, but remem- bering what their former brethren fuffered, and now feeing their blood avenged, will glorify God on their behalf -, for all the righteous blood fhed upon earth, from 352 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION from the blood of the martyr Stephen, mall come upon that generation ; as alio thofe faints who may not be called prophets, or angels, as being employed in the miniftry, will flill be employed at the altar in prayers and fupplications, who, when they fhall fee their pe- titions granted, will join in praifing the Lord God Almighty, for the truth and righteoufnefs of his judg- ments. Ver. 8. And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the fun, and power was given unto him to fcorch men with fire. THAT which gives light to the whole world is called the fun : therefore, whatever is the light of any region, or any fyftem, the fame is the fun of that empire. As Jefus Chrift, who is the wifdom of God, the true light of men, and glory of his church, is called the fun of righteoufnefs ; fo whatever maintains light in the fynagogue of fatan, that is the fun in the realm of Antichrift. This can be no other thing, nor is any other thing, than the wifdom of men, the learning of this world, fet up in fchools, academies, colleges, and nniverfities, to teach what they call divinity >, though it be fooliihnefs with God : that which they call fchool- divinity, never was, nor ever can be, any thing but the darknefs of the bottomlefs pit, as it proceeds from the dark imaginations of carnal men. 'The world by wifdom knew not God ; nor is it pofiible for any man living under heaven to have the true knowledge of God, fo long as he thinks theology can be taught as a fchool-fcience. For, in the nrft place, he mull be a total of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 353 total ftranger to fpiritual wifdom, to think it can be taught by carnal erudition ; and in the next place, he is feekins: it where it never can be found, even the living among the dead. And again, the natural ten- dency of all fuch learning, is to make every one that attends to it more ignorant of God, as it diredts him the wrong way to feek j as if one were to look for the fun rifing in the weft : and raifes in him a vain ima- gination to think he fees, while the light in him is obfcure darknefs. The very idea of heavenly truth being taught by earthly wifdom, conveys fuch carnal conceptions of God, that until that phantafm be re- moved, the true knowledge of God is impoffible. But fome perfons there are, who pretend to defpife and explode all human learning, as touching divine things ; and yet it is the life and fpring of all they profefs, and all they poffefs j for all their fentiments, doctrines, and modes of worfhip, are nothing but the images and fragments which they have gathered from tradition, which at one time or other were the invention of the fchools. Thus they impofe upon themfelves ; while they reject the parents, they hug the brats, and fancy them not to be of the fame brood; for having fome fcriptural paint upon them, merely for a decoy, thefe unwary fouls fancy them to be the truth of God. For here lies the deception, thefe captains of the troops of Beelzebub, teachers of divinity, take the word of God, and mangle it into little images, according to their own invention ; and becaufe it carries fomething like the found of fcripture truth, though in fact it is nothing but a perverted gofpel, or the truth of God A a turned 354 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION turned into a lie, thofe very perfons who think they do not pay homage to the doctors of earthly wifdom, yet gather up their productions, as if they were the infallible oracles of God. But where the gofpel comes in truth and power, thefe fallacies and deceptions will be difcovered ; and the delufions of this falfe light will appear : for it fhall be extirpated before the true light of the fun of righteoufnefs, in whom the glory of God ihines in its full perfection. And this will be the torment of thefe men of renown, as if they were fcorched with fire. Ver. 9. And men were fcorched with great heat, and blafphemed the name of God, which hath power over thefe plagues : and they repented not, to give him glory. BY fo much as men have fet up idols, have trufted in them, and boafted in them, and have been honoured of men for the excellency of their work, in the things which they have brought forth, and which their wif- dom has made ; by fo much their minds will be tor- mented, to fee thofe idols pulled down, broken in pieces, and trampled in the dung, and all their own honour laid in the duft. Yet this is certain to be the cafe with all the human learning in the world, fo far as it has been fet up for teaching the wifdom of God, when Chrift fhall caufe his glorious gofpel to fhine forth in the light of the fpirit of truth. Yet men are ib bewitched with their own inventions, that rather than repent of their wickednefs, give glory to God, and confefs that they have brought thefe plagues upon themfelves, they will blafpheme the name of God for acting of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 35$ acting the part of a righteous judge. But no better is to be expected from men 10 hardened in wickednefs, to infult the God of love to his face, and in defiance of his word, to fet up to teach the fear of God by the precept of men. For it is impoflible that the genuine fear of the Lord Ihould be, where men have fuch low conceptions of the Father of lights. Ver. 10. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the feat of the beafi, and his kingdom was full of ' darknejs j and they gnawed their tongues for pain. THE mifchief introduced by fatan, after the found- ing of the fifth trumpet, raifed a fmoke out of the bottomlefs pit, which fo darkened the fun and the air, that the children of light could no longer endure in the open vifible church, but fled into the wildernefs, leaving the outer court to the inhabiters of the earth, to be trodden down of the Gentiles. This was not the firft appearance of this darknefs, for it was the fame darknefs on which the falfe Chrift had been making his advances all along ; but now it arrived to full do- minion, and became a fixed feat or throne, whereupon Antichrift now reigns with defpotic fway, and rules with unrefifted authority in the hearts of all thofe who profefs to know God in the fpirit of this world. For on this very feat reft all the falfe doctrine, falfe worfhip, falfe learning, and falfe minifterial power j even upon the darknefs of men's minds, producing confufed no- tions, low thoughts, bafe contemptible ideas, and grofs carnal conceptions of God. So that, in their vain imaginations, the wifdom and excellency of man A a a rife* 356 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION rifes fuperior to the truth of God ■, or they conceive of the Invifible Glory as being one like themfelves, or to be defcribed according to their vain imaginations. This is the very centre and life of Antichrift, with all his heads and horns. The vial poured upon this feat of idolatry is the opening of the excellent majefty, the brightnefs of the glory, and ineffable holinefs of that God which is Spirit. This ftupendous light, which fhines in the everlafting gofpel of the Son of God, when it is attended with power to flrike the confcience indeed, diffipates the falfe light, and reprefents the darknefs in its own native exillence j lb as the kingdom of the counterfeit Chrift plainly appears to be full of darknefs, or darknefs it- ielf. But forafmuch as this gofpel light will not be received in the love thereof, it will not renew the heart, but fill the mind with rage : they will gnaw their tongues for pain. Ver. ii. And blafphemed the God of heaven, becaufe of their fains and their fores, and repented not of their deeds. THE pains, fores, and torments which falfe pro- feflbrs feel in their confciences, when they are not able to repel the conviction of the word of the living God, are moft excruciating and intolerable. But religious people, being the moll inveterate enemies to the true God, and to the power of his Chrift, they fcorn to fubmit i and inftead of being humbled before him, are hardened till they become defperate, and cannot re- pent ,* of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 357 pent} but are the moft incorrigible blafphemers againft the God they profefs to worfhip. Ver. 12. And thefixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates ', and the water thereof was dried tip, that the way of the kings of the eaft might be pre- pared. THE river Euphrates, as defcribed under the found- ing of the fixth trumpet, plainly appears to intend the Mahometan power, which firft arofe in the countries bordering upon that river. And now the fixth vial fhall be poured thereon ; that is, the glorious gofpel mall be preached with power through all thofe coun- tries where the falfe doctrines of Mahomet have been fpread j which fhall dry up all thofe waters, or expel the darknefs out of all thofe lands. Notwithstanding the abominations of Mahometifm are exceeding great, there is much lefs faid of it than of the Antichriflian abominations \ this latter is the quinteffence of all abomination that ever hell produced. But the former is not Antichrift : for whatever fabulous deference they may pay to Jefus Chrifl as a great prophet, they do not acknowledge him as the Son of God, nor pretend to worfhip, to follow, or expect faivation by him ; therefore the darknefs is not fo deep, fo fubtile, fo bewitching ; there was not fo much of the counfel of hell in the contrivance, nor is the foundation laid fo deep in the fathomlefs abyfs of the bottomlefs pit, nor will be fo obdurate to overcome. Whereas five vials were poured out to deflroy the other, this fhall be de- ftroyed by one : but totally deflroyed it fhall be, and A a 3 the j58 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION the Lord of glory lhall tread that impoftor under his feet. Then the kingdoms of the eaft fhall receive the glorious gofpel ; fuch as the farther India, Eaft Tartary, China, Japan, &c. where it is not known that the gofpel ever came; unlefs fome confufed reprefentations by popifh mifiionaries, which is not the gofpel of Chrift, but fmoke of the infernal den. Ver. 13. And Ifazv three unclean fpirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beaft, and out of the mouth of the falfe prophet. WE can form no conceptions of fpirits flying in the air, floating in the water, or repofing in the earth ; they muft have fome refidences, or receptacles, fuited to their nature. And thefe vehicles are mental : as the fpirit of God dwells in the children of God, and the fpirit of the devil dwells in the children of the devil; fo thefe foul fpirits dwell in the children of darknefs, and probably the fubjecls are many millions. They bear a refemblance to frogs, which are amphibi- ous creatures, breeding in fens, bogs, marines, lakes, ditches, and mud ; and though they fometimes come forth upon the land, into the open air, they cannot bear the fun, but always retreat to their old habitation, or natutal element, mire and dirt. So thefe fpirits are a confufed mixture, and fpring from the filthinefs of the flefhly mind, the malignity of fin, and enmity againft God, yet under pretence of fanftity j but it is only a feint, they cannot bear the true light ; their element is contempt of God, a falfe Chrift, and inducing imaginations. And as every thing partakes of of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 359 of the nature of that from whence it is produced, fo do thefe ; they bear the very image of that from, whence they came. The dragon, the old ferpent, his nature is deceit and violence ; his work, from the beginning, was to alienate men from God, by infpiring them with pride, ambition, and vain defires, and fuggefting falfe and contemptible ideas of God : and, being naturally a liar, he is perpetually bent to oppofe the truth of God, wherever it makes its appearance ; and the fpirit that proceeds from him into the hearts of his feed, is the very life and breath of himfelf. The bead is the coun- terfeit Chrift ; or idolatry, fuperftition, enthufiafm, and inventions of men, in doctrine and worfhip, fub- ftituted inftead of the truth as it is in Jefus j and the fpirit that proceeds from thence, fills men with the fame principles. The falfe prophet is the band of falfe teachers, who endeavour to infatuate men's minds with the doctrines of devils ; and having led them into the dark, that they know not whither they go, then they amufe them with a falfe light, that men may have them in admiration, as their fpiritual guides, though they are only leading them into the ditch. And their devotees imbibe the fame fpirit, infatuated to enthufi- afm, in admiration of their holy leaders ; fome admi- ring them for their learning, and earthly wifdoms fome for their zeal and piety -, fome for the power in- verted in them, by papal, epifcopal, or fy nodical au- thority j fome imagining them to be infpired with fome peculiar wifdom, virions or monitions from heaven, fome fecret intimacy or intercourfe with God, whereby A a 4 they o 60 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION they know the Divine Will, or fome preternatural oc- cult power, beyond other men, to perform miraculous operations : and all that receive this fpirit, are led into dotage, and adoring thefe men for their extraordinary fanctity, think it fufficient if they follow them, and pay no fincere regard to the truth of God. But we are not to imagine, that thefe fpirits went forth only at the time of pouring out the vials ; but they are defcribed in this place, becaufe this is the time of their greateft conflict : otherwife, they are going forth at this very day, and have been, ever fince the dragon gave his feat to the beaft ; but at prefent, they find very little oppo- fition, their porTeffions are in peace. But when the Son of God mall challenge his right, and mail fend his gofpel with power to demolifh their kingdom, they will then mufter all their force to oppofe him. Ver. 14. For they are the fpirits of devils, working mi- racles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. THIS will be fuch a battle as never yet was fought, not of men againft men, nor of one artificial day; it mall be the whole period, from the time that the Lord fliall begin to come into judgment with the inhabitants of the earth, till he fhall make an end. And it is the battle of God Almighty; when he will utterly deftroy all his foes, and eftablifh his kingdom in the whole world. The devil now feeing his kingdom in immi- nent danger, will exert all his power, to difpute every inch of ground againft the Lord of glory; and his ope- rations of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 361 rations will be according to his nature, as well as thofe of his allies, the beaft and the falfe prophet. Satan is a calumniator and a deceiver ; his work is to degrade, contemn, reproach, or to reprefent in a falfe light, the God of truths and to beguile, to enfnare, to entangle, and feduce men : and to accomplifh this, his fpirits go forth in fo many various forms, and in different bands. And forafmuch as mankind are fo much inclined to give heed to figns and wonders, thefe fpirits always make fome great pretext of fome fecret charm, or won- derful thing : the arcana of the wifdom of fchools; the exceeding godlinefs of men ; the power conveyed by ordination; wonderful flories of meffages from heaven, miracles, ftrange providences, uncommon agitations and impulfes ; or the diabolical phantafm of the light within. Not that it ever was in the power of devils to work real miracles ; but it is in the power of devils, working in the minds of wicked men, fo artfully to in- vent lies, as to make them pafs for truth ; and to per- form acts of legerdemain with fo much cunning, as to pafs for fupernatural operations ; as alfo to perfuade, that fuch are men of fo much holinefs, as to be pof- fefled of the key of the kingdom, or the cabinet of di- vine counfel : and all thefe, in every mode, are calcu- lated to invert the gofpel of the holy God. Thefe fpirits fhall go forth to the whole world, efpecially to the kings and great men, as the devil has formerly found them fo ufeful in his caufe : he will gather them now, and doubtlefs they will come to engage in this great battle ; but their help fhall be in vain, and to no purpofe -y for that fhall be the day of the wrath of the Lamb, and no adverfary fhall be able to fland. Ver. 362 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION Ver. 15. Behold, I come as a thief . Blejfed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, left he walk naked, and they fee his Jhame. BECAUSE of the many fhares and dangers that are in the way, and becaufe of the natural propenfity to be drawn afide and to forget, and that we may be upon our guard, in order to efcape the temptation, the Lord has often given us this notice or warning, that he will come as a thief] that is, unexpected, when we think not, fuddenly, or by furprize : and hence, he com- mands and admonifhes us to watch. But in this place, he excites thereto by a benediction, or the bleffednefs of him that is found watching; to which he alfo adds, the keeping of his garments; and likewife alarms us of the danger, left our nakednefs fhould appear, and our fhame fhould be feen. The faints are foldiers in the army of Emmanuel ; and the army of the dragon are difciplined, ranged, and fent forth with all the fubtilty of the ferpent, and all the fury of the roaring lion, to devour the righteous/, and if they cannot deftroy, yet if they can do them any evil, if they can rent or disfigure their uniform, or if they can caufe them to ftumble, or break their ranks, in any refpect whatever, they will exert their power, that they may reproach thofe whom they are not able to overcome ; for which reafon, the difciples of Jefus ought always to be upon their guard. What I Jay unto you, I Jay unto all, watch. The garments which the faints wear, and are admonifhed to keep, are thefe: 1. The garments of their fpecial calling; the foul being clothed, • of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 363 clothed, through faith, with the righteoufnefs, falva- tion, and fpecial grace that is in Jefus. 2. The gar- ments of internal fanctification j love, truth, peace, holinefs, and zeal for the glory of God. 3. The gar- ments of their profeffion ; the doctrine of the Lord, worfhip of his houfe, and love to the brethren. 4. The garments of an external converfation ; fobriety, righ- teoufnefs, and godlinefs in this world. If the chriftian, through temptation, inadvertence, or want of circum- fpeftion, fhall fuffer himfelf to be led away with the error of the wicked, fo as to fall from his own ftead- faftnefs in any of thefe things ; and that any of thefe garments drop from him, or hang loofe about him -, or that his loins be not girded about, and his light burn- ing ; he will be feen to walk naked, and the enemy will exult in his fhame. Ver. 16. And he gathered them together into a place y called in the Hebrew tongue, Armageddon. THERE be fome doubts, whether the word fhould be rendered, he gathered them, as having refpecl: to the Lord j or, they gathered them, as having refpecl: to the unclean fpirits. But this is eafy to folve; for it is plain, the fpirits went forth to gather the multitude to battle ; and it is as plain, that the Lord, like a difcreet general, drew the enemy to fuch a place (as he drew Jabin's army, Judg. iv. 7.) where he intended to de- ftroy them. But this place does not intend any moun- tain, valley, plain, or fpot of the earth j for this battle is not to be fought by foldiers and horfemen, with fwords and gunss but it intends the pofition or condi- tion 364 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION tion to which the Lord will draw his enemies, to pour his vengeance upon them. Many have fought for the fignification of this word, /lnnageddon> in the Hebrew tongue ; but they cannot find it to fatisfacYion, nor agree from what root it is to be derived; and I think it is not to be learned by etymological inquiries, and that it has no other intention than an allufion to the place where the Canaanites were deftroyed by Barak, Judg. v. 1 9. and is the fame with Megiddo, only this word, sir, prefixed, to exprefs a mount, or high place, becaufe of the height of pride and rebellion with which the feduced fhall unite againft the truth of Chrift. There is fome difference in the fpelling of the words; but it is no more than what is common in the fpelling of Hebrew names, and efpecially when they are re- peated in the New Teftament. And between this, and the deftruction of Jabin's army, the circumftances are very fimilar ; for he did a long time mightily opprefs Ifrael, as the dragon, the beafl, and the falfe prophet have oppreffed the New Teftament church, the true Ifrael of God. The army of Ifrael was fent againft him, by immediate direction from God; fo fhall the minifters of the gofpel be fent againft the man of fin. His captain gathered all his hoft with chariots of iron ; fo the wicked fpirits will gather the multitude with iron hearts. The battle was decifive, there was not a man left ; fo fhall be the victory of Chrift over all his enemies, Ifa. ii. 18. and as the victors fang on that day, fo fhall all the faints fing in the great day of the Lord. This Armageddon is the very fame with the valley of Jehofhaphat, fpoken of in the prophet Joel, where like things are done ; for there is no mention of any of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 365 any valley, relative to Jehofhaphat, but that valley of bleflino-, a Chron. xx. 16. where they bleffed the Lord, after the enemies were gathered together, to call the people of the Lord out of their pofleffion, as An- tichrift has done againft the fpiritual Ifrael. And they cried unto the Lord, and he heard their fupplications ; fo the deftru&ion of the enemies was decifive, and none efcaped. Let the deftruftion of Gog be deliberately attended to, with all his multitude, defcribed by the prophet Ezekiel, chap, xxxviii. xxxix. and it will be found to be the fame with this in Armageddon. Ver. 17. And the feventh angel 'poured out his vial into the air j and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven from the throne, faying, It is done. THIS vial brings total deftruction upon the multi- tude juft mentioned to be gathered together, as it con- tains the completion of Divine vengeance. The former were poured upon the diftincl: parts of the body of An- tichrift, but this is univerfal, to confume whatsoever the others had left. The air into which this vial is poured, is that element in which every creature breathes, and by which the life of every animal is fuf- tained every moment; and if this be fmitten, all flelh muft inflantly die. The carnal principle, the wifdom, power, virtue, and will of the fleih, or the goodlinefs and excellency of man, is the element in which falfe profeffors breathe, and from whence they imaginarily draw all their peace, hope, and comfort ; and fo long as a foul continues to receive any fupport from this, the life of Jefus has no place there. But if ever the eyes 366 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION eyes of the mind be enlightened by the true light of the gofpel, all the excellency of man difappears, and all the peace, fatisfaction, and confolation which he has drawn from thence, fubfides, and all his hope dies ; for the light plainly difcovers, that whatever is of man, is too grofs and vile to have the leaft influence into our falvation, or acceptance with God, Ifa. xl. 6. John i. 12, 13. Rom. vii. 18. viii. 7. 1 Cor. ii. 14. But where this gofpel only Unices the light of conviction, without conveying the love of God, it kindles wrath in the confcience, and leaves it in defpair; this is the portion of hypocrites. Yet it is from this principle of human fufficiency and felf- dependence, that the falfe Chrift has his original exiftence, in every branch and mode. From hence proceed degrading and difdainful ideas of God ; from hence grow the vain conceits of human learning; from hence are produced all falfe mi- niflers ; and from this fpring came all the falfe doc- trine, and falfe worfhip, that ever entered into the church. The voice came out of the temple of heaven. The gofpel, with the glories and blefiings thereof, is fre- quently called the kingdom of heaven -, and the church, in confequence of the Son of God refiding in her, is called heaven ; and this Holy One, that dwells therein, is the temple thereof. He alio is the temple, wherein dwells the higheft heavenly perfection ; and the throne in which he dwells, is the fulnefs of thewifdom, power, love, truth, grace, holinefs, and righteoufnefs of the Father. From this throne the voice came, even from the majeftic glory of the Father, pronounced by the Son, or the BOOK of the REVELATION. 367 Son, and founded through the whole church. // is done. The deftruction of the enemies is compleat; and the deliverance of the faints is amply accomplifhed. Ver. 18. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings : and there was a great earthquake, Juch as was not fince men were upon the earth, Jo mighty an earthquake, and Jo great. WE are not told whether thefe were articulate vpices, they rather feem to be fome foundings, or violent agi- tations in the air, caufed by the pouring out of the vial, which appears to have produced all the commo- tions that followed j forafmuch as the violence of its effects feem to exceed all that went before. For, to whatever objects the former vials were directed, they are faid to be poured upon, but this is faid to be poured into : and as the air is the element in which all the reft are encompafTed, the effects mufl be felt throughout all nature. Thunders and lightnings are the natural con- fequence of a diffracted air, and caufe terror to the creatures under the heaven ; fo will the thunder and lightning in the confciences of men, when all their imagined worth in which they trufled, and all their carnal confidence is cut down and burnt up. And the great earthquake proceeded from the fame caufe ; for naturalifls tell us, with fome degree of reafon, that earthquakes proceed from an agitation of fubterraneous air. If therefore, as we have reafon to fuppofe, there be air contained in the bowels of the earth j and if, by any power, the air which is upon the furface fhould. be abforbed, or exhaufted, the air which is within would 368 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION would of necefllty vent itfelf in violent eruptions, and caufe the moft tremendous concuflions, or even rend all nature to pieces : fo it is with the carnal heart. All the felicity, peace, and hope, which received life from the fleflily principle, or from the will, excellency, or fufficiency of man, being deftroyed by the convincing light of the gofpel, piercing the confcience ; and flill the mind not changed, but the carnal difpofition reign- ing within, what mult the confequence be ? It muft tear the whole frame to pieces, in one kind of diffrac- tion or other. And this will be the cafe, when the Lord fhall fend his word with fuch irrepellent light, and fuch irrefiflible force, that no ftubborn heart ihall be able to withftand the edge of that almighty fword. Then there fhall be fuch convulfions in the intellectual powers of men, as never were before, fince men exifted. Ver. 19. And the great city 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 fiercenefs of his zvrath. WHERE we find great Babylon mentioned in this book, we underftand the hierarchy of the church of Rome ; but in this verfe, the great city is diftinguifhed from great Babylon, and appears to intend the univer- fal body of Antichrift, or all falfe profeflbrs, which is here faid to be divided into three parts. But we are told of another, called the tenth part, which fell in the former earthquake, after the witneffes afcended up to heaven : but in that tenth part was found a remnant who returned, and gave glory to the God of heaven ; but of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 369 but thefe appear to have remained incorrigible, till there was no remedy. And when the Lord ihall come out of his place to make terribly the earth, they fhall divide into three parties : and it is eafy to fee what thefe divifions will be; one part v/ill be killed with terror, and fink down in utter defpair; another will be hardened like the adamant, and become defperate, fo as to dare the Moll High to fight it out; and the third fhall be feduced to fuch infatuation, as to imagine they can fave themfelves, either by difiimulation, or by hiding themfelves from the righteous indignation of the Lord. As for the cities of the nations, they muft intend compacted bodies of people ; that is, all the national churches, which muft fall when Jefus takes to him his great power, and Ihall reign ; as no national church can be a church of Chrift. My kingdom is not of this world. And when all the national churches mail fall down, the band by which they are cemented together fhall break, and fhall be no more ; that is, the mock- baptifm of infants, which is practifed by every national church, and is abfolutely neceffary to their conftitution. For without taking in the infants, either by fprinkling, or fome other human invention of like nature, whereby the whole may be one body, no national church can exift; for a national church muft include all: and if that church be called Chriftian, the whole nation, how- ever ignorant, carnal, or profane, muft be efteemed members of Chrift, children of God, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven. But fince che abolition of the Jewifh worfhip, Chrift has had no national church upon B b earth, 370 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION earth, nor ever will again ; for when all the nations fhall obey him, there will not be any national churches, but one fpiritual houfe, or holy temple. The things of the kingdom of God are accommodated to the un- derstanding, to be received by faith, without which no creature can poflibly enjoy any fpiritual blefiing: the worfhip of the gofpel is of a fpiritual nature ; but the baptifm of infants is a mere carnal ceremony, taught by the precept of men, therefore the worfhip muft be in vain ; it is a profane mimickry of a moil folemn ordinance of Jefus Chrift, under pretence of doing ibmething fpiritual, by a carnal operation, to a crea- ture who is incapable of knowing any thing of the nature of it ; as if the Son of God were a whimfical jfuperftitious being, like one of the vanities of the heathen, or as if it were done in direct oppofition to the grace and truth taught in the New Teftament. It cannot be the worfhip of the true God, as no fuch thing is found in his holy oracles j yet worfhip it is, of the kind, and of confequence it muft be the worfhip of devils. A man muft believe in a falfe god, before he can follow fuch falfe worfhip ; but I cannot conceive it poffible for any believer, or fincere lover of the Son of God, to have any hand in fuch a practice ; for nothing more foolifh and wicked, or that more mani- feftly appeared to be the device of fatan, was ever in- vented fince the world began j or any thing more abominable ever practifed by Heathens, Mahometans, Jews, or Antichriftians : and in one point, this ido- latrous practice exceeds any thing that Heathens ever were guilty of j that is, in the deep profanation of the lacred name, or taking in vain the name of the Father, and of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 371 and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft. As far as is poflible for men and devils to confpire to the eternal deflruction of the infant, it is done in this delufive branch of will-worfhip ; by laying a foundation to train it up in lies, and make it believe that fome great thing was then performed, to fecure its eternal falva- tion, which is all grofs fedudlion. For as long as any man is made to believe, that in his infancy, by fome carnal performance wrought for him, or upon him, by men, he was initiated into the myfteries of grace, taken into the new covenant, regenerated, made a chriftian, a member of Chriil, a child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven, it is impofiible for him to know in truth what thofe blefiings mean. And it is perfectly adapted to feduce the parents, as well as the child ; for it is done under pretext of the faith of the parents : therefore it is always fuggefted, that the parents are believers, though they know no more of true faith than the Hones j nay, were it only to make a common confeflion with the lips, there is not one in three that could give any more tolerable account than this, that they believt as the church believes. But if they had true faith, they muft know better than to be guilty of treating the Lord with fuch contempt and folemn mockery in fo profane a manner. There is not a man upon earrh, that has true faith, but he does know better than to imagine it can be communicated to his children. And great Babylon came in remembrance. Though other feds may be as far from the real truth of Chrift as the church of Rome, there has not been any of her Bb^ daughters 372 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION daughters who have magnified and exalted themfelves as fhe has done -, therefore, as fhe hath fhewed the greateft fplendour, exercifed the greateft: tyranny, and practifed the greateft and moft glaring abominations, it may be, the Lord will take vengeance on her in a way different from the reft : not that fhe fhall efcape the vials of wrath upon the confciencej but as her abominations have been more open, fhe feems to be marked out for fome more open vengeance. For the righteous Lord will retaliate according to men's deeds. Ver. 20. And every ijland fled away ', and the mountains were not found. ISLANDS, becaufe they are furrounded by the feaj and mountains, becaufe of their height, are deemed places of fafety, forafmuch as they appear inacceflible : even fo, many pompous profeflbrs think themfelves fecure, Micah iii. 11. The ftrong man armed keep- eth the houfe, and all his goods are in fafety; but when the Son of God approaches by his word, which is lharper than any two-edged fword, he will take away the armour wherein they trufted. Then all their vain confidence fhall fail -, their imaginary wifdom, power, hope, and comfort flies away, and their ex- cellency is found no more : for as all their ftrength and life confifted in the virtue of the flefh, when that is demolifhed by the light of the powerful gofpel, they are left defencelefs. Ver. 21. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven , every Jlone about the weight of a talent : and men of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 373 men blajphemed God becaaje of the -plague of the hail ; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. THIS is the hail, of which the Lord hath faid, And the hail Jh all five ep away the refuge of lies. The vial that was poured into the air caufed violent agitations in that element, from whence this florm of hail was produced -, and the convincing power of the Spirit of truth in the gofpel fhall raife the like agitations in the confciences of thofe men who have refilled the light, John xvi. 8, 9, 10, 11. He fhall make down all the glory of the excellency of man, and mail break in pieces all the confidence of thofe whofe truft is in the flefh. The hail fell out of heaven upon men: from the majefty of God, and from his heavenly word, which dwells in his church, and from thence goes forth againft his enemies. Every ftone was about the weight of a talent : that is reckoned to be about equal to fifty pounds of our common weight j which, with the force that muft attend it in its falling down out of heaven, mufl be fufficient to break in pieces the ftrongeft towers, or kill any creature upon earth : to fhew the fiercenefs of the vengeance of God upon the hearts of idolaters, who have fet up the wifdom of men againft the truth of Chrift. And becaufe of the greatnefs of the plague, men blafphemed God : when men, for their rebellions, are given up to judicial hardnefs and blindnefs, the more the wrath of the Moft High is manifefted againft them, the more ftubborn, obdurate, incorrigible, and outrageous they grow, in blafpheming his name i efpecially if it be religious bindnefs and hardnefs s for being mixed with ftrong delufion, it B b 3 makes 374 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION makes them the more inflexible. Howbeit, this being the laft vial, it fhall not return till it hath acomplifhed the fury of the Lord; till all the haughtinefs of men mall be laid low, and a final end fhall be put to their power, and to their blafphemies. Here begins the Fifth Vijion. CHAP. XVII. Verse i. And there came one of the /even angels which had the /even vials, and talked with me, faying unto me, Come hither, I will Jheiv unto thee the judgment of the great whore that fit teth upon many waters. HITHERTO the Spirit has reprefented the wicked- nefs and the deftruction of the bead, or falfe Chrift, in general, only once or twice mentioning that main branch of Antichrift called great Babylon ; but in this vifion, he comes to give a particular defcription of her filthinefs, and her miferies. As the angels which carry the vials, are no other than the minifters of the everlafting gofpel, they will be witnefTes, to ihew to the church the truth of thefe things. And whereas it is faid, one of the f even; this is the voice of them all ; one fpeaking for the whole, or they all with one voice declaring the fame thing ; as it is common in this book to exprefs one of the elders, one of the four beails, when it plainly appears to be the act or language fo the BOOK of the REVELATION. 375 language of them all. This angel points out the great whore, the moft famous falfe church; not the only falfe church, for there be many falfe churches, or at leaft, many diftincl branches of the falfe church; but there can be no more than one true church, Song vi. 9. By a whore, in a fpiritual or myftical fenfe, is meant a falfe church, or a body of falfe worfhippers ; and by the great whore, is intended that church which hath vaunted, boafted, exalted, and magnified herfelf above all the reft : and that this is the church of Rome, needs no proof, being vifible to all the world; for though the whores of this kind are very numerous, none has been fupported by fuch multitudes of people, as are here reprefented by the waters on which fhe fitteth. Ver. 1. With whom the kings of the earth have commit- ted fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. HER fornication is her corrupt pernicious doctrine, and abominable delufions, in regard to God ; and her abfurd practices, under pretence of the worfhip of God. The wine is the vain fancies, and intoxicating tradi- tions of men j fo invented, fo mixed, and fo fophifti- cally maintained, as to amufe the imagination, and gratify the carnal mind. The other whores have their intoxicating cups, whereby to enfnare perfons into their fornication ; but fome of their wine is fo much of one mixture, that it will not pleafe the tafte of all : but the church of Rome has outdone them all ; for her wine is of fo many kinds, and mixed with fo much B b 4 art, 376 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION art, as to pleafe, allure, and intoxicate perfons of every call, even fo far as to obtain the name of univerfal. The art and ftudy of whores, is, by intoxicating po- tions, to draw men into infatuation, fo as to become a prey to their filthy embraces ; and all falfe churches are the fame. Ver. 3. *So he carried me away in the/pirit into the wil- dernejs : and I faw a woman fit upon a Jcarlet- coloured beajiy full of names of blafphemy> having f even heads > and ten horns. THE faints mud be carried in the power of the fpirit of holinefs, and in the light of the word of truth, to take a diftincl view of the abominations of the myftery of iniquity, and of the righteous judgments of God againft idolaters. Here we are taken away from feeing and hearing what proceeded from the temple and the altar, into the wildernefs, to fee a whore of an uncommon character, and of an enormous frze j whom, therefore, God will judge in an uncom- mon way, with punishments adapted to herfelf. As fhe has not only fallen to idolatry, worfhipping devils in the place of Chrift, but has been guilty of crimes the moft flagrant, both againft God and men, fetting her mouth againft the heavens, and infulting all the nations upon earth ; therefore fhe fhall be punifhed according to her fins, not only with the pouring out the vials of his wrath, as he will do upon all falfe harlots, but for her open abominations, God will pour upon her his open vengeance. This of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 377 This woman is the Romifh body of popes, cardi- nals, archbifhops, bifhops, priefts, clergy, and unholy orders ; who reign over, fit, and ride upon the people, who are only vaffals, to bear their burden, and uphold their grandeur. The beaft which carries her, hath a twofold figniflcation. That which fuftains her ido- latry, is the fame beaft fpoken of before j that is, the delufions of fatan, formed into a fyftem of religion, upon the plan of a perverted gofpel, or the truth of Chrift turned into a lie : but that which fupports her external dominion, is the worldly powers. Yet thefe are become one beaft j for the earthly principalities have been made drunk with the abominations of the counterfeit Chrift. Thefe fedu&ions are the foul, and the fecular powers are the ^Dody, which is actuated thereby j and thefe conftitute the beaft which carries the whore. It is of a fcarlet colour, to fhew the deep dye of the abominations ; full of names of blafphemy, having adopted all the blafphemies of Antichrift, not only in their worfhip, but in their civil orders, calling almoft every thing by the name of Saint, by the name of the Trinity, by the name of Jefus, by the name of the Holy Ghoft, &c. thus profaning every facred thing, to make the name of the Moft Holy become common, contemptible, and ridiculous. The beaft has feven heads and ten horns: for all the heads and horns of the Antichriftian beaft are in it ; and yet it has another fignification, pointing to the {even heads and ten horns of earthly power, by which the ftate of the whore is maintained. Ver.. 4. And the woman was arrayed in purple, and fcarlet 37 8 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION Jcarlet colour, and decked with gold, and precious ft one, and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand, full of abominations andfilthinefs of her fornication. THESE colours and decorations need no comment ; for all that are acquainted with this harlot, know her by thefe common m§rks. She is called a woman : for in her, nothing manly, ftrong, wife, ftable, or difcreet, is found ; but follies, trifling toys, and empty fhews, to amufe the unwary mind. She is called a whore : becaufe of her lewdnefs and impurity, and becaufe of her fubtilty and delufive arts to beguile and enfnare perfons into her net, to practife her wickednefs. The golden cup in her hand is to exprefs her pompous ap- pearance, and glittering fhew, by which fhe allures perfons to receive her abominations -, and when they drink thereof, it goes into their inward parts, poifoning all their powers with all manner of filthinefs and for- nication. Ver. 5. And upon her forehead was a name written, Myftery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots, and Abominations of the Earth. AT her firft going forth, fhe appeared a little more modeft ; but by practice, fhe is become hardened in wickednefs, and by degrees become fo impudent, her lewdnefs fo manifeft, and fo openly barefaced, that her abominations appear in her forehead, vifible to all. She is called Myftery. Notwithftanding lewd whores fhew themfelves openly, and plainly difcover who and what they are, they (till contain depths of wickednefs and of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 379 and deceit, not to be fathomed, Prov. v. 6. fuch is this adultrefs, who calls herfelf the catholic church. Babylon the Great. Babylon in Chaldea, whofe name fignified confufion, and began from the days of Nimrod, Gen. x. 9, 10. and increafed till fhe became miftrefs of the world, and was at laft extirpated for her arrogancy and wickednefs, was only a type of this more abomina- ble monfter of iniquity. Mother of Harlots. She is the chief of all harlots, but not the only one j for many daughters have fprung from her, even all proteflant national churches ; and they all partake of her nature, and in meafure, of her practices, though not arrived to her maturity. And Abominations of the Earth. As the blood of all that were flain in all the earth came upon literal Babylon ; fo I apprehend, there is not an abo- mination that ever was practifed in all the earth, how- ever allonifhing, or unnatural, which in the very life and quintefifence thereof, may not be found in the church of Rome. Ver. 6. And If aw the woman drunken with the blood of the faints ■> and with the blood of the martyrs of Jefus : and when If aw her, I wondered with great admiration. A PERSON may be faid to be drunk with the blood of others, when he has gratified his murderous defires in fhedding it, and then appears elated with what he has done : and how this bloody people have eagerly purfued, and actually bathed their hands in blood, and exulted in their meritorious achievements therein, none need be told, who are acquainted with their hiftory. When the true church, or people of the Lord, firft became 380 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION became witnefTes of thefe things, they greatly wondered and admired ; they might wonder indeed, to think that human minds could ever fink into fuch diabolical practices j they might wonder to fee all the world fo infatuated, as not to extirpate fuch wretches, but rather join with them, or countenance fuch depths of fin ; they might wonder at the patience of God, that he did not immediately confume them with fire from heaven ; and above all, they might marvel, and be aftonifhed, that the name and truth of Chrift fhould be made a pretext for exercifing the molt barbarous inhumanities. But they did not underftand, or deliberately confider, the depth of the myftery of iniquity, nor yet the depth of the wifdom of God, and in what way he will avenge the blood of his faints and martyrs. Ver. 7. And the angel /aid unto me, Wherefore didji thou marvel ? I will tell thee the myftery of the woman, and cf the beaft that carrieth her, which hath the /even beads and ten horns, THE minifters of the gofpel are appointed to inftruct the younger chriftians; and to the belt of their capacity, they do it with all readinefs of mind, to ftay their wondering, and remove their ignorance ; by informing them, in the clearer!: light, the nature of the things, after which they enquire ; and pointing to them how thofe things are opened in the word of truth. For it is the will of God, that all his children fhould fee the truth in a clear light ; and as he will have them to know the great truth of the gofpel, the fulnefs of Jefus, on which depends their everlafting felicity -, he alio will of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 381 will have them to underftand his prefent difpenfations, that they may know how to diredt their prayers, and order their converfation. Ver. 8. "The be aft that thou Jaw eft, was, and is not; and jhall ajcend out of the bottomlefs pit, and go into perdition : and they that dwell on the earth Jhall won- der, whofe names are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beaft that was, and is not, and yet is. THE former wondering was that of the faints, at the horrible fight, and was removed by the inftructions given from the Lord ; but this is the wondering of the children of darknefs, who are left to wonder and perifh : for they are carried away with the deception, and doat upon the vanity 5 becaufe they have not the truth of Chrift in their underftandings, nor the love of God in their hearts, but are written in the earth. This com- plicated beaft afcends out of the bottomlefs pit. If we take him in the fpiritual part, the myftery of iniquity, he afcends out of the bottomlefs pit \ being of the prince of darknefs, firft and laft : but if we take him in the corporeal part, the temporal power, this, fimply confidered, cannot be from the bottomlefs pit, for the powers that be, are ordained of God -, but the exertion of that power, or the principle whereby the princes of the world are moved to exert their power in favour of the harlot, this is out of the bottomlefs pit j and the perfons, their principles, and their power, fhall all perifh together. The bead, in his former character, was fatan in his violent oppofition to the gofpel of Chrift ; 382 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION Chrift; he now is not in his open violent oppofition; but he yet is the fame devil, under a deluilve pretence of maintaining the gofpel, wherein he is more mif- chievous and pernicious. The bead, in his latter character, was the body of the Roman empire ; but now is not the fame monarchical power, but the divers governing powers of Europe ; and yet is the fame empire, in its divided ftate, being the toes of the image, or the horns of the beaft, reprefented by Daniel, Dan. ii. 41, 42. vii. 24. which, though divided, are the production and remains of the fame body. Ver. 9. And here is the mind which hath wi/dom. The /even heads are /even mountains, on which the woman /itteth. THE things which the Spirit of God teacheth, cannot be learned without true wifdom ; yet not the wifdom of this world, but the wifdom which proceeds from a due reverence of God, and diligent attention to his word of truth. Many tell us, the feven heads are {even hills, on which the city of Rome is built; but how childifh is this, to think that the wifdom of God mould point out feven banks, or hillocks of earth, to be the ground or fupport of fuch over-ruling do- minion ? The myftical heads are the feven doctrines of devils, or life of Antichrift, by which her idolatry is fupported j and the ten horns are the various modes of repelling the truth of Chriir, and defending thofe doctrines of hell. But the fecular heads are the {even monarchies which have reigned in the world, and have all been railed one upon another; as the AfTyrian, Babylonian* of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 383 Babylonian, Median, Perfian, Grecian, Roman, and the imperial power of the pope. Ver. 10. And there are /even kings : five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come ; and when he cometh, he muft continue a Jhortfpace. WE are commonly told, that thefe are feven dif- ferent governments in the city of Rome ; but this is mere amufement : they have got it in their heads, thac it muft be Rome, fo if they can make any thing to have the appearance of Rome, it muft be the thing, fenfe or nonfenfe. For Rome, in its civil ftate, was only one power, and one dominion : or if they would reckon its different forms of government, they were only three, viz. a kingdom, a republic, and an em- pire. For from the time of its being a kingdom, till it became an empire, it was one fixed commonwealth, only under fome different modes of adminiftration : for the confuls, tribunes, decemvirs, and dictators, were only fo many different officers of ftate, chofen and ap- pointed by the republic. Befide, under divers of thefe, the people of God had never been ; but all thefe kings were fuch as the people of God had {een and felt, or had been under their power, and paid allegiance. Under the firft, Ifrael was fubdued, and carried cap- tive 5 and king Hezekiah made fubmiftion, and cut the gold from the temple to appeafe. Under the fecond, Jerufalem was burnt, and the people carried captive. Under the third, Daniel was caft into the den of lions. Under the fourth, an edicl: went forth to deftroy all the Jews. Under the fifths the people of 3&4 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION/ of God deeply fufFered, for divers ages. And under' the fixth, which was now reigning (the other five being fallen) the Lord of. glory was crucified, Jerufa- lem was deftroyed, and the Jews were fcattered unto this day, and the Chriftians violently perfecuted. And when the feventh came, he opprefTed the people of the Lord ; he took the prerogative of Chrift j he ufurped authority over the church of the living God; and as far as his dominion can extend, he reigns at this day, over the external nominal church, with defpotic fway, and pretended univerfal jurifdiction. But forafmuch as he has only a limited fpace, we expect his empire is near to expire. Ver. ii. And the be aft that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the /even, and goeth into 'perdition. THE worldly power, which now fupports the whore, proceeded from the fame monarchical power which once formed a defpotic empire j it is the fame which then was, but now is not, one mighty monarchy j being divided into a number of diftinct governments : and therefore, though it be of the feven, the government being different, he is called the eighth ; and he goeth into perdition, at the time appointed, as the others have done that were before him. But this (hall not be, till the Lord of lords mall take his great power, and reign : for it will be in the days of thefe kings (that is, kingdoms) which are now fettled in Europe, that the God of heaven will fet up a kingdom, which Jhall never be deflroyed, but fliall ftand for ever. Ver. of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 385 Ver. 12. And the ten horns which thou/aweft, are ten kings j which have received no kingdom as yet 3 but re- ceive power as kings one hour with the beaji. WHEN Jefus fent his angel to teftify thefe things, the Roman empire was one dominion; therefore the ten kings which now are, and make the eighth power, had not received their kingdom; for they fprang up out of the ruins of the empire, which was the fixth head ; and afterward, the popedom became the feventh head. But thefe kings cannot properly be called a head, becaufe they are not all one; and alfo becaufe they have another head over them. Howbeit, they are called the toes of the image, in Nebuchadnezzar's dream ; and the ten horns of the beaft, in Daniel's vifion of the Roman empire : in which vifion, the popifh power is reprefented as a little horn coming up among them, and obtaining the dominion. But not- withftanding thefe are divers powers, yet by the witch- craft of the pope, they are united in the beaft of Anti- chriftian delufion ; fo as to conftitute one beaft, united againft the Son of God, to carry the whore. When thefe kings firft received their kingdom, the beaft of the falfe gofpel was arrived to a great height, though not afcended to his throne, nor was the pope acknow- ledged fupreme ; but they all drank in the abomina- tions of Antichrift, along with their power, and fo became united with the man of fin ; to whom, and to the fcarlet whore, they have devoted themfelves and their dominion to this day : and fo long as thefe kings reign, to the fame hour the beaft of the bottomlefs pit will maintain his throne. But by what is declared, it C c appears 386 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION appears as if the church of Rome, that is, relating to her pomp and fplendour, her power and dominion, will firft be totally deftroyed. Ver. 13. 'Thefe have one mind, and foall give their power and firength unto the beafi. WHATEVER difcord may be among thefe kings, refpecting their own gratification, intereft, or ambition, they are all in one mind to defpife the gofpel of Chrift, and fupport the traditions of men ; they give their power, that is, their authority ; and their Itrength, that is, their armies, to maintain the abominations of the religious devil. For the bead that afcendeth out of the bottomlefs pit, to whom all thefe kings devote their influence, is no other than the deeps of fatan, formed into religion. It is not the Roman empire, reprefented by a beall in the vifion of Daniel, to whom thefe kings give their power ; for that is dead, other- wife than as he furvives in themfelves : and as for the pope,, papal power, or hierarchy of Rome, I do not find it called a bead only once, chap. xiii. 11. where he is reprefented in a fubordinate capacity, to put in execution the laws of the firft beaft. But it is that firft beaft, the fpurious Chrift, to whom the European kings are fo clofeiy allied, and to whom they will give their kingdom, when they abominate and call off the whore of Rome. So that there is no ground to expect any king to be a real chriftian, till Jefus comes in the power of his gofpel to extirpate Antichrift. Vir. 14. Thefe fia 11 make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 387 Lamb fhall overcome them : for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings ; and they that are with^ him, are called, and chofen, and faithful. THE war of thefe horns againft the Lamb, can be no other than againft his truth, and againft his people; and it fhall ever be in vain for worms to fight againft: the Lord of lords, and King of kings, in whofe hand their life and breath is, in whofe fight they are as chaff before the wind, as fmoke driven from the chim- ney, as foam upon the water, or as the empty vapour ; if he looks upon them, they are not. And they that are with him are called to be heirs of his kingdom ; they are chofen to be his warriors, and they are faithful unto death -, therefore never one of them was, or ever can be conquered by all the powers of earth or hell ; for upon every one of them is this motto indelibly infcribed, More than conquerors, through Him that loved us. So the Lamb fhall overcome his enemies, in every inftance, from firft to laft ; for during all the reign of the man of fin, he makes his faints invincible, under every trial or charge of the enemy j and at laft he will fend his gofpel, by the hand of his called, chofen, and faithful fervants, which fhall burn up all his adverfaries, root and branch. Ver. 15. And he faith unto me, The waters which thou faweft, where the whore fitteth, are -peoples, and multi- tudes, and nations, and tongues. THE hierarchy of the Roman church, the body of her clergy, and moft unholy orders, may very juftly be C c 2 called 3S8 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION called a great whore ; forafmuch as fhe pretends to be the fpoufe of Chrifl, when fhe is only the paramour of Antichrift. Her whoredoms have prevailed in Europe, and filled it with fuch abominations, as all other parts of the earth where Antichriit has not been, are ftran- gers to. For no people under heaven can be fo deeply polluted, as thofe that are defiled with the whoredoms of a falfe Chrifl : and in the church of Rome, the abo- minations of idolatry have been improved to the higheft pitch ■, therefore the greateft multitude of nations have been enfnared to drink, and have been intoxicated by her alluring cup. For fhe is devoted to Antichrift ; and fhe is fuch an enchantrefs, that fhe not only feduces kings and nations into the filthinefs of that beafl, but to become her dupes and fupporters : fo there is a quadruple alliance, the dragon, the beafl, the whore> and the kings of the earth. No wonder then, that the whore, who is maintained by the other three, fhould make fuch a brilliant appearance, as to bewitch a mul- titude of nations to become her vafTals, and pay their homage to her. Ver. i 6. And the ten horns which thou Jaw eft upon the beaft, theje ftoall hate the whore, and Jhall make her dejolate and naked, and Jhall eat her fie Jh, and burn her with fire. THE ten horns, kings, or kingdoms, are feen upon the beafl, for they fprang out of the fixth head, the Roman empire ; and upon the fame foundation they Hand to this day : and they grow firm in the Anti- thriftian beafl, and will never feparate, but live and die of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 389 die together. But the whore they will throw down, and perhaps the pretext may be, becaufe her abomina- tions are grown fo enormous ; but the true reafon is, becaufe they are over- burdened with her weight j for her arrogancy and exorbitant demands will make them weary of her, and hate her, as fome of thefe powers have already begun to do j they have fhaken her off, and forfaken her, and as far as their dominion extends, have made her defolate, ltripped her of her power, and made her naked ; they have converted her benefices to their own purpofes, thus eating her fielh; they have perfecuted her from their dominions, fo burning her with fire. By this fpecimen, we may judge what they all will do, when God will put it in their hearts. Ver. 17. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will j and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beajly until the words of God Jhall be fulfilled. BECAUSE the harlot of Rome has been fo infatiable in her abominations, and her wickednefs has been fo glaring, it is the will of God to take vengeance on her in the open fight of men ; and for that reafon, he will open the eyes of thofe who have been bewitched by her, and put it in their hearts to agree in her deftruclion. But it does not appear that their hearts, at that time, fhall be turned to the Lord, but recovered from their infatuation, to fee what impofitions they have been under from this whore j and fo to cafl her off, and give their kingdom to the bean:. But this cannot in- tend giving their kingdom to Antichrift, for that they had done long before ; nor did God put that into their C c 3 hearts^ 39o A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION hearts, but the devil : but the bead here intended is the civil government, of which they only pofTefied the ihadow, fo long as they were under the jurifdiction of the See of Rome, the unnatural feventh head : but God fhall put it in their hearts to abandon her fovereignty, and become proper fovereigns in their own dominions. And this mode of government fhall continue until the words of God fhall be fulfilled, and Jefus fhall take his great power, and reign. Vzr. 1 8. And the woman which thai Jaw eft is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth. THERE can be no more real good or evil in one fpot of ground than another, nor in fabrics on them erected ■, it is the inhabitants, or the dominion exercifed therein, that is intended by the city. And doubtlefs this may point to the city of Rome, as fhe has been the metropolis of this unholy monarchy, or pretended uni- verfal hierarchy ; and as that city, when this revelation was given, did actually reign over the kings of the earth, fo fhe does now, though in another form. But certainly this includes the whole body politic of the Romifh clergy, who have ufurped authority, reigned and tyrannized over kings and fubjects, bodies and confciences of the inhabiters of the earth. CHAP. of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 391 CHAP. XVIII. Verse i. And after thefe things I Jaw another angel come down from heaven, having great 'power ; and the earth was lightened with his glory. AN angel is a mefTenger of God, either to reveal his will, or execute his pleafure, as they are directed ; and it does not always intend an intelligent agent, but the hand of God in his various difpenfations. The former angel reprefented the minifters of the gof- pel, indicating the judgment that fhould come upon the great whore; but this feems to reprefent the judg- ment itfelf coming upon her, or the hand of God to take vengeance on Babylon with irrefiflible power; which he will do, by putting it in the hearts of the ten kings to work her ruin ; and by this the earth mall, be enlightened, not with the light of his grace, but the light of his providence. Firft, the hearts of thefe kings ihall be lightened to fee her impofitions, and their own advantage ; fecondly, the red of the nations mall have their eyes opened, when they fee her fall $ and thirdly, the earth being made free from her yoke, mail enjoy more reft and peace. Ver. 2. And he cried mightily with a jlrong voice, faying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul fpirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird, C c 4 WHEN J92 , A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION WHEN the Lord goes forth in his judgments, he titters a mighty ftrong voice, whereby his enemies fall ; and when his wrath is kindled, as it is againft this harlot, however great in power his adverfaries be, his voice breaks them in pieces, never to rife any more ; and they fhall then openly appear to be, what in reality they now are. Babylon cannot be more the habitation of devils, the hold of every foul fpirit, or a cage of unclean and hateful birds, or more abominable than ihe is ; but her mafk fhall be taken off, and her naked- nefs mail appear, and all the nations fhall fee what me is i then fhe mall fall from her dominion, from all her grandeur, and from all her luxury, and fhall be no more. Ver. 3. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication-, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants cf the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. FALSE doctrine, falfe worfhip, fuperftition, enthu- fiafm, formality, hypocrify, idolatry, &c. are fpiritual fornication ; and it is called the wrath of her fornica- tion to exprefs her burning luft, the rage and fury with which fhe purfues her own gratification, practifes her abominations, and ferments the nations into re- ligious madnefs. And the kings of the earth were allured into her filthinefs ; for the ecclefiaftical and civil powers encouraged one another in thefe abomina- tions : and merchants of the earth, or mercenary per- ibns, both in church and flate, took advantage of thefe follies of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 393 follies and infatuations of the people, to drain their fubftance, and enrich themfelves. Ver. 4. And I heard another voice from heaven, faying, Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her fins, and that ye receive not of her plagues, SINCE the days of the apoftles, there is no imme- diate voice from heaven; nor do the children of light need or defire any other voice, than that which is fpoken to them in the holy oracles. Therefore this is no other than the voice of God in his word, powerfully imprefied on their hearts by his Holy Spirit, which commands his children to depart from all idolatry, and the prac- tifers thereof, Ifai. lii, 11. 2 Cor. vi. 17. and this precept they receive and obey, for they delight to be clean, that they may walk with God in one fpirit ; and they know that it is impoffible to hold a familiar cor- refpondence with falfe worihippers, without being en- fnared to become partakers of their fins, Neh. xiii. 26. and if they be united in their fins, they have no right to expect to efcape their plagues. Ver. 5. For her fins have reached unto heaven," and God hath remembered her iniquities. SHE hath heaped iniquity upon iniquity, till it hath raifed a pile, that appears before the Lord, of fuch an enormous bulk, as never to be forgotten, nor ever to be forgiven ; for it hath entered into the ears of the Lord of fabaoth, and he remembers her fins in judg- ment, and is determined to take vengeance on her abo- minations. 394 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION minations. Tins, with the foregoing verfe, fland as a parenthefis, and are directed to the children of God, as a loving admonition, to keep themfelves pure from pollution : but the next verfe is directed to the inha- biters of the earth, exciting them to take vengeance, which is not the province of the faints j for this is not to be done by the fword of the Spirit, but with carnal weapons, and by carnal perfons. Ver. 6. Reward her even as Jhe rewarded you, and double unto her double, according to her works : in the cup which foe hath filled fill to her double. SHE hath been a plague to the nations, and now they are commanded to make retaliation, and to re- ward her double; not to punifli her more than her fins deferve, for God never lays upon man more than is meet, but to repay her double to what (lie had done to them : as they were to be the executors of the judg- ment of God, not only for what themfelves had fuffered, but for her other crimes ; the filthinefs of fornication in her own fkirts, her perfecuting the faints, and her open rebellion againft God. Though what fhe had done to them is only mentioned, becaufe they will have no re- gard to her wickednefs in the fight of God, but to re- venge their own quarrel ; yet God will make them in- ftruments to execute his juftice, for her abominations'; and it muft be in the fame cup, in the fame external vifible mode as her crimes have been, for God ufually makes the punifhment work in the fame way as the fin hath done. Ver. of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 395 Ver. 7. How much Jhe hath glorified herfelf, and lived delicioufy, Jo much torment and forrow give her. For Jhe faith in her hearty I Jit a queen, and am no widow, and fhall fee no forrow. THE Lord will afTuredly render into her bofom all her wickednefs, and pour upon her his indignation. She afiumed to herfelf the glory which belongs to God alone, and lived delicioufly upon the fpoil which fhe hath violently or treacheroufly extorted from creatures; therefore the cup, fully mixed, fhall return to her very heart. She thought herfelf a queen, becaufe fhe reigned over the nations ; fhe was no widow, while the kings would be allured to commit fornication with her -, and while fhe felt no forrow from men, God was not in all her thoughts; fhe fancied her feat to be eflablifhed above the ftars. But God will bring her to the duft ; and according to her haughtinefs and her crimes, her plagues and torments fhall be equal. Ver. 8. Therefore pall her plagues come in one day , death, and mourning, and famine ; and fhe fhall be utterly burnt with fire. For firong is the Lord God who judgeth her. SEEING her plagues fhall come fo fuddenly, we need not expect to fee their approach long before the day appears ; nor need we doubt the truth, becaufe we do not fee the effects appear, for it is the mouth of the Lord which hath fpoken it. Death : all her power and glory fhall die, and come to nought. Mourning : they fhall mourn, becaufe all their pleafures, enjoy- ments. 396 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION ments, and hopes are perifhed. And famine : all the falfe gods of the earth fhall be famifhed, and all that follow them -, there fhall be nothing left, to feed their pride, vanity, and luxury ; all fhall vanifh away. She lhall be utterly burnt with fire. I know the common notion is, that the city of Rome fhall be burnt with material fire ; to which 1 have no objection. It is not improbable, that God may extend his wrath to that city in a particular manner, as it is the capital, from whence their authority is derived; but I do not find any thing in Scripture to alcertain this. It is not merely that city, but the ecclefiaflical hierarchy, that is the great whore ; and the fire, with which fhe fhall be burnt, will be the rage and fury of the nations, and their powers, which lhall be fo incenfed againft her, as to drive her out, and expel her from all her claims, flations, and enjoyments ; for flrong is the Lord that judgeth her. God is a God of judgment, and does nothing to any creature, but in perfection of righteouf- nefs; and now it is come to the execution, his patience is worn out, his mercy towards her is ceafed, his righ- teoufnefs has pronounced vengeance againft her, and nothing now remains, but the exertion of his mighty power in her final deftruction. Ver. 9. And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication , and lived delicioufly with her, fhall bewail her and lament for her, when they fhall fee thefmoke of her burning. IT is not likely, that thefe kings of the earth fhould be the fame ten horns which fhall deftroy the whore, and of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 397 and now to bewail and lament for her : and what other potentates there will be, to be thus affected with her diftrefs, is hard to fay ; and thefe do not appear to have great power, though called kings, as they only lament, but cannot defend. And they had both committed fornication, and lived delicioufly with herj fo that they were her intimates. Thefe do not appear to be the real crowned heads, but fuch as had arifen to great dignity in this falfe church, as cardinals, archbifhops, &c. who have ufurped authority to controul the power of kings, and might be faid to have ruled over the people with more defpotic fway than the kings them- lelves. Perhaps thefe are the great men of the earth, afterwards called her merchants j for they have acted the part both of kings and merchants, ruling, and making gain of all the people. Thefe will make the greateft lamentation, becaufe they have indulged in her greateft delicacies, and enjoyed her higheft ad- vancements, but fhall now be caft down to the very dunghil. Now, themfelves, and all their expectations, fhall be totally cut off, for the fource of all their riches is utterly ruined ; and they fhall fee the fall of her that was their fupport, and the fmoking wrath of the na- tions againft her, caufing a cloud of fmoke to afcend from her torments. Ver. 10. Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, faying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city t for in one hour is thy judgment come. WHEN God fhall ftretch forth his hand to deftroy, none fhall dare to defend 5 for her torment fhall ftrike a terror 393 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION a terror upon all her citizens, dependents, and adhe- rents. They fhall lament her ruin, but flill cry up her magnificence. They will not confefs the righteoufnefs of God in her deftruction, though they call it a judg- ment; but not fo as to fubmit to it as the finger of God, but rather like what the world profanely calls a misfortune. But in one hour it fhall come as a whirl- wind from the Lord. Ver. ii. And the merchants of the earth floall weep and mourn over her ; for no man buyeth her merchandife any more. THERE be many trades in the popifh countries, like the craftfmen of Diana in Ephefus, who can have no employ if their religion goes down; fuch as makers of church vefTels and ornaments, crucifixes, images, priefts veftments, &c. which, only for that ufe, no man will buy; as likewife the luxuries in which thefe overgrown churchmen indulge themfelves to excefs : for when they can no longer extort money from the people, to purchale thefe fenfual gratifications, the trade in thefe things muft fail, and the traders will complain, that there are none to buy their merchan- dife. Ver. 12. The merchandife of gold and fiver, and precious Jlones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and filkj and fcarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner of vejfels of ivory, and all manner of veffels of mofl precious wood, and of brafs, and iron, and marble. Ver. 13. And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincenfe, of the BOOK of the REVELATION. j99 frankincenfe, ' and wine and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beafts, and peep, and horfes, and chariots, and flaves, and fouls of men. THE catalogue of thefe luxuries is much like that of Tyrus, Ezek. xxvii. The Tyrians gained their riches by trade ; and thefe have made a trade of their idolatry, to anfwer the fame end. They begin with gold, the firft thing in merchandife ; they go through almoft every luxury that can be thought of, and end with perfons of men, which one would think to be the laft that mould come into trade. Ver. 14. And the fruits that thy foul lufted after are de- farted from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou jh alt find them no more at all. WHATEVER luxury efcaped being particularlv enumerated, is now comprifed in thefe things ; what her foul lulled after, and all things dainty and goodly ; which Ihews, they opprefs the people with heavy bur- dens, which themfelves never touch, only to gratify their bafe fenfual appetites. But when God fhall call them to account, all thefe things fhall depart, and they fhall never find them any more. Ver. 15. *The merchants of thefe things which were made rich by her, ftjall ft and afar off for the fear of her tor- ment, weeping and wailing. THEIR priefls, from great to fmall, are merchants ; but 4oo A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION but their merchandife is of the bodies, fouls, and con- fciences of the people, in which they trade for gain, and by which they purchafe thefe extravagancies. But thefe are the incorporated body, which conflitute the city, or compofe the great whore, and mall be burnt in her torments. But the merchants here fpoken of, are an inferior fet, and trade in thefe things, which they produce to gratify the lulls of thofe priefls, and by thefe they are made rich -, and when they fee the judgments come, they will be feized with horror, and lament for the lofs of their gain, not daring to affift, left the wrath come upon them alfo. But though they fhall be fo deeply grieved for the lofs of fuch mailers, and fuch profit, yet as they are not flridlly of that cor- rupt body, if they will now keep their diftance afar off, they may poffibly efcape the flames. Ver. i 6. And Jayingy Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, andjcarlet, and decked with gold, and precious ft ones, and pearls I ALL their lamentations exprefs the voluptuoufnefs of this whore, which the Lord, in vengeance, will ut- terly confume. Ver. 17. For in one hour Jo great riches is come to nought. And every Jhip-mafter, and all the company in pips, and Jailers, and as many as trade byjea, ftood ajar off. Ver. 18. And cried when they Jaw the Jmoke of her burn- ing, Joying, What city is like unto this great city ! THE fuddennefs of her deftruction is (till repeated -, in of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 401 in one hour. Not only the merchants by land, but alfo by Tea, have been employed for the gratification of her luft j for when perfons give themfelves up to fen- fual appetites, they become fo exorbitant, that they would take in fea and land, and cannot be fatisfied. And thefe locufts, having it in their power to devour all the earth, and when they have it, having no fami- lies to enjoy it, nor any thing to do with it, but to confume it upon their luft, makes them mod inordi- nate. The traders by fea lament the lofs of fuch a rich maritime metropolis ; but the wrath of God will burn with fuch fury, that the bold failers dare not come nigh, but ftand afar off, with all the reft, only bewail- ing that great city. Ver. 19. And they caft duft on their 'heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, faying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had Jhips in the fea, by reafon of her cofilinefs ! for in one hour is Jhe made defolate. TO caft duft upon the head, crying, weeping, and wailing, is a token of the deepeft anguifh, and moft pungent forrow; and this was caufed through their dif- appointment, in their high expectations of gaining riches, by trading with this great city j which fhews the height of her pride, luxury, and coftlinefs : for they have loft all manhood ; nothing truly liable and difcreet, nor any found wifdom is to be found among her priefts, but altogether like foolifh women : and this is not to be wondered at, feeing they have devoted themfelves to feniuality, and have bewitched all the D d nations 402 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION nations to fupport them in it. And now all that had any connexion with them, mail feverely feel the con- cufllon in the day of her fall, when the inftantaneouf- nefs of her defolation fhall appear to all. Ver. 20. Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apoftles and prophets -, for God hath avenged you on her. THE word heaven, in this book, does moft fre- quently intend the church of God; and doubtlefs, that is the meaning in this place, as this myftery Babylon has been a violent perfecutor of the people of God, a violent oppofer of the truth of Chrift, and a moft be- witching feducer of the world, and a deftroyer of the knowledge of the true God. Therefore, all that love God, will rejoice at her downfal j and the apoftles and prophets, whofe 'writings fhe has endeavoured to con- ceal, and hide in the dark, that the light mould not appear, only as her fons fhould pleafe to permit it to fhine through the corrupt medium of their falfe glofTes. Thefe fhall rejoice to be fet at liberty from her power, and in the fulfilling of their predictions, in her deftruc- tion ; not their perfons (who are dead) that fhall re- joice, but their teftimony, which fhall have free courfe, and be glorified -, and their words fhall be openly ful- filled in the fight of all men. Ver. 21. And a mighty angel took up ajlone like a great millftone, and cajl it into the Jea, faying, 'Thus with violence floall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and fid all be found no more at all. THIS of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 403 THIS angel, which John faw in vifion, might be one of the miniftering fpirits j but the angel, or mef- fenger, which the church fhall fee, executing the will of God upon the Babylonifh harlot, fhall be thofe kings and powers who have been fo long infatuated with her delufions, now ftirred up by the mighty hand of God to hate and extirpate her, that fhe mail be ken. no more. This deftruclion of myftery Babylon, or the Romifh hierarchy, fhall be prior to the deftrudtion of the beaft of Antichrift, and of a very different kind ; for God will reward every One according to their works. As the abominations of the church of Rome have been notorious in the world, her destruction fhall be by out- ward calamities ; but the falfe Chrift muft be deftroyed by the word of God, the fword which proceedeth out of his mouth. Whom the Lord Jhall confume with the fpirit of his mouthy and pall dejlroy with the brightnefs of his coming. The very nature of the things fliews it. External dominion is not to be deftroyed by the word of the gofpel j neither are the deceptions of fatan to be extirpated by a carnal fword. Ver. 22. And the voice of harpers, and muficians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, fhall be heard no more at all in thee j and no craftfmen, of whatfoever craft he be, JJoall be found any more in thee\ and the found of a mill/lone Jhall be heard no more at all in thee. THEY have given themfelves to pleafures, and fenfual gratifications ; therefore they fhall be deprived of all inftruments of delight. They have impofed on the nations, and exalted themfelves by their craft; D d 2 therefore 404 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION therefore their craft fhall be expofed and dcflroyed i and they fhall be no longer able to fupport their fraud, by any craft whatfoever. They have abufed the mer- cies of God •, therefore they fhall not enjoy the com- mon neceffaries of life, nor even have corn to grind for bread. Ver. 23. And the light of a candle foalljhine no. more at all in thee \ and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride fljall be heard no more at all in thee. For thy merchants were the great men of the earth j for by thy forceries were all nations deceived. THESE fons of darknefs have deceived the world with their delufive light, and now it fhall be turned into the fhadow of death, and made grofs darknefs, fo that no man fhall regard it any more ; and probably the wrath of God may purfue them, fo as they may not enjoy the common comforts of nature, even the light of a candle. The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride is truly honourable, but thefe fons of Belial have difgraced it, forbidding to marry. It is alfo truly fa- lutary, as it affords a profpe£t of increafe in the earth; but of this increafe they have made the mofl wretched ufe, taking the children as foon as they were born, and in their pretended baptifm ftamping on them the mark and name of the beaft, and then training them up in lies, and ftrong delufion. But no more increafe of that kind fhall be brought to them ; their name and flock fhall be rooted out. Her merchants were the great men of the earth : thefe are not the ordinary mer- chants that fupplied her with luxuries, but her own great of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 405 great men, popes, archbifhops, bifhops, cardinals, &c. who made merchandife of fouls, and bought and fold the nations. The nations were deceived by her force- ries ; that is, by her delufive wiles and fubtile arts to amufe, decoy, enfnare, and infatuate perfons out of the proper ufe of their reafon, fo to prevail upon them to comply with things which a deliberate mind would for- bid. Sorcery and witchcraft may be of three kinds ; one is, by cunning flratagems, feigned words and fo- phiftical reafoning to beguile and impofe on the un- wary; another is, to raife people's imaginations, and deceive the fimple, by pretending to fome uncommon intercourfe with God ; the third is, to terrify perfons, by pretending to fome fecret power over the devil. How far the church of Rome is guilty of thefe things, let thofe judge, who are acquainted with her hiflory. Ver. 24. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of faints } and of all that were flain upon the e-arth. WHATEVER wickednefs is tranfacled under pre- tence of religion, in all the dominion or jurifdietion of the church of Rome, it is all charged upon the city, or body of clergy, becaufe it originates from them. If this be literally taken for thofe that were actually (lain by their hands, then it is to be underftood of minifters of the gofpel, difciples of Jefus, and perfons of all forts murdered to gratify her ambition : but if it be taken in a larger fenfe, it may be underftood in the fame light as our Lord charged upon that generation, all the righteous blood from Abel, Mat. xxiii. 34, 35, nfi. hscaufe they acted the fame part, and from the fame D d 3 ipirir, 406 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION ipirit, as thofe that killed them. So likewife hath this city, myftery Babylon, or hierarchy of the church of Rome, done -, they have done all in their power to murder the teftimony of the prophets and apoftles, and for that purpofe have actually murdered thofe that re- ceived their doctrine ; and this the God of juftice will find, when he maketh inquifition for blood. CHAP. XIX. Verse i. And after thefe things I heard a great voice of much -people in heaven^ faying., Alleluia : Salvation and glory ^ and honour ; and power , unto the Lord our God. IT was after the deftruction of Babylon, that this great voice of much people was heard in heaven ; therefore, this pertains to the fame vifion, as it relates matters in a fuccinct chain, following thofe things that went before. Heaven, in this place, can be no other than the church of God j and there is nothing that con- veys an idea of the people there being numerous, until the time of the witnefTes having been killed, and quickened again; therefore this voice muft be after that period. And it may not be improbable, that the afcenfion of the witnefTes fhall occafion the defcending of the angel who came to deftroy Babylon, by whofe glory the earth was lightened, chap, xviii. i. that is, as the afcending of the witnefTes will be the fhining forth of the glory of God in the gofpel, whereby a glo- rious church fhall be gathered, even the hundred forty and of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 407 and four thoufand fealed ones ; though it will not im- mediately produce the converfion of the nations, yet it may be the means of calling fo much light upon them, as to open the eyes of the worldly power, to hate and deftroy the great whore. For the deftru&ion of popifh hierarchy, and of Antichriftian fedu&ion, will neither be at the fame time, nor by the fame means, they being two diftinct beafts, one arifingout of the fea, the other out of the earth 5 and he that lived firft, ihall die lad. Time will difcover, whether the diflrefs of the na- tions, by our Lord called the beginning of forrows, will be before, or after the killing of the witnefles ; or whether their refurredtion fhall introduce the burning of the great whore, which will be prior to the death of the younger harlots. I have inclined to expect thofe commotions in the earth to, be the very firft appear- ances, but there may be fome reafons to expedt it to be otherwife. The witnefles will not be killed by rage and violence, but by an univerfal departing from the light, through the love of darknefs ; and by the deli- beration the enemies will fhew over the dead bodies, it looks as if it might be a time of ferenity in temporal affairs. Howbeit, that felecx church, the hundred forty and four thoufand, will be gathered after the rifing of the witnefles, and before the ruin of Anti- chrift: for, in confequence of the former, that number lhall be called, and by their inftrumentality the latter fhall be accomplished j for thefe will be the fame with the angel who fhall found the feventh trumpet, and in. which founding the feven vials will be contained. This D d 4 feleft 4o3 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION {tied: church will be full of truth, holinefs, and hea- venly rejoicing ; they will fee the temporal judgments already executed, and themfelves prepared, or in pre- paring to execute the fpiritual vengeance. Therefore they ling, Alleluia, which is the fame with the Hebrew word Hallelujah, and is frequently, tranflated, praife ye the Lord; for they afcribe to the L3rd their God, fal- vation, glory, honour, power, and every thing that is great, excellent, rich, and bleflfed. Ver. 1. For true and righteous are his judgments : for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his fervants at her hand. ALL the judgments of God are right and perfect ; and all the people of God, being filled with a fpirit of righteoufnefs, with one confent confefs the juftice and truth of all his difpenfations. The great whore had been guilty of corrupting the earth with her fornication ; but as for the fervants of God, flie could not corrupt them in the fame way, for they had departed from the worldly church, and had retired into the wildernefs, to avoid her fornication j yet they being ftill upon earth, fhe had purfued and murdered them. Therefore the Lord will judge her as a whore, and take vengeance on her as a fhedder of blood j for which his faints blefs, praife, and magnify him* Ver. 3. And again they f aid, Alleluia. And her fmoke roje up for ever and ever. THE more the faints behold the juftice and truth of God of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 409 God in his judgments, the more they admire and adore his mercy, grace, and goodnefs therein ; and the more they exprefs their joy, and repeat the higheft acclama- , tions of praife, bleffing, and thankfgiving. As for the abominable harlot, her fmoke, her ftink, and ill favor ihall afcend and be remembered with abhorrence as long as the world endureth ; and in the world to come, her torment ftiall never have an end, Ifa. lxvi. 24. Ver. 4. And the four and twenty elders, and the four beajisy fell down and worfhipped God that fat on the throne, faying-, Amen ; Alleluia. WHEN the things are fulfilled which the prophets and apoftles foretold, the immutable faithfulnefs of God is then made manifeft; God is praifed and adored, and his glory is magnified, becaufe his truth is openly fhewed, and all may fee that his word and his works do perfectly correfpond. Not that the perfons of the prophets and apoftles fhall be there to fee it, but their teftimony fhall ftand, and the living Ihall fee how every word of God is verified ; his truth fhall fhine, and his promifes and performances fhall call: a luftre upon each other. For the faithful do always compare what the word of God has declared, with what their eyes fee, Luke i. 70 ; and themfelves being eye-witnelTes of what the Scriptures teftified before, is to them an infallible proof, beyond all contradiction, that the things are of God, Acts ii. 16. iii. 21. And they now unite in the fame fpirit with the ancient fervants of God, in rati- fication of what they have fpoken j and this they do with the ftrongefl confirmation, Amen ; and the higheft elevation 4io A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION elevation of glory and praife, Alleluia, Luke xxiv. 27, 44. Acts x. 43. 1 Pet. i. 19. Ver. 5. And a voice came out of the thrsne, faying, Praife our God, all ye his fervants, and ye that fear him , bothfmall and great. THE throne whereon the Godhead fitteth, and where his faints behold him, approach to him in humble ad- dreffes, and converfe with him, as every believer knows,, is the Son of his love; and out of this throne his voice comes, in the gofpel of his grace : for God has no other way of fpeaking to his people, but by his Son, who fpeaks to us in his word of truth. Yet notwithftanding this word, now committed to writing, is always the fame, and fpeaks the fame things at all times, it may- come, through the influence of the Holy Spirit, with more peculiar energy into the hearts of his children at one time than another; or rather, fome particular branches of this word may be more immediately im- prefTed upon their minds at one time than another, according as circumftances require. As it was upon this occafion, when the mighty hand of God had been manifeft in the judgments which he had wrought in the earth, his faints are called to praife him ; and his voice in his word opens to us his perfections in fo clear a light, as caufes all his people, fmall and great, to magnify him. Ver. 6. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice or the BOOK of the REVELATION. 411 voice of mighty thunderings, faying, Alleluia : for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. THERE is no place from whence thefe voices can proceed, but from the church of the firft-born. The time is exprefsly declared to be after the judgment of the great whore, and it mud be after the killing and reviving of the witneffes ; for before that period, the church of God is never fpoken of as a great multitude. Yet this cannot be the innumerable multitude of all the nations, for at this time that period is not arrived, nor has the Lord fubdued the nations to his obedience; for it is after this that he comes with his armies. There- fore this is the voice of the fealed number, now pre- pared for the great work, and at the point of going forth, to found the feventh trumpet, to pour out the feven vials, tb gather his elect from the four winds, or to preach the everlafling gofpel to the univerfal world, which are all the fame thing; and of confe- quence, it muft be after that vifitation of the earth called the beginning of farrows. The found is compared to the voice of many waters, to exprefs the greatnefs of the multitude of voices which the Lord will fend forth, Pfalm lxviii. 11. and to mighty thunderings, to ex- prefs the majefty and power which fhall attend the word of life in that day ; and they cry Alleluia, to exprefs the higheft glory, bleffing, and praife, which is the language of the felec"b company, chap. xiv. 7. and they proclaim, the Lord God omnipotent reigneth, for that he is now taking his great power : this is the lad lifting up of his arm, whereby all the nations in the 4i2 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION the univerfe, willingly or unwillingly, fhall be laid proftrate at his feet. Ver. 7. Let us be glad and rejoice ; and give honour to him : for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made kerf elf ready. IN this happy period, the faints fhall not only be joyful in their God, as they always are, and cannot otherwife be; nor can man or devil, or any circum- ftance prevent; but being now come outofthewil- dernefs, they fhall have focial joy in one another, and with chearful familiarity fhall call upon each other, as one heart, to join in the pleafure, and in praife to God; as alfo to fee the time at hand, when they fhall be joined in the worfhip, and in the delight, by all the families of the nations : for now is come the marriage of the Lamb with his chofen bride, which is his church. When the Son of God ftrfl came into the world, he was given to us, and we to him, in covenant, by his Father ; he then betrothed us to himfelf, being made one in nature with us, and he became our hufband. But this was not the confummatiort of the marriage, forafmuch as the fpiritual union did not then com- mence, nor were our fouls actually devoted to him, till called by the power of his gofpel : and when he fhall come the fecond time in his glory, it will be to receive his bride into his Father's palace; but prior to that, the marriage mult be perfectly folemnized. This is the fpiritual vital union between Chrift and the foul, confummated through faith, under the direction of the blefied gofpel ; in whjch every foul that believes, be- comes of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 413 comes one with Chrift, in the cleareft light, the fulleft demonftration, and in the ftrongeft bands. And ail is performed with the deeped folemnity that ever at- tended nuptial rites j with the molt unj*eferved, perfect Surrender of the heart to Chrift that ever virgin made to a hufband : fo that it is abfolutely impofiible that any uncertainty fhould attend this marriage, or that it fhould ever be disannulled or forgotten ; efpecially as the bridegroom perpetually dwells with his bride, and never departs from her, nor permits her to depart from him, Jer. xxxii. 40. but guides, feeds, and clothes her in the moft perfect manner, under his own eye, and regales her with his fpecial prefence. So that I am bold to aflfert, that of thofe who call themfelves chrif- tians, and yet from time to time are in uncertainty, arid full of doubts and fears whether they are believers or not, there is not one of thefe doubters under heaven, that ever was in truth married to the Son of God, or that is born again ; though the common cry among profeiTors is, " Poor weak chriflians, walking in dark- " nefs ; poor doubting believers," But this they never learned from the word of God, nor from the nature of* the thing, but from a phantafm of their own brain, or tradition j and becaufe themfelves have not the thing in truth, they would gladly perfuade themfelves, that they may have it in imagination ; and all the argument is, that there are fo many whom they fancy to be good people, who have not a certainty of their union with Chrift j therefore Chrift muft needs marry his bride in the dark, or in fome clandeftine way, that they may be always in fufpenfe, But 4i4 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION But notwithftanding that every believing foul is united to Chrift, in the ftrength of all his intellectual powers, and in the power of the fpirit of Chrift, in the perfection of the matrimonial relation ; yet, forafmuch as the fouls who have hitherto been called have been but exceeding few, as here and there a berry, or as the grape gleanings ; and as the general marriage, or full harveft is approaching, when all the world fhall flow to his bofom -, therefore this is called, The marriage of the Lamb. And this wife, who hath made herfelf ready, cannot intend the church in its utmoft latitude, when the whole world fhall be gathered, for that they are not yet brought ; but it intends the fealed com- pany, the hundred forty and four thoufand, who fland with the Lamb on mount Sion, ready prepared to go forth and gather all the nations into the marriage chamber, Mic. iv. 2, and this time is peculiarly noted, becaufe the gofpel church will now make a refpeclabk figure in the world, which Ihe never did before. Ver. 8. And to her was grmted that Jhe Jhould be arrayed in fine lineny clean and white. For the fine linen is the righteoufnefs of faints. THE Lord is pleafed to grant to his people, every thing that may contribute to their felicity, beauty, or acceptablenefs. The church is clothed, not only to cover nakednefs, and defend from the inclemency of feafons, as if it were the effect of mere compafiion or benevolence, but arrayed, adorned, and beautified, as the effect of complacence and delight ; for he hath faid, The Lord delighteth in thee. The, fine linen is the righ- teoufnefs of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 415 teoufnefs of faints -, that is, the righteoufnefs of Chrift, by imputation made theirs : or it is Chrift himfelf, who is the Lord our righteoufnefs, in whofe perfection the church is arrayed, chap. xii. 1. Ezek. xvi. 14. They have a pure difpofition of mind, which is falu- tary to the foul, as fine linen is to the body ; they keep a clean converfation, and fhine in a holy profeftion of the truth of Chrift, for fo the fame church is repre- fented, chap. xiv. 4, 5. and they not only keep them- felves unfpotted in the fight of men, but are really fo in the fight of God, confidered in the Holy One, Song iv. 7. In Pfalm xlv. they are called, the king's daughter, while they are young and tender; yet in every degree of age and ftature, they bear the true cha- racters. All glorious within : the light of the glory of God, fhining in their hearts, 1 Cor. iv.- 6. Clothing cf wrought gold : they ftand before God, in the righte- oufnefs of Jefus, wrought in his facrifice, death, and refurredlion, Heb. x. 14. Brought unto the King in raiment of needle-work : their fouls afcend by faith, into the heights and depths of the knowledge and love of God, in the fpecial operations and communications of the Spirit of holinefs, 2 Cor. iii. 18. But as the faints grow up to maturity, they bear the character of the queen : Upon thy right hand did ft and the queen in gold of ophir : for then they have full enjoyment of Chrift, and richly bear his image, who is all in all, John xv. 11. Eph. iv. 15. Ver. 9. And he faith unto me, Write, Blejjfed are they which are called unto the marriage-fupper of the Lamb. And he faith unto me, I'hefe are the true fay ings of God. THE 4i£ A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION THE church, at this time, fhall be perfectly afTured of the immediate appearance of thefe things, fo as they may write upon them in the name of the Lord, with- out the leaft hefitation. The opening of the glory of the Father by the Son, in the truth of the gofpel, through the power of the Spirit of grace, is a rich feaft to all his children, Ifai. xxv. 6. and as the laft and full fpreading of the gofpel, in which he will take all the nations into vital union with himfelf, fhall be at this period, it is called the marriage-J upper. They are called by the light, truth, and power of the gofpel ; and they that are called, fhall not be as tranfient guefls, to fit down to a fhort repaft, and then be difmifTed; they fhall abide in the houfe for ever, and fhall go no more out, for they are the blefTed of the Lord, and fhall enjoy all the accommodations, delights, and glo- ries of the bride for ever. And all the felect body of minifters, who fhall be fent to publifh the joyful found to the world, fhall be eftablifhed on the unfhakeable belief, that the words they preach are the true fayings of God ; and fhall be enabled to afTure all to whom they publifh the glad tidings, that it is the infallible truth of Jehovah : and therefore, they fhall go forth with invincible courage and refolution ; for God never calls his children to doubtful enjoyments, nor ever fends his fervants on doubtful mefTages. Ver. io. And I fell at his feet to worfhip him. And he faid unto me> See thou do it not : I am thy fellow- fervant, and of thy brethren that have the teftimony of Jefus. Worfhip God: for the tejlimony ofjefus is the fpirit of prophecy, THIS of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 417 THIS angel reprefents the minifters of the gofpel, as he was one of the feven that bare the vials -, and the perfon to whom he was giving inftrudtion, reprefents the . people of God, for he calls himfelf, thy fellow- fervanti and of thy brethren : and it fhews the weaknefs of fuch as pay too much deference to created inftru- ments, and that it is to be reproved. The people of Lyftra did attempt to do facrifice to Barnabas and Paul, who rejected it with the utmoft deteftation j but thefe were not worshippers of the true God, but idolaters. But Cornelius was not an idolater, yet he fell down at Peter's feet, giving him more honour than was his due, and was admonifhed not to do it. Not that I appre- hend it poffible that either Cornelius, or any other that is a worihipper of God in truth, mould offer divine worfhip, in a ftric"t. fenfe, to any creature, unlefs they mould miflake the appearance for the Lord himfelf ; as it is fuppofed by fome to be the cafe here, that John, having feen his glorified Lord and worfhipped him, chap. i. 17. and now feeing one of the glorified faints, of thofe whom we are informed were tranflated or rifen from the dead, the appearance was fo glorious, that he thought he had feen the Lord again. However that be, I conceive the children of light in an oblique way, through inadvertence, may be guilty of the mif- take ; as when a perfon has received inflru6lion or comfort through the inftrumentality of any one, he afcribes too much to the inftrument, and fo in meafure departs from God. This Paul reproves, 1 Cor. i. 13. iii. 5. If a man thinks of the minifters of Chrift more highly than he ought to think, or if he takes a thing for truth, becaufe it comes from their lips, without di- E e. - ligently 4i S A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION ligcntly fearching the Scriptures, whether the thing be fo, he is in a degree guilty of idolatry : and to me this appears to be what the angel here reproves j for when the power of the Spirit fliall go forth in the gofpel, to make it abundantly effectual, the babes in Chrift may be ready to take up carnal conceptions* and afcribe to the minifters more than is their due. This the Lord will not admit, as it would both difhonour his name, and impoverifh their fouls; therefore the angel charges- them to worfhip God, and take heed, not to afcribe to the fervant what is peculiar to the Lord, declaring that himfelf was no more than they to whom he miniftered, being only an earthen vefiel like themfelves, and that he brought the teftimony of Jefus for them to receive as he had done, not upon his authority, but upon the authority of the Holy Scriptures, anuring them that the fpirit of prophecy contained in the word of truth, is the true teftimony of Jefus, John v. 39. 2 Tim. iii. 15, 16, 17. 2 Pet. i. 19, 20, 21. Ver. 11. And I Jaw heaven opened^ and behold r, a white horfe ; and he that fat upon him was called Faithful and cTrue> and in righteoufnefs he doth judge and make war. THIS is the fame heaven above mentioned ; that is, the church or felect band which flood ready prepared, waiting for the word of command to follow their Cap- tain, who appeared in the midft of them, ready to march forth. The white horfe is the gofpel, on which the Son of God went forth at its firft publication, chap, vi. 2. and now again he goes forth in a more extenfive manner, of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 419 manner, to obtain an univerfal victory, leading forth his fealed army to fpread his glory to the utmoft bounds of the whole world. The characters given to this Captain, cannot ftrictly be applied to any but the Lord Jefus Chrift, who in this place is called Faithful and True, with fpecial regard to the truth of the gofpel, which he comes to publifh, and to the faithfulnefs in which he will communicate it to all the human race. Faithful and true he is acknowledged by the Father, faithful and true he is proved by all his church, and faithful and true he fhall be found to all the creation of God. He judgeth in righteoufnefs, for he beholds and determines every thing in a perfect light, Ifai. xi. 2 — 5. and in righteoufnefs he makes war, for he never makes war againft any thing but fin, and if any creature falls in this war along with fin, it is alone through their al- liance and infeparable connexion with this evil of evils, and being found fighting in its caufe ; for this will be the true holy war, in which no weapon fhall be ufed but the holy gofpel, nor lhall it be wielded by any hand but the Holy Spirit. VeR. 12. His eyes were as aflame of fire, and on his head were many crowns : and he had a name written that no man knew but himfelf. THE defcription of his eyes is exprefiive not only of his omnifcience, but of the certain burning of every thing he looks upon : if it be an object of his pleafure, his eyes kindle it into a vital flame of holinefs and praife, joy and delight j but if it be an object of his dilpleafure, the flame of his eyes confume it. No E e 2 other 420 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION other eyes of Chrift can be feen, but the glory of his attributes, and the blefiings of his love, fhining in his gofpel. And his crowns are many : the crown of efTen- tial glory given him by his Father, Pfalm xxi. 3. the crown of mediatorial glory obtained by his fufrerings, Heb. ii. 9. the crown of honour and praife given him by his church, Cant. iii. 11. and the crown of univerfal dominion, which includes all the crowns worn by all the kings upon earth, Dan. ii. 47. His name is writ- ten in the immutable bofom of his Father's love, abfo- lutely indelible ; but it is too deep and myfterious for any mortal man to defcribe, Prov. xxx. 4. His name is not hidden or concealed from his people, for he does not withhold any thing from them that is compatible with the human underftanding ; but the name, in which is contained his effential perfection, is too fub- lime to be conceived by mortal intellectuals. He gives his faints a name which no man knoweth, faving him that receiveth it, chap. ii. 17. no wonder then if him- felf has a name, that is known only to himfelf and his Father, Luke x. 22. John x. 15. Ver. 13. And he was clothed with a vejlure dip in blood: and his name is called \ 'The Word of God. THIS appearance in his raiment, exprefles a perfect: unrelenting determination totally to extirpate all his enemies, without the leaft bowels of companion, or any mitigation in his burning vengeance, Ifai. lix.. 17, 18. lxiii. 3, 4. This is the joy of all that believe in Jefus, for he will coniume all their fins, which are their greateft adverfaries ; and that which, next to their own of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 421 own fins, is their greateft vexation, is the hateful con- verfation of the wicked, 2 Pet. ii. 7, 8. thefe {hall be deftroyed out of the earth, Ifai. i. 28. The Word of God is the appropriated name of God's Holy One, and fhews that every word he fpeaks, and every work he performs, is the perfect will of his Father which is in heaven : by his word the heaven and earth were created; by the fame word all his works are fuflained, preferved, and governed -, and by the fame word all his elect are faved and glorified -, and by the fame word fhall all his enemies be deftroyed. Ver. 14. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horfes, clothed in fine linen white and clean. THESE are the fame that were fealed, and flood with the Lamb on mount Sion, and are now prepared in his church, as his twelve apoftles were prepared under his own teachings, before he fent them forth to preach the kingdom of God, Luke xxiv. 49. For thefe are his armies of minifters in his church, who now fol- low their Lord in the power of the fame gofpel, at his command to fpread the favour of his name through all the nations, Mai. i. 11. and they are all clothed in the righteoufnefs of Chrift, in the riches of his grace, and the fanctification of his fpirit, which is without blemifh and without fpot. For Chrift never fends a minifter to preach the gofpel, until he has bleffed him with the life, and clothed his foul with the grace thereof -, and as their own fouls are clothed, fo is their doctrine, for E e 3 they 422 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION they always preach to others the fame grace and truth which their own fouls live upon. Ver. 15. And out of his mouth goeth a Jharp fword, that with it he Jhould fmite the nations : and he jh all rule them with a rod of iron : and he treadeth the wine-prefs cf the fiercenefs and zvrath of Almighty God. THE word that proceedeth from Chrift is frequently compared to a fharp fword, and fo it is wherever it comes -, for it either divides the foul from the domi- nion of fin, diflipating the darknefs, (laying the en- mity,' fubduing the rebellion, mortifying the corrupt affections, feparating the heart from the love of the world, and confuming falfe doctrines, falfe worfhip, and falfe hope, and fetting the foul at liberty from the bondage of fatan; or elfe, if the foul be fo united to thefe things as not to be feparated, it utterly deftroys all together. The fame word of grace and truth that brings light, life, righteoufnefs, peace, and everlafting falvation to all that believe, fmites as with a rod of iron all that reject and defpife it, Mat. x. 14, 15. He treadeth the wine-prefs : the enemies of Chrift are compared to grapes, and the Lord endures with much long-fuffering while they continue ripening in their fins, and then he cuts them down, and treads them in the prefs of his fierceft wrath. This is the cafe at this time, the Lord defers his anger till the world fhall ar- rive at the height of wickednefs, and the clufters of the vine of the earth mail be fully ripe, and then the fharp fword of his word fhall cut them down, and his wrath fhall come upon them to the uttermoft. Ver. of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 423 Ver. 16. And he hath on his vefture, and on his thigh a name written, King of kings, and Lord of lords. THIS is his name by inheritance ; written on his vefture, that it may appear to all ; and on his thigh, to exprefs his invincible power to maintain the dignity of his character. The Father loved and honoured the Son, and gave him this glorious name ; and all the afiembly of faints love and honour this Holy One, and acknowledge him by this glorious name ; and every creature that hates and defpifes him, fhall be fubdued by his fharp fword, till they bow at his feet and con- fefs him by this tremendous name, Phil. ii. 9, 10, 11. This name, King of kings, and Lord of lords, is the invariable title of the Man whom God delighteth to honour, Pfalm xci. 14, 15. John v. 23. but he never wore it openly upon his raiment till now, when he takes to him his great power, and will fubjeft the whole world to his dominion, and reign defpotic over all the nations for ever and ever. Ver. 17. And I Jaw an angel flanging in the fun, and he cried with a loud voice, faying to all the fowls that fly in the midji of heaven, Come and gather yourf elves to- gether unto thefupper of the great God. THIS angel appears to be a mefTenger of God, going before the Lord as an herald, to proclaim the terror of his coming; and doubtlefs intends fome cer- tain body of gofpel minifters, declaring the work of the Lord, and the effects thereof; or rather, being themfelves fent to be the executors of his will ; preach- E e 4 ing 424 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION mg the gofpel with fuch light and power, that it fhall confume all the enemies, and leave them as dead carcafes. And the fun in which they Hand, is not the fun of the bead's kingdom, or the delufive light of Antichrift, but the true fun of righteoufnefs, or genuine light of gofpel grace and glory. And the loud voice wherewith they call the fowls, is not the human voice, for that will not bring ravenous birds together -, it is the dreadful carnage they fhall make, that will draw the fowls to the prey, Job xxxix. 30. Mat. xxiv. 28. and if we underftand the weapons of this war, it will point out to us who are the flain, of whom the fupper is made. The fword is the word of God : therefore the effects thereof, the wounds and flaughter made thereby, is in men's hearts, fouls, confciences, and intellectual powers j and as thefe are the parts which the fowls fhall devour, this defcribes who the fowls are, that is, guilt, fear, torture, anguifh, and horror of foul, with fling of confcience, and dreadful apprehenfions of Divine wrath, torment, hell, damnation, and ever- lafling mifery. For when the word of truth has cut off the falfe dreams of men, and opened their eyes to fee how abominable they are in the fight of God, that their doctrines are deceit, their worfhip idolatry, and them- felves objects of vengeance, then all their comfort and hope is flain, and they become a prey to all thefe voracious birds. Thefe are faid to fly in the midft of heaven : but it is well known that fowls do not fly in the ethereal heaven, amongft the luminaries, but in lower regions near the earth -, neither do thefe fly in the fpiritual heaven, but in the earthly region of men's minds and conceptions, in the gloomy ideas of a cor- rupt of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 425 r\ipt underftanding, where they fiercely ftrike and gnaw the confcience. But fo long as the carnal principle keeps its ftrength, and the mind is fortified with dark- nefs, the perfoa finds means, by one vain imagination or other, to drive thefe fowls away ; but when the confcience is killed, and the falfe hope deftroyed by the fiery law of God, yet the foul not made alive by the grace of Chrift, Rom. vii. 9, 10, 11. then thefe fowls are certain to devour the dead carcafe, and there is none to fray them away, Deut. xxviii. 26. Jer. vii. 33, This is the thing foretold by the prophet, Ezek. xxxix. j 7 — 20. and it is called a fupper, becaufe the day is totally paft with thefe enemies, and thefe fowls lhall feaft on them for ever. Ver. 18. 'That ye may eat the flejh of kings, and the flejh of captains, and the flejh of mighty men, and the fleflo of horfes, and of them that fit on them, and the flejh of all men, both free and bond, both f mall and great. HERE all ranks and degrees of men are reprefented as enemies of Chrift, and perifhing in their own cor- ruption. This is the fame deftruclion, though repre- fented under a different figure, with that mentioned chap. vi. 15, 16. Kings; who have perfecuted the faints, and have been patrons in corruption and idolatry. Captains i who have been leaders in falfe do&rine and worlhip, as priefts, falfe teachers, &c. Mighty men; who have been flrong and zealous in the caufe of the falfe Chrift. Horfes; thefe cannot be the fubjefts of the wrath of God, but as it is common for great men to truft in the ftrength of horfes, they are here men- tioned 426 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION tioned to fhew that whatever they confide in fhall be utterly devoured. Them that fit on them ; fo long as they truft in any thing that is flefh, and not fpirit, they fhall flirely fall, Ifai. xxxi. 3. Flefh of all men -, all the world wondered after the beaft. Free and bond ; they that were free, made themfelves bound to ini- quity, and they that were bound, freely devoted them- felves to wickednefs. Small and great ; they that were fmall, had fhewn their enmity as far as was in their power, and they that were great, had exercifed their greatnefs in rebellion againft the Lord of glory. Thefe all, with whatfoever has bowed the knee to the bean: Antichrift, fhall be internally devoured by the worm that dieth not. Ver. 19. And I Jaw the be aft and the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to make war againft him that /at on the horfe, and againft his army. THIS plainly mews that it is not the pope of Rome, or Romifh hierarchy, that is called the bead (though that is called a beaft fubordinate to the other, chap, xiii. it, 12.) for the power of the Babylonifh whore was deftroyed and triumphed over before this time. Antichrift exifted before the pope, for he was the pope's father, and having many more fons, he fpread his in- fluence much farther than the pope ever had dominion, and fhall exift in his other children when the church of Rome is rooted out. The kings and the nations toge- ther will unite to maintain the falfe doctrines, and falfe worfhip of the falfe Chrift to the end, againft the true Chrift, his faithful minifters, his pure gofpel, and his faints ; of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 427 faints ; not with foldiers and horfemen, fwords and guns, but with ail the fubtilties of fatan, and delufions of the devil, to maintain the counfels of the gates of hell, and the doclxines of darknefs, laying falie foun- dations with lying deceptions. For the Lord of glory and his army ufe no other weapons in this war but the word of truth ; and the weapons ufed by the ad- verfaries are compleatly the reverfe. I know the general run of expofitors make this a battle fought with carnal weapons, and making Daugh- ter of men's bodies ; but that is becaufe they go upon a falfe plan, fuppofing things which will never be. Some imagine the Jews will be gathered as a diftinct body, and brought again to their old earthly refidence in the land of Canaan -, and that fo many powers will be gathered to withftand them, that will caufe great fighting in fome fpot in the land of Judea, which they fancy will be the Armageddon, or valley of Jehofha- phat, where thefe armies fhall be defeated. But this is only a fiflion, and has not the lead foundation in the Old Teftament ; unlefs we forget the grand defign, that the land was a type of the fpiritual reft, and the people a figure of the New Teftament church -, and fo turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, refting in the fhadow inftead of the fubftance, and feek to fatisfy ourfelves with carnal enjoyments in the place of the true fpiritual blefiings. We know the Jews fhall all be called, but it fhall be at the fame time, and in the fame way as the Gentiles are, Rom. xi. 25, 26. the diftinction is no more national, but perfonal, Gal. iii. 7. and the New Teftament ftrongly forbids us ever henceforth 42S A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION henceforth to expect any national diftinction between Jews and Gentiles, Rom. x. 12. 2 Cor. v. 16. Gal. iii. i8. Col. iii. 11. Eph. ii. 14, 15, 16. The gathering together of thefe armies will not be to one certain place of the earth, but united in the fame fpirit of devils, enmity, idolatry, feduction, &c. which the Lord fhall confume with the brightnefs of his .coming. He rides on no other horfe but his glorious gofpel, and flays his enemies only with the fpirit of his mouth. *-♦ Ver. 20. And the beaji was takeny and with him the falje -prophet that wrought miracles before himy with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beafty and them that worfjipped his image. Thefe both were caft alive into a lake of fire burning with brimjlone. THE bead is not a living creature, but is the idol (whatever it be) that is fet up, followed, and worship- ped; or the thing in which men truft, in the place of the true Chrift 3 this is the Antichrift. Neither is the falfe prophet a living creature, but that fpirit of delu- fion which militates againft the truth of Chrift, to maintain the deceptions of the falfe Chrift. Howbeit, thefe cannot exift as real fubftances independent of creatures, but muft refide in the corrupt principles and imaginations of created beings ; and hence the perfons who are filled with thefe, involved in them, and de- voted to them, are called by the fame names, anti- chrifts and falfe prophets. But thefe here mentioned are not perfons, but falfe imaginations and abomina- tions imbibed by perfons ; thefe are both fpoken of in the of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 429 the lingular number, whereas their adherents are mul- titudes. Neither can living creatures be caft alive into the lake of fire, which is the fecond death ; but the falfe foundations on which they trufted, and the falfe appearances they made, and vanities on which they doted, fhall never die, but continue with them as tor- menting furies 5 the worm that dieth not, and the fire that is not quenched, for ever and ever : and when the perfons are killed in their confciences, comforts, and hopes, by the light and truth of the holy word, then thefe worms fhall remain alive with them, as. flaming brands in the lake of fire, with the devil, death, and hell without end. That fword of the Lord which fliall kill every foldier in the camp of thefe two princes, fhall feize the two captains alive, and having diverted them of all their pomp and power to deceive, lhall turn them out entirely naked, to appear in their owa native horror; and in that pofition mall immortalife them, to be companions to all their devotees fo long as eternity endures. Ver. 21. And the remnant were Jlain with the fword of him that, fat upon the. horfe > which fword proceeded out of his mouth : and all the fowls were filled with their flejh. THE horfe, the gofpel of the kingdom ; him that fat upon the horfe, Jefus, the King of kings, and Lord of lords j the fword, his word that proceeds, out of his mouth ; the remnant, all the followers of the falfe Chrift, and of the feducing* fpirit. Thefe are capable of being flain, while the objects of their idolatry fhall have 430 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION have frefli life given them, though it fhall be in an- other form, and appear in another light. This is the laft going forth of wrath in the natural world, there- fore it fhall proceed to the very uttermoft, and burn to the loweft hell. The word of God fhall go forth with fuch irrepellable power, that it fhall pierce the confciences of all his enemies as an unquenchable flame, and fhall burn them up root and branch. Every- thing fhall die, but their tormentors; only the fowls Jhall live to be filled with their flefh ; that is, all their pleafure, all their gratifications, all their comforts, all their enjoyments, and imaginary profpects. Guilt, fear, horror, defpair, and irremiffible woe fhall feed upon them, devouring all confolation, and every fup- port ; thus thefe wretches fhall perifh for ever. The glory of the gofpel of the Son of God, the higheft joy of all that believe, will at that day prefent a perfect fpecimen of hell to all that have embraced a falfe gofpel, and received a falie Chrift. Here begins the Sixth Vifion. CHAP. XX. IT may be obferved, that this book contains {even vifions. The firfl is contained in the three firft chapters, and is, in general, matter of admonition to all the churches ; the fecond, third, fourth, and fifth, are all prophetical of thofe things which fhould come upon of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 431 upon the church, from the firft coming of Chrift to the end of the world. But they do not properly fuc- ceed one another, for they all terminate at the fame time ; that is, at the fecond coming of Chrift, or at the end of the world : yet they are not properly con- temporary with each other ; for the two former com- mence from the coming of Chrift, but the two latter only commence at the deftruclion of Antichrift. So it may be obferved, the former are nearly of the fame duration with each other, and fo are the latter, only of ihorter continuance ; and fo far as they relate to the fame time, one as another, they reprefent many of the fame things, though in different attitudes, to give us clearer conceptions of the divers tran factions -, and they all conclude with the fame things, or to the fame pur- pofe, the extirpation of the falfe Chrift, and the exalt- ation of the true Chrift to reign over all the nations. Chap. xi. 19. chap. xiv. 20. chap. xvi. 21. chap. xix. 21. Ifitbeafked how it is that thefe vifions ftiould terminate at the time that Chrift begins his reign over the nations, and yet continue to the end of the world, when that part of his reign fhall be finifhed ? I anfwer, this is eafy to folve. Though, from divers confider- ations, I have no doubt of the continuance of that happy period at leaft a thoufand years j yet from the time it becomes eftablifhed, there will be no more re- volution, but one perfect feries of joy, peace, glory, and tranquillity without interruption. So that thofe vifions which bring us to the ftate itfelf, bring us to the end of it j for the famenefs of ferenity, holinefs, and delight, admits of no farther defcription than what is given, chap. vii. 9—17^ In 432 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION In the fecond vifion, under the opening of the fixti. feal, chap. vi. 12 — 17. we have the destruction of the enemies, as we had their wickednefs defcribed in the former part of the chapter -, and in the feventh chapter we have the fuccefs and glory of the gofpel, as it fhall prevail in all nations in the laft days. This is a fum- mary of all the tranfadtions through the whole gofpel day •, and all that remains of the fame vifion, under the opening of the feventh feal, as well as all that is contained in the three following vifions, is no moj£^ than a full diftinct opening of thefe things. And now the vifion that next fucceeds, opens to us the fecond coming of the Lord of glory, to judge the quick and the dead j and that which follows, chap. xxi. being the feventh and laft viiion, is a description of the new Jerufalem, after the refurre&ion of the faints. Verse t. And I Jaw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomlefs fit, and a great chain in his hand. AN angel fignifies a mefTenger fent of God, to de- clare or perform his will. To this character the Lord Jefus Chrift perfectly anfwers ; he is called the MefTen- ger of the covenant, Mai. iii. 1. and he was by the Father fent into this world at his firft coming, John x. 36. and fo he mail be at his fecond coming, A£ts iii. 20. This is he whom Paul calls the Archangel, 1 TheiT. iv. 16. The miniftering fpirits are com- monly called angels, as their office is to be mefTengers of God j but in the higheft and moil perfect fenfe, none is worthy of that character, becaufe none is able to fulfil of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 433 fulfil the office but the Lord of glory, whom the Father emphatically calls, My Mejfenger that I fent } Ifai. xlii. 19. Now, whether the different characters given to the miniftering fpirits be expreffive of any difference in their natures, qualities, or ftations, or whether they be according to the mefTages they are charged with, or the immediate offices they are fent to fulfil, I pretend not to fay : but this we may obferve, that when an angel has appeared in the quality of a fervant, and de- claring himfelf fent by authority, he has been called Gabriel -, but when one has appeared as a plenipoten- tiary, fpeaking with authority, as if he perfonated the Son of God, he has been called Michael. And it is plain, this Michael the archangel, who difputed with the devil about the body of Mofes (not about his na- tural body, but his myftical body, the Jewifli church, Jude ix.) was a created angel j firft called, according to his proper perfonal character, the angel of the Lord , and then, according to his high commiffion, or repre- fentative character, he is called the Lord: and it is very frequent in Scripture, for the fame appearance to be called God, fometimes an angel, and fometimes a man, Gen. xxxii. 24. Hof. xii. 3, 4, 5. Again, whether it was one and the fame angel, or divers of the miniftering fpirits alternately perfonating the Lord of glory, and bearing thofe high titles, I do not know ; but certain it is, before the actual appearance of Chrift in the flefh, an angel frequently had the honour of per- fonating the Lord of glory. He fent his angel before Ifrael, to whom he gave his name ; My name is in hint, Exod. xxiii. 20, 21. calling him the angel of his pre- F f fence-, 434 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION fence, Ifai. lxiii. 9. yea, the God of Ifrael, Exod. xxiv. 10, 11. Ezek. viii. 4. But when the Lord himfelf made his appearance, this angel refigned his commif- iion, Heb. i. fince which time, no angel has been en- truited with fuch authority ; the Son of God took it himfelf; and he now bears the names both of Michael,. and of the Archangel. This is that angel whom John faw in vifion, and the church fhall fee with open face, coming from the heaven of heavens, where he now is, and fhall be con- tained, or perfonally retained until that glorious day : and when he comes, he brings the key of the bottom- lefs pit, that is, to fhut it j which key none ever bare with full authority but the Son of God. It is true, for a tranfient period, fatan and his instruments had a key that opened the pit 3 but none could fhut it, fave the Mighty One, who hath power to command that ma- lignant key out of the enemy's hand, and bears in truth the keys of hell and of death. And in his hand a great chain ; that is, almighty power to fubdue all enemies, to reftrain, to bind, or crufh every adverfary under his feet. Ver. 1. And he laid hold- on the dragon, that oldferpent, which is the devil and fatan, and bound him a thoufand . years. THIS is the character of that malignant adverfary, who in all ages has been an oppofer of the kingdom of Chrift : a ferpent, for fubtilty ; the devil, for enchant- <* ment ; of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 435 ment ; fatan, for malicioufnefs ; and the dragon, for devouring. On him the Lord laid hold •, not to hold him near to himfelf, as men fometimes grafp a prifoner, to prevent him from making his efcape; but crufhing him down with his mighty arm, under the inextricable chains of darknefs, fhut up in the horrors of defpair, to the full completion of the appointed period, a thou- fand years. This precife time is fo often repeated, that it appears to be literally underilood of a natural revo- lution of years. Ver. 3. And caft him into the bottomlefs pit, and flout him up, and Jet afeal upon him, that he Jhould deceive the nations no more till the thouf and years fh-ould be ful- filled: and after that he mufi be loojed a little Jeafon. THE bottomlefs pit is not the fame with the lake of fire hereafter mentioned, for that will be the ever- lafting portion of the wicked ; but this is the myftery of iniquity which now is, and from whence the abomi- nations of the kingdom of darknefs proceed, that is, the depth of the wickednefs of the devil and his chil- dren ; and in this he fhall be fhut up and fealed down, to torment himfelf in his own malice, but fhall be cut off from all power or liberty to deceive, corrupt, or torment others -, for there fhall be no opportunity at all for him to feduce the nations, fo long as this thou- fand years fhall continue. But afterward there fhall be a fhort interval, in which, for the laft time, fatan fhall be left to fhew his rage. Ver. 4. And I Jaw thrones, and theyjat upon them, and F f 2 judgment 436 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION judgment was given unto them : and I Jaw the fouls of them that were beheaded for the witnefs of Jefus, and for the word of God, and which had not worfhipped the beafi, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands ; and they lived and reigned with Chrijl a thouf and years. AS no perfons had been mentioned before, to whom thefe things can be applied, the perfons here faid to fit on thrones, and to have judgment given unto them, can be no other than the fouls mentioned immediately after j and the time can be no other than the time of the refurreclion of the dead in Chrift, who fhall rife firft, i ThefT. iv. 16. and therefore this, the Lord's coming down from heaven, is no other than his per- fonal coming to judge the quick and the dead. It is not a figurative, or a fpiritual refurrection or reigning; they are the fouls that had been killed for the word of God, and not in a crying ftate, and a waiting ftate, as chap. vi. 9, 10, 11. but in a living reigning ftate with Chrift. Chrift is in his rifen ftate, in perfection of foul and body ; and they muft be the fame, or they cannot properly reign with him ; nor is there any promife that the faints fhall fit on thrones with him, till he fhall come in his glory, Mat. xix. 28. Thefe appear to be the very fame fouls which he had ken before, under the opening of the fifth feal ; and now the time for which they were commanded to wait being fulfilled, he fees them again in the fulnefs of joy. But why is particular mention made of them that had been be- headed or flain ? I anfwer, Not in any fenfe to exclude the reft of the faints from the glory; for the bleffing is afterward of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 437 afterward pronounced upon all that have part in the firft refurre&ion, and this includes all the dead in Chrift. But thefe feem to be particularly mentioned, as being the moil immediate witnefles againft the wor- fhippers of the beaft ; for it appears they had been among them, feen their abominations, efcaped them, and teftified againft them, and for which they had been killed. There is no doubt that all the faints mall reign with Chrift in his throne, acquiefce in his righteous judgment, and partake of his glory for ever ; for all his elect fhall be raifed or changed at the fame period : but we cannot fuppofe the innumerable multitudes which mall be called in the latter days, after Antichrift mall be deftroyed, that they mould be perfonal wit- nefles of the wickednefs, like thofe whofe eyes beheld it. In like manner it is faid the apoftles Ihould fit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Ifrael, Luke xxii. 30. becaufe they were fent to them, and would be wit-- nefles how thofe tribes received the gofpel. It is to be obferved, that the glory prepared in Chrift for his faints is moft excellent, fublime, and in- conceivably great ; fuch as few profeflbrs in the world ever have any ideas of, and indeed above the concep- tion of any mortal creature, 1 John iii. 2. Therefore it is of abfolute neceflity that they that fhall enjoy it, muft pafs fuch preparations, not only to be perfectly refined from fin, but perfectly filled with the holinefs of God, as few upon earth ever think of j and this muft be wrought by proper gradations, fuch as the Lord has appointed to accomplifh the end. The firft is by the gofpel, through faith, in the fanftiflcation of the Spirit 5 F f 3 which 438 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION which as far exceeds what mod profeflbrs ever think of, as the fubftantial works of men exceed a child's play. In this, I make no doubt, the faints ob- tain high advances into the knowledge of God, Eph. i. 1 8. iii. 19. and in refpect to fin, are fo purified when Jefus calls them out of the body, as thenceforth to be as if fin had never been, Rom. vi. 7. but I do not think they are then arrived to the perfection of the image of Chrift, or prepared for the ultimate glory. I cannot think the foul is in a ftate of indolence during its abfence from the body, feeing it is prefent with the Lord ; I doubt not its attaining high advances in the knowledge of God during that period j and after the refurrection, when we mail be in the immediate per- fonal prefence of the Lamb a thoufand years, I expect a more ample preparation for the laft and rnoft perfect glory, 1 Cor. xv. 24, 28. and as a thoufand years an- fvvers to one day, and one day to a thoufand years, we may look for this to be fulfilled according to the figures that have gone before. Now as the feventh day in the creation was made a fabbath to the world, and the Lord calls his fabbath a fign to his people, we may expect the feventh thoufand years of the world to be a fabbath of gofpel reft to all the nations. And as the Lord rofe from the dead on the morrow after the fab- bath, and made the eighth day, or the firft day of the Vveek, a fabbath to his gofpel church, there is fome reafon to expect the eighth thoufand years to begin a new week, and to be a fabbath of glory reft to the faints in a ftate of immortality. Ver. 5. But the rejl of the dead lived not again t until the of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 439 the thou/and years were fnijhed. This is thefirfi refur- reclion. . THE reft of the dead mull intend the whole body of the unrighteous: for the Scripture is clear, that the faints fhall rife before the ungodly ; though in this place on- ly, the intermediate fpace is defcribed ; for God has fixed a perfect order in all his works and ways, which fhall be obferved without variation ; and of this his word infallibly affures us : Every man in his own order : Chriji the firfi fruits, afterwards they that are Chrifi's at his coming. Then comet h the end. — And the dead in Chriji fhall rife firft. 1 Ver. 6. Bleffed and holy is he that hath part in thefirfi refurretHon : on fuch the fecond death hath no power, but they fhall be priejis of God, and of Chriji, and fhall reign with him a thouf and years. HOLINESS and blefTednefs are abfolutely infepara- "ble. If they be not identically the fame thing, they are fo near in relation, that the one cannot exift without the other. None can be bleffed, but he that is holy; and none can be holy, but he is certain to be bleffed. And thefe are they, and none elfe, which ihall rife firft when Jefus comes. For he will not acknowledge any but the holy feed •> and whomfoever he fhall acknowledge, the fame he will affuredly blefs. And the blefling of the Lord mall make them free from the fecond death. The fecond death is not like the firft death, the de- ftruction of being : for the deftruclion of the firft death muft be totally removed, and the creature fixed in a F f 4 ftate 440 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION flate of immortality, before the fecond death can have any place j and then the fecond death will be the ex- tinction of all peace, confolation, and hope, through the fling of an immoveable curfe upon the mind. And herein confifls the horror of the fecond death, that the creature cannot die, and yet every thing fhall die from which he might expect any kind of enjoyment -, but where that bleflednefs is, which is the production of holinefs, fuch a death cannot exifl. It was faid before, He hath made us unto our God kings and priefts, chap. i. 6. v. 10. but here it is faid, Priejis of God, and of Chrijl. This fignifles the right they have, as the priefls had, and as Jefus the great high-pried has, to fland with acceptance before God; and they are priefts of Chrifl, {landing with Chrift their great high-pried, not as the common orders of priefts under the law, who flood without while the high-prieft entered the holy of holies j thefe enter with their high- priefl into the holiefl, Heb. x. 19, 20. And being now in the lafl flage of preparation or qualification, and in the highefl advance that is poflible, fhort of the Father's kingdom, they are waiting to be accompli fried in full perfection with all the glory of the Son of God ; for whatever the Father confers upon the Son, the Son confers upon his chofen ; and when they have reigned with him a thoufand years upon the earth, he will re- ceive them to that place which he is now preparing for them, far above all heavens, John xiv. 2, 3. Rev. iii. 21. Eph. iv. 10. Ver. 7. And fphsn tic thoufand years are expired, fatan fhall be loofed out of his prifon. BECAUSE of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 441 BECAUSE fome perfons cannot conceive how fatan ihould execute wickednefs among men, after the refur- recYion; or rather, their minds are barricaded with fome traditions, or rafli imaginations which they have taken up, fo that they can form no ideas, only in the circle in which they ufe to tread ; they perplex their minds with contrivance, how to make thefe things comport with fome imaginary period before the fecond coming of Chrift, or with fome imaginary circumftance which ihall attend his coming; to make this loofing of fatan, and thofe things which enfue, to be while men are in a mortal flate. But they do not confider, that in whatever fpirit men now live, in the fame they die, and in the fame they are certain to come when they rife from the dead ; therefore the wicked will have as ftrong an inclination to adhere to the fpirit of the devil, as ever they had': and it is plain, the rifingof the wicked, and the loofing of fatan, will be at the fame period, at the expiration of the thoufand years. And as the earth, and all the works thereof, fhall be burnt up at ChrifVs firft appearance, 2 Theff. i. 7, 8. 2 Pet. iii. 10, 12. there does not appear to be any alive in a ftate' of nature for fatan to deceive ; and all that he will then deceive will be the enemies of God, and Ihall be totally cOnfumed. And the number fo infinite, can be no other but the whole family of reprobates, gathered together in one body, after they are called out of their graves ; arid they and their prince, being both loofed out of their prifons at the fame time, will find themfelves all in one fpirit, and will unite to fhew their malice and their folly, as we have it afterwards defcribed. Ver. 442 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION Ver. 8. And pall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earthy Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle : the 'number of whom is as the f and of the Jea. THESE are not the fame Gog and Magog fpoken of by the prophet Ezekiel, for thofe are the fame with the body of Antichrift, who at this day, fome open and fome covered, are making war againft the church of the firft-born, or againft the life and truth of the gofpcl of Jefus. But becaufe of their fimilarity in uniting againft the Son of God, and againft his chofen, they are called by the fame names ; and doubtlefs many of them will be the very fame perfons, though in a different fituation. The former are very numerous, but not like the latter, who fhall be as the fand of the fea 5 who feeing themfelves fuch an innumerable multitude, and having the fame enmity as they had when living in the body (for death will not change their difpofitions) the devil will make his laft effort to deceive and infa- tuate them to make a defperate attempt againft the faints of the Molt High, perhaps not knowing that the Lord is among them. So he fhall gather all the children of the wicked one, who have lived in all the ages of the world, and in all the corners of the earth, openly to declare to what prince they belong, by {hew- ing their malice againft the Holy One of God. Ver. 9. And they went up on the breadth of the earth t and compajfed the camp of the faints about y and the beloved city : and fire came down from God cut of heaven , and devoured them. THIS of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 443 THIS camp of the faints, wherein holinefs reigns ; and this beloved city, in which the Lord delighteth, is the new Jerufalem, defcribed in the two following chapters, where Jefus fhall refide with his faints on the new earth during the appointed thoufand years. And the wicked fhall gather together, and form their army on the extent of the earth, and come up with fury to fwallow up thofe whom they always hated -, and though it is now become the land of Emanuel, the devil at their head fhall flretch his armies like wings to fill the breadth thereof; but they fhall do no execution, they fhall only affociate themfelves that they may be broken in pieces. For fire came down from God out of heaven : not like a flafh of lightning, or a fudden fhower of fire; this fire is the jufl vengeance of God in the laft judg- ment, which fhall come with the moft profound gravity, and in the moft deliberate order ; for the tremendous majefty of God looking upon them, will deflroy all their courage, and bring them trembling to his bar; where he will fet their fins in order before their eyes in the moft perfect light, and then will pronounce the righteous awful fentence, Depart from me, ye curfed, into ever lofting fire. This is the fire which fhall devour them for ever, as it is defcribed in the following verfes of this chapter : for God is judge himfelf, and he will judge the people with his truth. Ver. 10. And the devil that deceived them was cqft into the lake of fire and brimftone, where the beaft and the falfe -prophet arey and fhall be tormented day and night for ever and ever, ALL 444 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION ALL that the devil does is by deception, for he has no other power, nor can he operate by any other machine. We read of his power taking perfons captive, hindering men in their purpofes, being a murderer, calling into priibn, &c. but all thefe things he does no otherwile than by deceit, either by his falfe fuggeftions, feducing the perfons to do the evil to themfelves, or ftimulating others to do evil to their fellow-creatures : and when perfons have been llrangely agitated by the devil, it has been themfelves that have done the ex- travagant actions, though the caufe was from the devil, fermenting their minds into the molt unaccountable and confuted imaginations, through falfe reprefentations to their weak conceptions, whereby they have gone melancholy, diffracted, outrageous, &c. But the devil has neither commanding power, nor tormenting power over any creature, but what he obtains by deluding their underftandings, whereby he brings them to devote themfelves to his will. But though this deceiver has {q long deceived himfelf and others, he mall at laft find the truth of God's righteous judgment, when he fhall be caft into that lake of fire and brimftone, to be tormented together with thofe he has deceived. There the beaft and the falfe prophet are : thefe are not pro- perly perfons, though they have perfonal characters ; the bead is the falfe Chrift, or imaginary object, which deluded fouls have worfhipped under pretence of wor- shipping the Chrift of God, as they have been taught by a perverted gofpel -, the falfe prophet is the lying fpirit, by which that falfe gofpel is propagated. But thefe cannot exill without fome veffels, or refervoirs, where they refide, or are contained ■, thefe are the cor- rupt of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 445 jupt minds of thofe men who have imbibed the decep- tions ; and if thefe muft be caft into the lake of fire and brimftone, then all the men that are the fubjedts of thefe deceptions, muft: needs be .call into the fame lake, for there can be no feparation when once the Lord has given them up to thefe ftrong delufions to believe a lie. But that reftlefs fire which burns in the minds of the devil and his adherents, and that ful- phureous flench which proceeds from their poifoned hearts, will abide with them for ever and ever. But ic may be objected, that if they were impofed on by falfe fuggeflions, and made to believe a lie through falfe reprefentations, is it not hard that fouls mould perifh. for ever through following thefe deceptions, when they knew no better ? 1 reply, Ignorance can be no excufe, feeing the Lord has afforded us the pure light of his gofpel, whereby we may come to the knowledge of the truth ; and it is men's own wickednefs only, that hinders them from attending to the true light, becauje they received not the love of the truth, 2 ThefT. ii. io, 11, 12. Ver. 11. And If aw a great white throne, and htm that Jat on it, from whofe face the earth and the heaven fled away, and there was found no 'place for them. BY the fequel of this chapter, all things appear to be performed by one and the fame perfon, firft called an angel, then called Chrift, here called Him that fat on the throne, and afterward called God, that is, the Son of God, to whom all judgment is committed of the Father, And the throne that fuflains him, and from which 446 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION which his glory mines, can be no other than the ma- jefty, glory, excellency, and perfection of the Divine IZflence -, and it is called great, in refpeft to the oreat- nefs of the judgment, it being a day of the oreateft tran factions that ever were beheld by the fons of men; and it is called white, in regard to the light, truth, pu- rity, and perfect righteoufnefs which it mall difplay. This throne, and him that fat on it, did not firft make their appearance after the refurrection of the wicked ; for his regal glory mud be manifcfted at the time of his coming, and at the refurrection of the faints -, and it k-'plain that fo it did, for it was at the time when the dead fainrs v/ere railed, and the living changed, or when the Lord was revealed in flaming fire, that the earth and the heaven fled away. And no place was any more found for the prefent heavens and the earth in their fallen ftate ; for they mult give place to the new heavens and the new earth, wherein Chrift the righteous Lord and his righteous feed mail dwell : not that the confti- tuent matter was annihilated, but the mode and fafhion of the vifible heavens and earth pafied away, fo far as the curfe had infefted ■, for no curfed thing mail have communion with God, neither ihall any curfed thing touch his faints, after they are railed in immortal per- fection ; therefore the earth on which Chrift and his faints lhall reign at that day, mult be created anew, that it may be a perfect habitation. But thefe enfigns of majefty are mentioned in this place, as being adapted to the tremendous work now approaching. Ver. 12. And I Jaw the dead, f mall and great, ft and be- fore God ; and the books were opened : and another book was of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 447 was opened, which is the book of life : and the dead were judged out of thofe things which were written in the books according to their works. THESE are they that are now dead, orfhall be dead, before that time, but fhall then be railed again ■, for there could not be any fuch thing as (landing before God while they remained dead. They are called fmall and great, as fome were in high, and fome in low fta- tions in the world -, fome of refpectable figures, and fome of no repute -, fome high in learning, and fome low in ignorance ; fome leaders, and fome followers, either in open profanenefs, idolatry, hypocrify, or any kind of wickednefs. Some perfons fpeak of fmall and great in ftature, as children, or as men; but if by children they mean fuch as died in infancy, before they had a capacity to know good and evil, it is not com- patible with the nature of things for fuch to be called to judgment i only it is common with religious people to reprefent God as a fool, perhaps becaufe they de- fire to make a fool of him, otherwife common fenfe forbids the thought of perfons being judged, who never could be confcious of right and wrong. And the books were opened: the book of God's goodnefs to men, whereby they were laid under obligations to gratitude and obedience ; the book of the intellectuals given to men, and the opportunities afforded them, which ought to have been improved to the glory of God ; the book of the Holy Scriptures, whereby they might have known the Lord $ and the book of confeience, which will teftify what improvements they have made, how they behaved, and from what principles. And another book 443 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION book was opened^ which is the book of life : Tome tell ua of this being the book of eternal election, or the ever- lafling counfel of God ; but this is a very undigefted conjecture, and fhews either very corrupt notions, or very great inattention ; notwithstanding fuch a book is kept, and contains a glory beyond all conception, in which are written the names of all the chofen from the foundation of the world. But the immutable counfels of God are not the rule whereby men fhall be judged. The book of life in this place, is the life of Jefus dwell- ing in the fouls of his faints, and manifefled in their bodies or converfations, in that they walked with God to his glory, and fhewed in their lives, that the law of the fpirit of life in Chrifl Jefus had made them free from the law of fin and death. They fhall be judged out of thofe things which fhall be found written in thefe books; jufl as thefe books fhall open, or as their works fhall be made manifefl by thefe books, fo fhall the de- cifive fentence pafs upon every man, according as his works have been; for by their works it will be mani- fefl who are the children of God, and who are the chil- dren of the devil, i John iii. 10. and the children of light fhall pafs as clofe a fcrutiny as the children of darknefs, that their works may truly be made manifefl, John iii. 21. Ver. 1 3. And the feci gave up the dead which were in it ; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them : and they were judged every man according to their works. THIS fhews the certainty of an univerfal refurrec- tion; of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 449 tion ; in whatfoever pofition men died, or in whatever place they were buried, they fhall all come forth : and it proves the imiverfality of the redemption by Jefus Chrift from the fin of Adam j for it had been an abfo- lute impoflibility that any fhould rife from the dead, for whom the ranfom was not paid. No mention is made of any refurreclion, but by Jefus Chrift. All that have been drowned, or otherwife call into the fea, mail be delivered up. And death and hell delivered lip the dead which were in them : by hell, in this place, fome understand the grave ; I know the word hell, which fignifies darknefs, is frequently applied to the grave ; but in this place that does not feem to be the meaning, for death mud include the grave, and yet hell is diftinguifhed from it, I fhould rather take it to intend the dark prifon, in which the fouls of the wicked are now confined : for both bodies and fouls fhall be fent forth of their prefent ftate, againfl the judgment of the great day, and being united as they were when the guilt was contracted, fhall fland before the righte- ous Judge of all ; and according as their works fhall appear to be wrought in God, or in the wicked one, fo fhall their judgment be. Ver. 14. And death and hell were caft into the lake of fire. 'This is thejecond death. A LAKE is a place where water, mire, filth, and putrid matter lies gathered, fettled, and Stagnated to- gether, without any communication or evacuation to purify or clear it away : fo is this lake; for all the fil- thinefs, abomination, and flench that has afcended out Gg e£ 450 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION of the bottomlefs pit, fhall defcend into this fulphureoiis lake, from whence it never fhall be removed or cleanfed, but in all its noxious qualities fhall continue for ever. It is a lake of fire; for the breath of the Lord, like a itream of brimftone, doth kindle it, and it never fhall be quenched. Into this lake of fire, death and hell were cafl : but this could not be natural death, which ihall have no exiftence after the refurre&ion, Hof. xiii. 14. unlefs we underfland all thofe that were found under the power of death, after the firft reiurrection was paft, and confequently could not be exempted from the fecond death : but rather, it is the death that will remain in the foul after the corporeal death fhall be ex- tinct ; that is, the death in fin, which is followed by hell, even the horror of darknefs overfpreading the confluence. We are told of five things, befide the damned fouls* which fhall be caft along with them into this lake, and therefore mufl be their never-feparating companions- The devil, that deceived them, fhall be caft in with them : death, from all reft, peace, comfort, or hope : bell, darknefs of horror, anguifh, and defpair : the beaft, the remembrance of the idols, the falfe god, the falfe Chrift, the falfe gofpel, the enthufiaftic fpirit, and tra- ditions of men, to which they paid adoration, and in which theytrufted: the falfe f rochet, the vain fancies, the deluded imaginations, and carnal reaibnings by which they were led to worfhip the beaft and his image. This is the fecond death ; that is, a death which fhall never die, when the firft death is deadj but of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 451 but fhall be a dying life, and a living death, which (hall never come to an end. Ver. 15. And whofoever was not found written in the book of life, was caji into the lake of fire. JUDGMENT is not to pafs upon the thoughts and intentions of God towards his people, but upon the creatures. It is what the perfons are, and have done, which fhall be made manifeft in the day of judgment; therefore the book of life here defcribed, is not the book of God's eternal counfel, but the book of vital union, or the reciprocal in-dwelling of Chrift and the foul, John vi. 54 — 57. Gal. ii. 20. Chriit being their life, and they living a life of holinefs, through union with him, Col. iii. 3, 4. The judgment will difcover who are yet in their fins, and who are made free from fin ; and as none but the living Chrift can make any- foul free frOm fin, whofoever is not found in Chriit muft of neceffity be found in his fins ; and whofoever is found in his fins, mull inevitably, together with his fins, be cart into this infernal lake. But it is impoffible that any fhould be hurt of the fecond death, who dwell in the Son of God, who is eternal life. They were caft into the lake of fire ; that is, into the everlalting burnings of the wrath of Almighty God. Thefe are the perfons who are the enemies of God j and except the devil, who fhall be a companion and par- taker in their torment, all the other things that fhall be caft into the lake, are the produce of their own wicked hearts , thefe fhall be the fire, ajid the perfons G g 2 fhall 452 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION fhall be the fewel in this burning lake for ever. Thus fhall they eat the fruit of their own doings, and drink the juice of their own grapes in the great wine-prefs without end. This vifion brings us to the final period of all tranf- actions relating to this world. The fecond, third, fourth, and fifth vifions having reprefented the church of God and her enemies in a variety of lights, and the majefty of God in his divers goings forth for the de- fence and emolument of his people, all terminate in the deftruction of the falfe Chrift, and the true Chrift taking his great power, and reigning over all the nations. This his reign of grace over all the nations will be one uninterrupted chain of bleffednefs till his fecond coming, when he fhall perfect the reflitution of all things, and fhall judge the quick and the dead. And this fixth vifion is an ample defcription of the laft judgment, and total deciflon of all things. The feventh and laft vifion which now follows, is a defcription of the glory of the church reigning on earth with Chrift, from the time of his fecond coming, till the full accomplifhment of all. So it is cotempo- rary with this vifion, only reprefents a different branch of the glory ; for both the vifions reprefent the fame thoufand years, being a longer period than any man ever yet lived upon earth. Here of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 453 Here begins the Seventh Vijion. CHAP. XXI. Verse i. And I Jaw a new heaven and a new earth : for the fir ft heaven and the fir ft earth were pajfed away ; and there was no morejea. THIS is the new heaven and the new earth pro- mifed by the prophet, Ifa. lxv. 17. lxvi. 22. believed by the apoftles, 2 Pet. iii. 13. and waited for of the whole church, Rev. v. 10. For the former heaven and earth, or the heavens and the earth which now are, fhall be diflblved, burnt up, and pafs away with a great noife, when Jefus fhall be revealed from heaven in flaming fire. Not that they fhall be extir- pated, or the real fubftance ceafe to be ; for the bodies of the wicked are to be raifed out of it, after the uni- verfal conflagration : but fo far as there is any defect or diforder caufed by fin, it fhall be done away, and the form fhall be changed and perfectly reftored to the very fame it was when it came out of the hands of him that made it, Gen. i. 31. Acts iii. 21. And the fea fhall be no more in the difcompofed. form it now is j for as the firft heaven and earth fhall pafs away, fo fhall the fea pafs away : not that it fhall ceafe to exift, any more than the heavens and the earth, but it fhall be refined to its primitive perfection. But as a fea G g 3 there 454 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION there certainly was in the firft creation, Gen. i. 10, ai, 28. fo a fea there mud be in the new creation, other- wife it would not be compleat. God faw all things that he had made, that they were very good, and with God there can be no change ; therefore what was once good, muft be good for ever ; if the fea was not a fuperfluity in the firft creation, its abfence would be a defect in the new creation. Ver. 2. And I John Jaw the holy city, new Jerujalem, coming down Jrom God out oj heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her hujband. JOHN being the reprefentative of the church in thefe vifions, fhews the certainty of this glorious mani- feftation to the church in due feafon. By a city, fome- times is to be underftood the habitation, with all its decorations, beauties, and excellencies j and fometimes the inhabitants are underftood j but in this place it may be obferved, the faints who were to be inhabitants of this city, were but juft raifed out of the ruins of fin, and, refpecting their bodies, had not yet afcended into glory j though their fouls, being already with Chrift, ihall defcend with him, 1 ThefT. iv. 14. And this ap- 'pears to be a vifible glory, prepared both for foul and body ; and thefe newly rifen faints, lifting up their eyes, fhall behold the Lord of glory, in all his per- fections, coming down to receive them into his em- braces, and to be their habitation for ever. So then, in the firft place, that which comes down from God out of heaven is Chrift in the glory of his Father, to gather his church into himfelf, and to confummate their of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 455 their felicity ; but, in the next place, the faints being Caught up together, taken into his bofom, involved in all his perfection, and clothed in all his glory, they become the new Jerufalem : for all they are, and all they enjoy, is from God out of heaven; lb Chrift fhall defcend in them, and they in Chrift, to reign on the earth. And now the King's daughter being arrived at her full ftature, embellilhed with all the glory of the Lord, and clothed in all his comelinefs, fhe appears as a bride adorned for her hufband, and fhall ftand at the right hand of the King of glory in his perfect image, Pfalm xlv. 9. 1 Cor. xv. 49. Ver. 3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven, faying* Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they pall be his people^ and God himfelf fhall be with them, and be their God. THIS voice appears to come out of the fame heaven from whence the holy city came, from the throne of the Father and of the Son. It is called the tabernacle of God, becaufe God himfelf dwells therein ; for God dwells in the man Chrift, who is the true tabernacle, pitched in his church : and Chrift dwells in his church, which through vital union, is become one tabernacle with him ; and fo they are one body, and one habita- tion of God. And notwithftanding it is the everlafting refidence of God, it is here called a tabernacle; becaufe it is not as yet in its fixed ftation, but muft have, another remove to that place where the bridegroom now is, and is preparing for them far above all heavens, Jefus Chrift is God himfelf: for where he is, the Father G g 4 is, 456 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION is, Col. ii. 9. And now fhall the grand promife be fulfilled, They fhall be my people ; and I will be their God; they fhall be his people, perfectly formed into his image, and devoted to .his will; and he will be their God, communicating to them the perfect knowledge, fulnefs, glory, and enjoyment of himfelf, to the height of all felicity. So fhall they for ever dwell in God, and God in them; he fhall be with them here on earth, till he has made them perfectly ripe for himfelf, and then he fliall take them to his perfect manfion in the heavens, where they fliall dwell with him in confum- mate glory for ever, when the Son fliall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father, and God fhall be all in all. Ver. 4. And God flmll wipe away all tears from their eyes ; and there fhall be no more death, neither farrow, nor crying, neither fhall there be any more pain : for the former things are pajfed away. IT was ourfelves, by our fins, that brought all for- row, crying, and tears; but it is God, by his grace, that wipes them all away. And this is certain to be the cafe, when he comes in the glory of his holinefs; all fin "mull: be extinct, for nothing pernicious can ftand before him, Heb. ix. 28. and as fin is the alone caufe of grief, when the caufe fhall be taken away, the effect fhall be no more. Death came by fin, but Jefus Chriffc is eternal life; and where he is fully revealed, death can have no place. Nor can there be any more pain where Chrift, the perfection of delight, is the fulnefs of of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 457 of all. For nothing fhall remain but what is immedi- ately of God, when the former things are pafTed away. Ver 5. And he that fat upon the throne faid, Behold, I make all things new. And hejaid unto me, Write : for thefe words are true and faithful, IN this book, the Father is reprefented as fitting upon the throne -, but he is never revealed without the Son, nor can be known but by him, who is in the midfl of the throne. It is the Father, in the Son, that makes all things new ; and when the glory of his kingdom fhall appear, then the work which he is now performing fhall be compleat -, and no old thing what- foever fhall any more exift. Then, according to the New Teftarrient, all the elect fhall be new creatures, beholding new glories in the new ftate ; and from thenceforth, nothing fhall ever more wax old, but continue perfedl new to eternity : for both the fouls of the faints, and all the bleffings they enjoy, fhall be immutable in God, with unfading vigour and glory for ever and ever. And he that makes all things new, commanded it to be written for the ftrong confolation of his church ; afTuring them of the infallibility of his word, that their faith and hope may be in God : for his word is himfelf, and whatever God is, his word is the fame, therefore mufl be true and faithful. Ver. 6. And he f aid unto me. It is done. I am Alpha- and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirfl of the fountain of the water of life freely. WHAT- 45 S A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION WHATEVER God fpeaks to his prophets in the revelation of his will, he fpeaks to all thofe to whom thofe prophets are fent ; and as John was fent a mef- fenger to teftify thefe things in the churches, every thing fhewn to him, and every thing fpoken to him, was to all the churches of Chrift upon earth, according to the day in which they fhould live. At prefent, all that are called of God believe and wait for the things herein revealed j and at the time appointed, they fhall all behold and enjoy them. It is done : when the Son of God made his exit on the crofs, he faid, // is finifoed. All his works and fufferings upon earth were then ac- complifhed ; and all the works and fufferings of his faints fhall be accomplifhed when he comes the fecond time : yea, all the works of Chrift in them fhall be finifhed, all fin fhall be totally deftroyed, and the image of Chrift in them fhall be compleat j and they fhall be brought into his immediate prefence, never more to know a feparation, or an abfencej they fhall. then enjoy him as he is, the Alpha and Omega of their falvation and glorification j the beginning and the end, or the abfolute author and finifher of all things. Then his little ones fhall thirft no more; for all thofe who now hunger and thirft after righteoufnefs, fhall be abundantly replenished with the living ftreams of the water of life, which proceed from Chrift himfelf, the living fountain s or out of the throne of God, and of the Lamb. Ver. 7. lie that ever cometh JJjall inherit all things : and I will be his Gcd, and he foal I be my Jon. JESUS of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 459 JESUS CHRIST is the Captain of our falvation, and he waged war with all our enemies, nor was he crowned until he had proved himfelf victorious over all ; and every believer is a foldier in his camp, and faithfully follows his leader, nor fhall be crowned till he has overcome all enemies. But we muft obferve a great difference between his warfare and ours; he was engaged with all the molt formidable adverfaries in all their ftrength and fury, as fin, death, hell, the curfe, &c. we are only befet with fome flying parties, or fome fcattered remains of the vanquished powers, which way-lay us to impede our march, or lie in ambufh to furprize or entangle, or any way to intercept us, fo as to prevent us from following, or coming up to this our captain, to partake with him of his victories. He fought for us, to fave us from perditions we fight under his banner, himfelf going before us, to obtain a free pafTage to the crown. He fought in his own ftrength, his arm brought falvation ; we are made ftrong in the Lord, and become more than conquerors, through him that loved us. Yet every true follower of Chrift is called to the warfare ; and notwithftanding he is certain of victory, he muft expect to be clofely engaged ; for- afmuch as he that overcometh fhall inherit all things, none fhall be deemed a victor but he that overcometh all things ; which none can do but the true followers of the Lamb, who are called, and chofen, and faithful: and if any man be fuch, he can have no caufe of fear; for in this war no man ever fell, unlefs he turned back; every foul that keeps rank, and attends to the orders of his Captain, is girded with armour which no inftru- ment can pierce, and provided of weapons which no power 46*0 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION power can withftand, Eph. vi. 10 — 18. They who, in the ftrength of the Lord, overcome the power of fin, fhall, in the fulnefs of Chrift, inherit the God of love; and whofo inherits God, inherits all perfection in him, God will be his God, and in this he mall pofTefs all blefiednefs ; and he fhall be God's fon, and in this he fhall be raifed to the higheft pitch of glory. * Ver. 8. But the fearful 3 and unbelieving, and the abomi- nable t and murderers, and whoremongers, and forcer 'ers, and idolaters, and all liars, fhall have their fart in the lake which burneth with five and brimflone : which is thefecond death. THE Holy Spirit having juft before pointed out the bleffed, who fhall dwell with God ; he now points out the curfed, who fhall be caft into the lake of fire : the fame fecond death, lb often mentioned to be the por- tion of all the enemies of God, and of his Chrift. The fearful : fuch as have fome inclination to follow Chrift, but not being pofTefTed of true faith and love, they turn back, and dare not engage to face the oppositions, which all that follow Chrift are certain to meet with, John xii. 42, 43. And unbelieving : fuch as reject:, or defpife the gofpel, Acts xiii. 45. And abominable : that is, hateful : it feems to intend fuch as hate, and hold God in contempt, and efteem his word and his ways abominable ; or fuch as are mockers, and endea- vour to reprefent the things of God as an abomination} or fuch as hold the truth in unrighteoufnefs, and render it contemptible by their hypocrify : or it may include any thing that God hateth, Prov. vi. 16 — 19. Mur- derers ; of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 461 derers : none fuch can have the love of God, who have no humanity to fellow creatures, 1 John iii. 15. Whore- mongers : this is a fin fo deteflable in itfelf, fo contrary to nature, fo repugnant to the ordinance of God, that no pradtifer thereof can have communion with the God of purity, Eph. v. 5. Sorcerers: whether thefe per- fons have any power with the devil, or that they only amufe the weak, by pretending to fome occult power ; it is certain they are in the fpirit of the devil, and ene- mies to Chrift, Mai. iii. 5. Idolaters : whether they directly worfhip a falfe God, or pretending to worfhip the true God, do it in a falfe manner, according to the wifdom, or imaginations of men -, they are children of falfhood, and can have no part with the God of truth, Judges x. xiv. All liars : thefe are children of the devil ; and with him their portion is certain to be* John viii. 44. For his portion is in the lake, which burneth with fire and brimftone i and that is the fecond death. Ver. 9. And there came' unto me one of the /even angels which had the f even vials full of the f even lajl plagues, and talked with me, faying. Come hither, I will fhew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife, THESE feven angels are no other than the miniflers of the gofpel going forth into all the world, going forth in feven different bodies, in feven different directions, or at {even different periods. It Was one of thefe that came to John, and addrefTed him in the very fame manner to fhew him the judgment of the great whore, as now to fhew him the glory of the bride. But perr haps 462 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION haps it is not the fame fet of minifters, though of the fame main body, that mall mew to the church, the one and the other ; for it was at two different times : for the firft carried him into the v/ildernefs, where the church then was, from thence to fee the deftruclion of the mother of harlots ; and therefore feems to be the firft going forth of thefe minifters to bring the church of Chrift out of the wildernefs. The latter carried him to a' high mountain, where the church then was, from thence to behold the future glory, as it mail be when Jefus mall come in perfon to reign with his faints on the earth. For the church is alway waiting for her Lord to appear, in fuch things as are moft immediately interefting, according to the circumftances in which (he finds herfelf then to be : therefore, fo long as fhe continues as fhe now is in the wildernefs, fhe will be looking for deliverance in the overthrow of her ene- mies j but when fhe fnall be raifed to the great moun- tain, and the glory of the Lord fhall fill the earth, Dan. ii. 35. then fhall fhe be more immediately waiting for the appearance of her Lord, and to fee him glorified in all his faints. And this is the fight, and at this period when the coming of the Lord fhall be more near at hand, the faints fhall have it fhewn unto them in a more diftinct and clear profpecl: : for as the faints will then be raifed to the higheft meafure of light, faith, ami holineis that is compatible with a ftate of mortality, and the time of their full redemption will be drawing near, they fhall be able to take the moft enlarged view of the power and glory of the world to come. Ver. 10. And he carried me away in the/prit to a great and* of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 463 and high mountain, and j^hezved me that great city, th& holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. THIS great and high mountain is the church in hep excellency, when the gofpel of the kingdom fhall en- lighten the whole world, and the earth fhall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the fea : the great city, the holy Jeru- falem, is the church in her completion of holinefs or immortal glory, reigning with Chrift upon earth : and from the former there fhall be a clear profpect of the latter. For when the fecond coming of the Lord draws nigh, the faints fhall afcend fo high in faith, that they fhall have bright conceptions of 'the glory of the ap- proaching day, beyond what we are able to attain to at a greater diftance : notwithstanding they can have no greater light than we have ; we have the fcriptures of truth, which exhibit the greateft glory that is poffible to be beheld by mortal minds, and they can have no more ; nor can they have any other fpirit to guide them into the truth of the gofpel, but what the faints now enjoy. Yet they will have great advantages which we have not ; for then they will not be oppofed and per- plexed as we conftantly are, with the traditions and fophiftries of men, the fmoke of the bottomlefs pit, and doctrines of devils j and inftead of being in a wil- dernefs, where one can fcarce meet with a preacher or a profeffor in a thoufand, or perhaps not in ten thou- fand, that fpeaks the language of the gofpel of the Son of God, then it fhall be otherwife ; they fhall all fpeak one language, Zeph. iii. 9. and fhall earneflly teach, admoniih, and comfort one another,. Micah iv. 1, 2. Zech. 464 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION Zech. viii. 20, 21. And the minifters of the gofpel will not attempt to fhew the glory of the new Jeruialem ftate in any other medium but the word of truth; and by faith they fhall behold the Son of God in the glory of his Father, defcending to glorify the houfe of his glory 3 when every faint fhall be like him, and fhall fee him as he is. Ver. 11. Having the glory of God : and her light was like unto a ft one moft precious, even like a j a/per -ft one, clear as cryftaL THE glory of the church is the glory of God ; for in herfelf fhe has no glory, having loft by fin all her primitive excellency. Neither was the higheft perfec- tion of the human nature any more than a created glory : but now, being adorned in his perfection, her mining brilliancy is compared to the moft precious of all gems, even the jafper, the moft excellent of all ftones. Some exalt the excellency of this ftone exceed- in^ high j others depreciate it, as fcarce worthy to be called a precious ftone : but perhaps this contradiction may be reconciled by what others tell us, that there be many kinds of jafper, or many different ftones called by this name. But be that as it may, certain it is, the ftone to which the allufion is in this place, is one of the moft glorious, excellent, and precious gems in nature, or that ever human eyes beheld. The Father of lights, fitting on the throne of his holinefs, mining forth in the Son of his delight, is compared to this ftone, chap. iv. 3. and here, the church is reprefented in the fame glory i it is faid to. be dear as ayftal, to exprefs of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 465 exprefs the fpotlefs purity, tranfparency, and perfect light in which the church fhall fhine, through imme- diate communion with her Lord. Ver .12. And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names writ- ten thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Ifrael. THE church of the firfl-born is called the Zion of the Holy One of Ifrael -, her walls are called falvation ; and her gates, praife. This wall of falvation is God himfelf, who having now finilhed the work of falvation, and brought his people to dwell in himfelf, encircled, in his perfection, will now remain their place of de- fence, the impregnable munition of rocks, in whom their perfons, their glory and felicity fhall be invincibly fecure for ever, Zech. ii. 5. John x. 29. 1 John iv. 16. And all that come into this city, enter the gates with thankfgiving, joy, and praife, Pfalm c. 4. The ancient nominal people of God were the twelve tribes of Ifrael -, a figure of God's elect, to be gathered out of every tribe and nation : for thefe are the true Ifrael of God, who are called by his ipecial grace, and whofe names are in the Lamb's book of life ; and therefore, having a right to enter into the city, their names are written on the gates, to fhew their title, and that no- thing fhall hinder their accefs ; and according to the number of the tribes, fo are the gates, that the way may be open to every one, becaufe none of the chofen can be fhut out. Wherever they have wandered, or in whatever place or condition they fha.ll be found, and at H h what 466 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION what time foever they fhall return, the gates are open to receive them, Jer. iii. 14. But we mult remember, it is the fame city of God now, though not arrived at the fame glory, Eph. ii. 19. and is to be entered by faith in the Son of God, Gal. iii. 265 and whofoever does not fpiritually enter by the gofpel, and fo becomes an inhabitant through grace, will not be found to have any right to enter the glory when Jefus comes. And at thefe gates are twelve angels, that is, conductors, to lead and direct us into the enjoyments ; and every foul that has entered thefe gates, knows by his own experience who thefe angels are, by whom he has been guided into the bleffings of the kingdom of God ; for they can be no other than the fervants of God, whom he hath em- ployed as mefTengers, in the hand of the great MefTen- ger of the covenant, to make known the myftery of his will, and which is all contained in the doctrine of the twelve apoftles. For in whatever modes, or by what- ever meafures the grace may be received, it is by the fame light of truth, and in the fame fpirit revealed in the gofpel, that every faint firft entered, and fhall ar- rive to the higheft perfection, John vi. 37. Eph. ii. 18. iii. 12. Ver gates -, gates, .13. On the eafl, three gates; on the north, three ites -3 on thejouth, three gates j and on the weft, three ites. THE eafl: is the point of the fun-rifing, the womb of the morning, or day-fpring from on highj repre- fenting God's eternal purpofe in Chrift Jefus our Lord, confuting of three branches} choice, or foreknowledge ; predefti- of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 467 predeflination to the adoption of children j and his promife of eternal life. Tfie north is the point from whence proceed cold, darknefs, ftorms, &c. reprefent- ing our miferable eftate, by reafon of fin : from whence there are three openings, redemption from condemna- tion, purification from pollution, and refurrection from the dead. The fouth is that point from whence come the warm beams of the fun, reviving breezes, and refrefhing fhowers j reprefenting the comforts of the Holy Ghoft in three vital communications j illumina- tion into the glories of the kingdom, John xvi. 15, 25. fellowship with the Father and the Son, through the fpirit of adoption, Rom. viii. 15. Gal. iv. 6. 1 John i. 3. and certain hope of eternal glory, Col. i. 27. Heb. vi. 19. The weft is the point where the fun fets, the day being fmifhed, and the fun enters into another horizon j reprefenting our introduction into eternal glory, by three glorious openings ; perfect conformity to the image of Chrift in fuperlative holinefs, Phil. iii. a 1. 1 John iii. 2. enlargednefs of foul in divine under- Handing, 1 Cor. xiii. 12. and the immediate openings of his glorious face, John xvii. 24. Rev. xxii. 4. By thefe gates, or gradations, all God's elect have accefs into the kingdom and glory of the Father. Ver. 14. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apojlles of the Lamb. THE foundations of the church's glory can be no other than the glorious attributes of the abfolute I AM, the fovereign JAH, the everlafting JEHOVAH ; for H h 2 by 463 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION by thefe, both the Chrift of God, and all his chofen, are fuftained from "everlafting to everlafting, Pfalm xc. r, 2. his felf - exiftence, incomprehenfible greatnefs, abfolute perfection, eternity, immortality, immutabi- lity, infinite holinefs, invariable righteoufnefs, om- nifcient wifdom, almighty power, flaming love, in- frangible truth, &c. For God himfelf is the wall, and his ineffable perfections are the foundations thereof. In thefe are the names of the apoftles of Jefus: for as all the fulnefs of God dwells in Chrift, the truth of all that his apoftles preached centers in and proceeds from thefe divine perfections, and is built upon thefe im- pregnable foundations, Pfalm lxxxvii. i. Eph. ii. 20. The doctrine of the twelve apoftles is the doctrine of the Trinity : not that doctrine of the Trinity taught in fchools, learned from creeds, and modified by the wif- dom of them that know not God, but as it is held forth in the oracles of God ; the doctrine of the Three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghoft, which Three are One. They fhew the Father to be the true efTential God, in the attributes of his own nature, and counfels of his own will; they fhew the Son to be the fame true efTential God, dwell- ing and manifefting the glory of his Father in the man Chrift Jefus ; they fhew the Holy Ghoft to be the fame true efTential God, dwelling in the Taints, in the fpecial communications of the fulnefs of the Father and the Son. They fhew the Father in his fuperlative love to his only begotten Son, Mat. iii. 17. in his love to all his elect, the fame as to his own Son, John xvii. 23. in his conftituting his beloved Son and his people, as one body, in an everlafting covenant, Eph. v. 30. they fhew of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 469 fhew the Son, in his becoming one in nature with us, Heb. ii. 14. in his taking our fins upon himfelf, bear- ing our iniquities, and redeeming us from the curfe, a Cor. v. 21. 1 Pet. ii. 24. Gal. iii. 13. in his making his children one with himfelf in his glory, Heb. ix. 24. Luke xxii. 29. John xiv. 3. they fhew the Holy Spirit, in his proceeding from the Father and the Son, to. reveal the abundance of grace in our fouls, John xvi. 14, 15. in his opening our underflandings, to behold the exceeding greatnefs of the glory of the kingdom of God, John xvi. 25. 1 Cor. ii. 10 — 13. in his enriching and caufing us to grow in grace, till we come to a perfect ripenefs, fit to enter into the prefence of his glory, Eph. iv. 4 — 16. Col. i. 12. Thefe are doctrines taught by the apoftlesj proceeding from the true foun- dations of Divine Perfection, whereby all his elecl; are brought to himfelf. Ver. 15. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to meajure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof* THE angel that talked with John perfonated the minifters of the gofpel, while John perfonated the church of Chrift Jefus ; to fhew how the minifters of the Lord fhall be enlightened, and how the church of God fhall be inftructed in the latter days. It was fo cuftomary to meafure lands, buildings, &c. with a reed, that whatever inftrument was ufed in meafuring, it was called by that name ; fo was this called a reed, though it was a rod of gold. This did truly fignify the word of God, for by no other thing can the king- H h 3 dom tfo A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION dom of God be defcribed j and by this, the city, the gates, and the wall are meafured. The dimenfions of the city and the wall are mentioned afterward, but no meafure of the gates is given ; for which omiffion I can afilgn no reafon, unlefs it be becaufe the openings of the doors of grace are of fuch a boundlefs extent, that no meafure can be fixed j her gates are never fhut; and every one that enters, finds a fret pafTage without any ftraitnefs. But fome may think this a contradic- tion to what the Lord fays of the ftrait gate : but that ftrait gate is not Chrilt the life, by whom fouls come to the Father ; it is the way to come to that life, by felf- denial, taking up the crofs, and following him ac- cording to his word ; in which a man is certain to be oppofed by the whole world, both the profane and the religious, as far as is poflible. Now this meafurement is reprefented to the church while in a mortal ftate, though in an exalted condition, in which ftate me could not take a perfect view of immortal glory ; but fo far as is compatible with this prefent life to behold, fo far the word of God prefents a defcription of it. Vzr. 1 6. And the city lieth four-fquare, and the length is as large as the breadth. And he meafured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. 'The length, and the breadth, and the height of it are equal, THIS city of God is the model of perfection, a cube of ample proportion ; for now every inhabitant is like his Lord. But it does not appear eligible to conceive of a city walled fo high above the inhabitants, for them to dwell as it were in the bottom of a deep box; this would of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 471 would not fhew the fplendour of a royal city ; it rather conveys the idea of an exhalted mountain on which the city Hands : and if this is to be underftood of a local refidence, a diftinct part, or fpacious mountain in the new earth, (for it is on earth they fhall reign) it would be equal to a very extenfive empire for compafs, con- taining near a fifth part of the globe, or, one hundred and forty-four times as large as the land of Ifrael. And the elevation of this glorious palace, would make it vi- fible to the greater! part of the hemifphere ; fo that if it were to be in that part of the earth about which the Scripture is mod converfant, it might be (em to the titmoft bounds of Afia, Africa, and Europe. And if this defcription is to be underftood metaphorical, to reprefent the fuperlative glory of this exalted ftate, the given meafures muft intend immenfity j for the length is from everlafting to everlafting; the breadth is all the fulnefs of God ; and the height is the abfolute perfection of glory and felicity. No one nation upon earth ever filled a country of one thoufand five hundred miles fquare ; nor was there ever any mountain, or any edifice upon any mountain, one hundredth part of this height : fo that, if it be a literal defcription of the refidence of Chrift and his faints upon the new earth, it mult be very different to any thing ever feen in this world j and if it be a figurative reprefentation of the excellency of that ftate, it is an hyperbolical figure be- yond any thing that ever was in nature, to exprefs in- finity of perfection. Ver, 17. And he meqfured the wall there of } an hundred H h ^ and 472 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION • and forty and four cubits ', according to the meafure of a man , that is, of the angel. THIS wall is both for ftrength and beauty to the church, Pfalm xcvi. 6 -, and it is no other than the majefty and glory of God, which in itfelf cannot be meafured ; but in its manifeflation to his chofen, muft be according to the meafure that created beings are ca- pable of receiving. And it is the height, to which the riches of his grace afcends for their accommodation, that is here meafured. And it is after the meafure of a man, that is, the angel ; or according to the golden reed, given to the minifters of Chrift, and to all the church, even the word of the gofpel ; to which mea- fure the faints may expect to grow, i Peter ii. 2. The effential attributes of the living God being the founda- tion of this wall, and the fulnefs of grace afcending therefrom in Chrift Jefus, forming the fuperftructure, reprefents the church in her higheft glory that is capable of being defcribed by any meafure (for the abfolute, infinite, eternal perfection of the Father's kingdom, is above all defcription) and the meafure of this is de- fcribed by cubits. It is well known, that a cubit is the meafure of a man's arm, from the elbow to the end of his hand ; and four of thefe are reckoned to be the ftature of the man : and according to this meafure of a man thefe cubits are applied. They are defcribed by the golden reed, the word of God, by which every fpiritual bleffing is communicated to his people -, and according to the largenefs of the vital communication, fo is their Mature. From the beginning of the world it pleafed God to give his word in fuch a meafure, that every of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 473- every one of his children arrived to the ftature of a man, or attained the meafure of four cubits. He knew himfelf to be a creature of God, and one God to be the being of all things ; he knew himfelf to be a finner, and the Lord to be a God of graces fo he believed, was bleffed with falvation, and knew and enjoyed his God. After the days of Abraham, the word came more ftrong and clear, whereby the faints attained to a double fta- ture in the knowledge of God, to what they had be- fore : but fince the coming of the Median, the word fhines with more abundant light, to what it did in for- mer ages, Eph. iii. 5. Col. i. 26 : fo that we may well allow the children of God under the gofpel, to have attained to the meafure of twelve cubits, or to a three- fold ftature, to what the faints did from the beginning; and we may allow the faints in the immortal ftate, twelve times the ftature, to which we now attain. And as the faints are the building of God, his houfe and ha- bitation in this magnificent city, it was necefTary that this majeftic wall mould be in altitude proportional to their ftature. Ver. 18. And the building of the wall of it was ofjafper : and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glafs, THE light of the city is before defcribed by the jafper, and now the building of the wall is compared to this moil pure, precious, illuftrious, tranfparent, dura- ble ftonej for all the life, the manifeftation, and in- creafe of the glory of God in his church, and all their enjoyment of the riches of fovereign grace, is alone in the Son of his love, in whom all the excellency of his glory 474 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION glory mines, John i. 14. 1 Cor. iv. 6. And the city was pure gold, which is the moll perfect of all metal, to exprefs the purity, perfection, and unblemifhed holi- nefs to which the faints mall arrive in that immortal Hate, Jude xxiv. and like clear glafs, to fhew that all mall be perfect light and tranfparency, and nothing fhall remain that caufeth ihame, or defires to be con- cealed ; for the faints fhall there dwell and walk in the open light, and fhall mine in perfect beauty, Cant. iv. 7. Ver. 19. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garni/hed with all ynanner of precious jlones. The firft foundation was jafper ; the fecond, a fapphire ; the third \ a chalcedony -, the fourth, an emerald. THE foundation of the new Jerufalem is God him- felf ; or foundations, in the plural number, are the perfections of the Divine EfTence, as they refide in the Son of God, on whom the church by faith is built. And now the garnifhings of thefe foundations can be no other than the effulgence of the glory of the founda- tions themfelves, in their radiant beams, mining forth in the Man of God's right hand, and calling luftre upon his church, and by vital communication forming his faints into the fame image. They are reprefented as twelve foundations j but not as fo many parts making one foundation, for every one is a compleat foundation in itfelf ; nor yet as fo many different founda- tions, for the perfection of every one fills the whole. God is one : but they are fet before us in fuch variety, that we may behold the glory of God in different attitudes^ op the BOOK of the REVELATION. 475 attitudes, for the enlarging of our conceptions, and alfo to fhew the increafings of his glory upon his elect, and their advances into his fulnefs. They may be beheld by us, as one foundation rifing upon another ; or as twelve fyftems or gradations, each one raifing the glory of the city by twelve cubits, till the hundred forty and four be compleated. We know that precious ftones are found in the natu- ral rock, and mult reprefent the eflfential attributes of God ; for the Holy Ghoft makes ufe of fuch figures as are naturally adapted to the purpofe for which they are brought, and fo muft all thefe have their proper figni- fication. But it is much to know the true defcription of thefe ftones, by reafon of the diftance of time and place, and the variety of names by which the lapidaries may call them : but we muft take the beft accounts we can procure. And we may remember, that in the breaft-plate of the high-prieft were twelve precious ftones, (though not all called by the fame names as thefe are) in which were engraven the names of the twelve tribes of Ifrael, whom the prieft bare upon his heart : but thefe reprefent the name of the God of Ifrael, engraven and fhining upon his church. Thofe ftood in four rows s and though thefe are not exprefTed in the fame order, yet we may obferve they confift of four diftinct rows, three in a row : the firft reprefent what the church beholds of God in his own perfection ; the fecond hold forth the grace of God manifeft in Chrift j the third fhew the powerful operations of the ipiric of grace in the fouls of his children ; and the fourth 476 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION fourth prefent the glory that fhall reft upon the faints in the new Jerufalem ftate. Jasper, moft precious, tranfparent, which may re- prefent the glory, majefty, and omniicience of the eternal God. To this ftone, God on his throne is compared, Rev. iv. 3. Sapphire, bright azure, refembling the clear fky, may fhew the infinite perfection of the Divine Holinefs : and God in his holinefs is reprefented thereon, Exod. xxiv. 10. Ezek. i. 26. Chalcedony, in appearance like fire, may hold forth the perfection of the righteoufnefs of God, as it fhines in his fiery law. In thefe three ample perfections, every one of God's elect beholds that God with whom we have to do, before it is pofllble to behold him as the God of love and grace. Emerald, of a moft delightful green, refembling the rainbow which was a token of the covenant, Gen. ix. 12. reprefenting the everlafting covenant of life and peace in Chrift Jefus. V.ur. 10. 'The fifth, afardonyx\ the fix th, afardius; the Teventh, a chryfolite ; the eighth, a beryl ; the ninth, a topaz ; the tenth, a chryfoprafus ; the eleventh, a jacinth ; the twelfth, an amethyft. SARDONYX, white tinctured with red, may repre- ieat the union of natures in the Son of God, Cant. v. 10. in of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 477 in whom the covenant ftands fecure. God in the man, the man in God, conftitutes the mediator, Heb. viii. 6. Sardius, in colour refembling blood, to reprefent the way that Chrift brings finners to God. Redemp- tion, peace, righteoufnefs, accefs to God, Sec. are all afcribed to the blood of Jefus ; and until a foul beholds the Son of God in thefe three lights, all fpiritual blef- iings are impoflible. Chrysolite, refembling the fineft and brighteft: gold, may fhew the perfect righteoufnefs of Chrift, proceeding through his mediatorial conftitution in the virtue of his blood, held forth in the golpel, commu- nicated by the Holy Spirit, received by faith -, fo that in this bright array, the foul ftands clothed, andjufti- hed before God, Pfalm xlv. 9, 13. Beryl, pale green; green is an emblem of the fpring, and reprefents the new life of fandlification which the faints receive in Chrift, 2 Cor. v. 17. Yet, though it is real life indeed, it is but faint at the firft receiving, compared with what it may grow to, and what it fhall certainly arrive at, 1 Cor. iii. 1, 2. xiii. 10. Topaz, like the brighteft gold, or rather like the beams of the fun, may exprefs the brightnefs, enlarged- nefs, and rich meafure of light, truth, and power of fanftification to which the faints may arrive, through the vital in-dwelling of the Holy Ghoft, Eph. iv. 13, 14, 15. Phil. iii. 13, 14. And until a foul attains to thefe three things, through beholding the glory of the Father 473 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION Father in the Son by the light of the fpirit of truth, it is impoffible for him to attain to the blelTednefs of the firft refurreftion. Chrysoprasus, lively green, to hold forth the new life which the faints fhall enjoy in the immortal fpring, when they rife from the dead in the perfect image ofChrift. Jacinth, bright purple, a colour which denotes dignity and majefty, to reprefent the royal ftate of the faints, as kings and priefts in the new Jerufalem, i Pet. ii. 9. Amethyst, deep violet, much refembling the ja- cinth, but of a flronger and deeper hue, may fhew the increafe and advance in which the faints fhall arrive to the perfection of the Divine Image, during the period of their reigning with Chrift upon earth, to confum- mate their ripenefs for the ultimate glory. Without thefe three gradations, through beholding the glory of the Lamb in the open vifion, none could be fit for the Father's kingdom. Ver. li. And the twelve gates were twelve -pearls ; every Jeveral gate was of one pearl: and the fir eet of the city was pare gold, as it were tranfparent glafs. PEARLS are faid to be produced in certain living creatures in the fea, therefore by them muft be repre- fented thofe rich productions of grace manifefl in the man Chrift Jefus, whofe refidence is in the infinite ocean of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 479 ocean of the Father's bofom ; as it is alone thereby that we have accefs to the ineffable perfections of God, even to that within the vail. It is true, there is but one pearl and one gate ; Chrjft is all in all : but there be many glorious openings of his grace, or manifefta-; tions of his love, which are as fo many gates of admit- tance into the holieft -, light, life, truth, peace, re- demption, j unification, fanctification, falvation, vital union, fpiritual communion, joy, hope, &c. And ac- cording to the abundant openings of his grace, the faints find abundant entrance into his everlafting king- dom, and obtain more clear knowledge of him, • like- nefs to him, and enjoyment of him, till by thefe gates, or by thefe divers openings of the one gate, they ar- rive to a perfect confummation in eternal glory and fe- licity j or till they come into his immediate prefence in open vifion, and be perfectly involved in God himfelf. It was before faid, the city was pure gold, like unto clear glafs ; and now the fame is faid of the ftreet, for all is perfect unity and perfect fimilarity. Chrift is the way, therefore he is the ftreet, and there is but one ; for the faints walk in no other way, but in him who is the truth and the life, whether in fpirit while here, or in glory hereafter. Nor do they defire, in time or eter- nity, to enjoy any other objects but what they now en* joy, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit ; only they are earneilly expecting to enjoy them in more open vifion and immediate communion. And all the people that walk in this ftreet will be the fame pure gold without all drofs, and as tranfparent glafs without the ieaft dimnefs ; for the perfect vifion and uninter- rupted communion with their Lord, will form them inta 48o A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION into the fame image, that what he is, they will be the fame. Ver. 11. And Ifaw no temple therein : for the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple of it. THE material temple under the Old Teftament, was a meeting-place for God and his people. They approached to him in certain forms, ordinances, and external modes of worfhip ; and he drew near to them in external bleffings, and returned vocal anfwers to their enquiries. This was done away when Chrift came, and his children were called to worfhip the Father in fpirit and in truth; Chrift alone being the temple where they worfhip, and where the Father an- fwers them in fpirit. And the ordinances now ap- pointed are adapted only to fpiritual worfhip, yet fo as to coincide with the weaknefs of our prefent nature ; but in the new Jerufalem this mode of worfhip fhall be done away, there will be no need of ordinances adapted to the weaknefs of nature. Now the faints worfhip God in the true temple, Jefus Chrift -3 but it is by a mediator, a middle perfon, or high-prieft, who ap- pears in the prefence of God for us, and prays the Father to give us what we want, becaufe while we are at home in the body, there is a certain degree of ab- fence from the Lord : but then there fhall be no more diftance, nor need of a middle perfon to make inter- ceflion, or ftand as an advocate to plead our caufe. Nor will Chrift any longer appear in a mediatorial cha- racter, but in the full glory of the Father, Mark viii. 38. for the mediatorial work will be complete, and we fhall of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 481 fhall fland in the amplitude of the Holy One in the immediate prefence of the Father, and fhall enjoy the Father and the Son perfectly as one. Then the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb fhall be one temple, where the faints, in the plenitude of the Spirit, fhall worlhip, rejoice, and dwell for ever. Ver. 23. And the city had no need of the fun, neither of the moon to jhine in it : for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. THE refidence of Chrift and his faints at this period will be upon earth, that is, upon the new earth : but they can have no need of the natural luminaries ; for notwithstanding the earth will be their prefent habita- tion, they fhall dwell in heavenly light, for Chrift in his glorified body fhall dwell among them, before whom the fun, moon, and ftars would all appear dark bodies. But this does not fuppofe that there fhall be no fun or moon in the new heavens, but rather implies that there will, only that this city fhall have no need of them -3 for as the lights of heaven were good in the flrft creation, fo fhall they be when there fhall be a re- ftitution of all things j and if any diminution of their glory and excellency was caufed by fin, they fhall be reftored to their primitive perfection by the fecond man, the- Lord from heaven. But as thefe lights were only created for the benefit of the natural world, they can be of no ufe to heavenly beings ; the glory of God and of the Lamb being abfolutely one, fhall be the everlafting light of the faints j for all the glory of the Divine EfTence fhall fhine in the Man that is his Fel- I i low, 482 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION low, the Man of his right hand, who thinks it no rob- bery to be equal with God. But of this light we can form very little conception, only we know there will be perfection of knowledge, perfection of holinefs, and perfection of delight; but to conceive of the glory, greatnefs, and perfection of the ftupendous excellency, is abfolutely incompatible with mortality ; for he hath declared that no man fhall fee his face and live. Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach untoy whom no man hathfeen, nor can fee. Ver. 24. And the nations of them which are Javed Jhall walk in the light of it : and the kings of the earth d& bring their glory and honour into it, FORASMUCH as all have finned, none can ftand before God unlefs they be faved ; and forafmuch as none can fave but the Son of God, it muft be accord^ ing to his good pleafute to fave fo many as his Father has given him, for to them he gives eternal life : and whom it is his pleafure to fave from their fins, it is his pleafure to give them inheritance among them that are fanctified ; therefore they fhall be with him, inhabitants of his holy city. And now they are called nations, though hitherto no fuch thing is to be gathered from the word of God as whole nations being faved, only individuals, and thofe exceeding rare, only as the fe- kct number diftinguifhed from the world bear this pe- culiar character, an holy nation. But when the Lord of glory fhall take to him his great power, and fway the fceptre of his grace over all the nations, they fhall fly as clouds, and flow together to the goodnefs of the Lord, of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 483 Lord, and the Lord fhall be king over all the earth $ and all they over whom he reigns in his grace in this world, fhall reign with him in the world to come. And they fhall walk in the light of it : the faints know very well what it is to walk in the prefence of the Lord, and in the light of his countenance* mentally and fpiritually, by faith and holy contemplation of his perfection, grace, and glory j and by this they may form fome conceptions of the walking of the faints in glory, forafmuch as the objects of enjoyment are the very fame ; but of the greatnefs of the glory, the per- fection of light, and the excellency of the enjoyment, we can form no ideas. And the kings of the earth bring their honour and glory into it : there can be no earthly glory to bring, when the new Jerufalem glory appears ; but it is while they are here they confefs all their honour and glory to be of the Lord, Prov. viii. 15, 16. and that they are raifed up in fubferviency to his church, 1 Cor. iii. 21. 2 Cor. iv. 15. and they im- prove the truft repofed in them for his glory, and the good of his church, laying their honours at his feet, Pfalm ii. 10, 11, 12. and efteem all things but lofs, for the excellency of the knowledge of Him with whom they fhall reign in the new Jerufalem. Such kings there fhall be ; but whether there has yet been a king upon earth that was a real chriflian, fince the Lord afcended into his glory, I never could learn. Ver. 25. And the gates of it Jhall not bejhut at all by day : for there Jhall be no night there. WHEN all the chofen are collected in one body, I i 2 and 484 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION and every one brought into the holy city for whom it is prepared, there can be no more coming in, and there can be no going out ; therefore I fee no ufe of gates, either of ingrefs or egrefs. But be it obferved, though a different glory is here defcribed to what ever was before, it is not a different city to that which now exifts. The church is the city of God, and all the faints are citizens at this day ; and thefe are the gofpel gates, giving free accefs by faith into the grace of God, which in this day of falvation are never fhut againft any foul in the univerfe who defires admiffron. But if we underfland this of the city in its glory, it can intend no other than the free accefs which the faints at all times find in Chrift to the bofom of the Father; for as they dwell immediately in the Son, nothing can inter- cept their communion, with the Father: and in both thefe refpects the gates are perpetually open ; for they are never fhut by day, and there fhall be no night there. In the gofpel light there is no darknefs now, and in the higher glory there fhall never more darknefs be found in any of the inhabitants. Immortality ad- mits no flumber, wearinefs, or want of reft ; open vi- fion of the Divine Perfection admits no darknefs, for- row, or want of delight j therefore nothing fhall ever interpofe between the faints and their God. Ver. 16. And they Jh all bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. THE gates of the heavenly Jerufalem are now {land- ing open to all the nations ; and every foul that enters in, leaves behind him every thing that is earthly or feniual, or the BOOK of the REVELATION. 485 fenfual, and every thing that the world efteems excel- lent, good, or great. Whatever he has trufted in, whatever has captivated his heart, or whatever he has molt eagerly purfued, he now forfakes, and counts all things lofs for Chrift, Luke xiv. 26, 27, 23- For now the Lord becomes his truft, his delight, the object of his ultimate defire, his all in all, Pfalm lxxiii. 25. and every bleffing with which the Lord has endowed his faints, be it wifdom, ftrength, health, activity, earthly fubftance, or intereft or influence among men, honour, glory, or dignity in the world, or whatever any of the faints are pofTefTed of, fo far as it may be employed for the honour of God, the fervice of the caufe of Chrift, or the benefit of his church, it is willingly brought, and gladly devoted to that purpofe, Ifai. Ixi. 6. lxvi. 1 2. Acts iv. 34. And as for the nations, when the light fhall cover them, and the knowledge of the glory of the Lord fhall fill the earth, they fhall be a name, , and a praife, and a glory to the Lord ; and this glory fhall never decay, but fhall grow and increafe, until it terminate in the glory of the new Jerufalem, Pfalm lxxxiv. 7. Ver. 27. And there Jh all in no wife enter into it any thing that defilethj neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie : but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. THE kingdom of God is holinefs in perfection ; and his faints are a peculiar people to himfelf, chofen in Chrift that they fhould be holy, and called unto holi- nefs. He hath called them out of fin, death, and cor- I i 3 ruption, 486 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION ruption, and redeemed them from all iniquity j and all his operations and communications of grace are directed to compleat their fanctification : therefore when he hath brought them to perfection, he will never permit any thing of a defiling nature to touch them any more, neither any abomination to offend their eyes, nor any thing that can form a lie to deceive their hearts j but purity, uprightnefs, and truth fhall be their element for ever. It is not for the unclean to pafs over j but it fhall be for thofe who are the ranfomed of the Lord, they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. Neither has neutrality or mere innocency any place there j nor has any thing any part therein, but perfect life and perfect holinefs. They were written in the Son t)f his love, according to the everlafting counfel of the Father, before the world began, Eph, i. 4. iii. 11. and given in covenant to the Holy One when he came, into the world, being then written in his heart, John x. 14. xvii. 6. and now being called by his grace, by the power of his fpirit, in the truth of the everlafting gofpel, his name is written in their hearts, 1 Cor. iii. 3. Rev. iii. 12. Chrift and his faints mutually dwell in each other, John vi. 56, 57 : his life is become theirs, and divifion is impoflible, John xiv. 19. Col. iii. 3, 4. CHAP, of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 487 CHAP. XXII. Verse i . And he Jhewed me a 'pure river of water of life, clear as cryjial, proceeding out of the throne of God, and of the Lamb. THIS is the river by which the church of God has been, and is replenifhed in all ages j but in the immortal Hate, when we fhall be immediately before the throne, which is the fountain, doubtlefs the ftream will be much more abundant. A river is a flow of wa- ter running in a ftream, ifluing from a fountain, and is one and the felf-fame water with the fountain itfelf. The fountain here prefented, is the throne of God and of the Lamb ; the water, therefore, can be no other than the fulnefs of God manifeft in Chrift ; and the ftream, or the courfe it runs, is by the word of the gofpel, in the power of the fpirit of truth : and the place where it terminates, is the church of God, or the fouls of God's elect ; which are thereby filled with the fulnefs of God, Eph. iii. 19. But the difference be- tween the prelent and the immortal ftate, is this : now it comes through faith, by hearing the gofpel j but then it will be by fight, beholding the very object. The river is perfectly pure and clear, as it is all divine perfection, without mixture ; and it is perfect life from the fountain of life, and gives life to every foul that receives it, John xi. 25, 26. And by what we now en- joy, we may form fome conception what it will be in I i 4 the 438 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION the immortal ftate ; for it will be the very fame in na- ture, but it will be very different in degree, by fo much as it differs in the mode of communication : now by the gofpel, through faith; then in open vifion, and immediate enjoyment : therefore it mull be a more abundant fulnefs of glory. Ver. 1. In the midfi of the ftreet of it, and on either fide of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month : and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations, THERE can be but one ftreet, one river, and one tree of life. The ftreet is that wherein the faints walk, and which leads directly to the throne, and can be no other than the Son of God in his light and truth j this is the pure gold, as it were tranfparent glafs : the river is the Son of God, in the flowing of his fulnefs : and the tree is the Son of God, yielding the fruits of his grace, and giving life to his chofen. The faints enjoy all in one j the tree growing on either fide of the river, and the river running through the midft of the fireet. But fome may object, that the fimile will not hold, for there muft be a number of trees to grow on either fide of the river. I anfwer, this objection arifes from con- tracted ideas of the Holy Onej for want of enlarged conceptions of the extenfivenefs of this fpreading tree, and the multiplicity of branches that grow therefrom. I know the prophet, pointing out the flream of gofpel grace, tells us, that by this river fhould grow all trees, Jizek. xlvii. 12. to exprefs the excellencies and offices of of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 489 of Chrift, and the blefllngs that proceed therefrom; and yet afterward he exprefTes it in the fingular num- ber. He fills every relation, bears every excellent cha- racter, and fupplies every want ; and in whatever light we view the living ftream, this tree grows on either fide. He was the life of all the counfels of God be- yond the river, prior to any manifeftation of grace, Eph. iii. 11. 2 Tim. i. 9. he is the life of all bleilings in the midft of the gofpel ftream, as it is now commu- nicated to us, 1 John v. 11. and fhall be the life of all glory on the farther fide o^the flood, after the prefent mode of communication mall %ceafe, Ifa. lx. 1 9. The tree bare twelve manner of fruits : all fruit is of the fame nature as the tree, and the tree is of the fame na- ture with the root. The root of this tree is the Divine EfTence, John viii. 42. or all the immutable attributes of the Godhead ; which, as they are in God, are per- fect unity j God is One. But in condefcenfion to our weaknefs, and to help our underftandings, they are di- verfified into a number, which we call the perfections of the Deity 5 this is the root of the tree, which is Chrift : the branches are the glorious offices he fuf- tains, and the majeftic works he performs for us, as Mediator and High-prieft : and the fruits are the rich bleffings which the faints receive from his fulnefs -, as redemption, righteoufnefs, peace, fanctification, know- ledge, faith, love, humility, patience, accefs to God, joy, hope, &c. Sec. and thefe fruits, with every blefT- ing that can be adapted to the believer, are produced every month, that is, in every feafon, according to whatever viciffitudes may at any time come upon the children of God, or according to the degrees of grace to 49© A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION to which they may attain ; or as relating to the differ- ent ftages or advances in the kingdom of God j in the perfon of Chrift, his miniftry, his fufferings, his refur- rection, and his afcenfion into glory -, in the preaching of the gofpel, from the beginning, after the days of Abraham, by Chrift and his apoftles, and when it fhall be fpread through all the nations ; in his fpecial com- munications to each individual believer, the life of faith in regeneration, the baptifm of the Holy Ghoft, growing to maturity in Chrift, and the perfect image formed in the refurrection ©f the dead. And the leaves are for healing the nations: the leaves refemble the fruit, and are ufeful as a fhade or cover to the fruit till it come to its ripenefs, and then are laid afide j fo all gofpel ordinances bear a refemblance to the fpiritual bleflings, though they are not the fubftance, yet are neceffary in their places till Chrift fhall be perfectly formed in us, and after that they can be of no farther ufes and they are no otherwife for healing, than as means for conveying the virtue of the fruit, or as vef- fels to carry the medicine. It is the fulnefs of Chrift alone, as every believer knows, that gives healing to the foul : all outward ordinances, in themfelves confi- dered as acts of ours, are empty, dry, and dead, any otherwife than as they are done in faith, through the bleffing of the fpirit of Chrift j and they can only be conducive to healing during this mortal ftate, for in the Zion above, or new Jerufalem glory, there will be no difeafe, and confequently there can be no healing. They are for the healing of the nations, not of the faints in their immortal ftate : but hence we fee the neceflity and life ofthefe leaves or gofpel ordinances, preaching of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 491 preaching the word, reading the Scriptures, ferious meditation, chriftian conference, baptifm, the Lord's fupper, laying on of hands, prayer, and praife; for by thefe ordinances of divine inftitution, under the fpecial influence and powerful enrichings of the Spirit of truth, the foul becomes enlarged, and blefied with the heal- ing virtue of the fulnefs of Chrift, Ver. 3. And there fhall be no more curfe : but the throne cf Godj and of the Lamb) Jhall be in it j and hisfer- vants Jhalljcrve him. WHEN fin fhall be extinct, its effects muft ceafe, antf the curfe fhall be no more. The throne of God is the abfolute perfection of the Divine Glory, mining in the Son of his love; and the throne of the Lamb is the abfolute perfection of the Divine Efifence, dwelling in the Father of lights ; and this throne fhall be for ever in the midft of his faints. He cannot be abfent from them ; only as they grow, and are enlarged in their fouls, accordingly he opens himfelf to them, and ma- nifefts his glory in their hearts, fo as they are brought nearer and nearer to himfelf. They are all his fervants, and perpetually ferve him, notwithftanding they are the true fons of the living God ; not that they can in a di- rect fenfe perform any fervice to God, or that he can receive any fervice from creatures, or that any thing is impofed on them as a talk or burden ; but it is their* higheft delight to ftand immediately devoted to his will, and zealoufly to purfue whatfoever is the good plea- fure, or for the glory of their God. This is the inflex- ible difpofition of all the faints upon earth ; and they will 492 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION will be more abundantly accomplifhed therein when all fin fhall be extirpated, and their fouls formed into the perfect image of God's Holy One. Ver. 4. And they jh all Jee his face , and his name Jh all be in their foreheads* IN thefe two branches of glory confift all the felicity that is poffible to created beings ; for if they fee the face of the Father and the Son, which are abfolutely one, then all his glory is opened to their eyes, and all his grace is communicated to their hearts, 1 Cor. iii. 18. And if his name be in their foreheads, it is the effect of the Divine Nature in their hearts, or God dwelling in them, and forming their fouls into his own image : and when this is truly the cafe, every thing that is of God mud be their delight -3 for in fimilarity or agreeablenefs of objects, confifts all fatisfaction or enjoyment, as there is a delight in every thing where there is a real refemblance, or fuitablenefs juftly adapt- ed. Therefore, when the glory of the Lord is perfectly opened to the foul, and the intellectual powers are formed into the image of the Son of God, it cannot poffibly fail abfolutely to confummate the felicity of that foul : for the higheft difplay of glory that is poffible for creatures to behold, is to fee his face ; and the mod perfect conformity that is poffible for creatures to arrive at, is to have his name in their foreheads : fo that this ftate mud be the height of all excellency and bleffednefs. Ver. 5. And there fhall be no night there j and they 'need no of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 493- no candle ', neither light of the fun; for the Lord God giveth them light : and they pall reign for ever and ever. THERE fhall be no night of inactivity, nor weari- nefs to want reft ; there fhall be no privation of any kind of light, no darknefs upon any external object, or upon the intellectual powers ; no fin, guilt, forrow, ignorance, or contraction of mind, nor any intermiffion of the light of the countenance of Him in whofe favour is life ; they need no candle ; neither artificial light, nor rational inftru&ion from creatures ; neither light of the fun, neither from the great luminary of nature, nor from the facred Scripture, which is now as a fun to the church ; for the light and truth which is now conveyed by writing, as through a diftant medium, will then fhine in its open glory from the face of Him that fitteth on the throne. They fhall reign for ever and ever : Chrift Jefus appoints to them a kingdom, as the Father appointed unto him, and makes them unto their God kings and priefts;' they fhall firft reign with him on the earth, in his kingdom, and then they fhall reign with him in the higheft glory, in his Father's kingdom; nothing fhall ever put a period to their reign ; Jefus is the life, and becaufe he lives, they fhall live alfo ; their felicity fhall never ceafe, nor their glory fade; God is all in all : and as the Son lives by the Father, fo the faints live by the Son ; and what he is, they are the fame in the fight of the Father ; and where he is, they fhall eternally dwell, in the light, love, joy, and glory of God. HERE 494 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION HERE ends the prophetical part of this book. "What remains is the conclufion ; being an admonition to the churches of Chrift, and to every one who (hall read this book. Ver. 6. And he f aid unto me, Thefe fayings are faithful end true. And the Lord God of the holy prophets fent his angel to jhew unto his fervants the things which tnujl portly be done. NOTWITHSTANDING the angels that appeared did fometimes perfonate the Son of God, and fome- times the faithful minifters of the gofpel, while John, in his attention and behaviour, perfonated the church ; yet the appearances which John faw, and who fpake to him in thefe vifions, doubtlefs were individuals of the angelic fpecies, or miniftering fpirits; while John him- felf, in receiving, writing, and delivering what he heard and faw, was a faithful mefTenger of Chrift to his church. The angel in this vifion, as well as the other in the fifth vifion, perfonated the army of gofpel minifters, or fome part of the hundred forty and four thoufand, which were fealed for the work, to preach the ever- lafting gofpel in the laft days j and fhall go forth under the character of feven angels, with feven vials, to pour the wrath of God upon Antichrift ; for each of thefe is faid to be one of the feven. And in the hand of Him that fendeth them, they fhall open the eyes of all the nations, and enlighten the earth with the glory of the Lord j for as the time draws nearer, men's hearts fhall be more prepared both to defcribe and to behold the glories of the world to come. He o* the BOOK of the REVELATION. 49$ r He affures us the fayings of this book are true and faithful j that is, they are from God. For every word that God fpeaks, he fpeaks by Jefus Chrift j and every word that the Son of God fpeaks, he fpeaks from the bofom of the Father ; therefore his words are firmer than heaven and earth, yea„ as firm as the eternal throne, Luke xxi. 33. Nothing but enmity againft God can caufe a foul to doubt the infallibility of his word ; and though the word was delivered by the mouth of an angel, that angel was fent by the authority of the Lord God, even the fame that infpired all the holy prophets ; and it was to fhew thefe things to his fer- vants ; for he withholds nothing from his people that can be needful or good for them to know, Amos iii. 7, And it certainly is good and necelfary, that all that love the Lord Jefus Chrift, fhould read and ftudy thefe things ; that they may learn the counfel of God, and not be alarmed and amufed at every occurrence that happens in the world, or to the church of God : but knowing that the things fhall fliortly be done, may be waiting for them, and obferving how they fucceed ; and with compofure of mind may judge how the day or the night panes, Ifa. xxi. 11, 12. that we may be found watching, and not fleeping; and that the day come not upon us unawares, when it fhall come as a fnare on all that dwell on the earth, Luke xxi. 34, 3S> 36- Ver. 7. Behold, I come quickly : blejfed is be that keepetb the fayings of the prophecy of this book, HERE the angel perfonates the Lord of glory; for \ - it 496 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION it is the Son of God whofe coming is promifed, and waited for by all the church. It is the pleafure of the Lord that his children {hall not be held in fufpenfe, but kept patient and comfortable -, therefore he afTures them his ftay mail not be long : and if they pay due attention to his words, they may be capable of judging within fome moderate compafs, how long the time will be, by obferving the times and the works to be performed, with what is paft, and what is to come. And herein confifts the bleffednefs of keeping in our hearts the fay- ings of the prophecy of this book j firft, that our minds may be compofed, to pofTefs our fouls in patience j and fecondly, that we may be prepared, to conduct our- felves in the houfe of God, as times and events may require. Ver. 8. And I 'John Jaw theje things, and heard them. And when I had heard andjeen, I Jell down to worjhip bejore the Jeet oj the angel which Jh ewe d me theje things, JOHN faw and heard with attention, until he un- derftood the things which the Lord revealed ; and in like manner all the church, and every believer, gives attention to what Jefus fpeaks, until his foul has re- ceived it, Pfalm lxxxv. 8. But John was guilty of a miitake at this time, as he had been once before ; for he fell down to worfhip the meffenger that broughc him the tidings. And herein appears the weaknefs which the children of God are often overtaken with ; that is, to pay too much deference to the ministers that bear the mefTage, and too little to the Lord that fends it : and it is written for our admonition. Not of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 497 Not that John, or any of the true church whom he perfonated, could be fo idolatrous to offer divine wor- fhip to any creature ; nor is it to be conceived that they fhould be fo rafh or ignorant to miftake a creature for the Lord ; though fome have fuggefted, that this probably was one of the glorified faints (not one of the miniftering fpirits) who appeared fo like the form of the Son of God, that John took it for the Lord him- felf. But this does not appear j for this could not be written as a caution to future ages, becaufe this very angel was the laft apparition from heaven, that ever was feen by any living man upon earth. John doubtlefs knew who talked with him, but be- ing raifed to an extafy of joy and admiration by the grand difcoveries made to him, as he appears to be at both the times when he was guilty of this miftake, he forgot himfelf, as other faints may do, and in too hafty a manner gave over-much honour to the minifter that revealed thefe things to him j not worfhipping him as the Divine Being, yet afcribing more than was due to a fellow-creature. And when this time fhall be, that the world fhall emerge out of its grofs darknefs, and the glory of the Lord fhall arife upon the earth, no wonder if fome of the young lambs of Chrift, being overjoyed with the appearance of the heavenly light, be agitated into fome raptures, fo as to be carried be- yond themfelves ; but fo far as we extol, or our defires go after, or we truft in any creature, beyond what God has made them, fo far we err, by fo much fetting them in the dace of God, 2 Cor. xii. 6. K k Ver. 498 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION Ver. 9. Then Jaith he unto me? See thou do it not : for I am thy fellow fervant> and of thy brethren the prophets, • and of them which keep thefayings of this book. Wor- Jhip God. THE Holy Ghoft did not intend to give us an idea that either John, or the chriftian church, could be guilty of fuch abomination, to worfhip the angel as if* he had been the true God, or to offer to any creature the honours peculiar to the Almighty ; for we never find grofs idolatry reproved in fo gentle a manner. But he had exceeded the due bounds of refpect to a fellow- creature ; the things that this angel fpake of himfelf, could not be compatible with any of the miniftering fpiritsj therefore, if his words are to be underflood perfonally, he could be no other than one of the glori- fied faints. But whofoever it was that appeared to John in vifion, it was one of the feven bands of mini- fters of the gofpel, which fhall go forth to fpread the light through all the earth, whom he perfonated -, there- fore he reprefents them as rejecting all extraordinary honours to themfelves, and declaring themfelves to be the fellow-fervants and brethren of all that fear God, and keep his fayings ; being no more than their fellow- chriftians, only as God had called them to the work of the miniftry, to declare his truth, and encourage others to worfhip God, as themfelves did. Thefe will claim no lordfhip over the lambs of Chrift, but be enfamples to the flock : they will fulfil the prophetic work com- mitted to their truft, for the benefit of the younger children of the family, in hopes to bring them up to the fame maturity with themfelves : and what they teach of the BOOK or the REVELATION. 499 teach to others, themfelves will keep ; they will teach the worfhip of the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift in fpirit and in truth, abftracled from all idola- try and human tradition. Ver. 10. And he faith unto me, Seal not thefayings of the prophecy of this book : for the time is at hand, IT is the will of God, that all his children fhall be inftructed into all his counfels and works relating to his kingdom, and that nothing fhall be concealed from them that may be profitable for them to know ; and the faithful minifters of Chrift have it in their commif- fion to declare the whole counfel of God, Ads v. 20. and they faithfully obferve this commifiion, Acts xx. no, 27. And notwithftanding every thing was not fully opened from, the beginning, but in proper time and place made known, John xvi. 4. yet every thing muft be revealed in its due order, as the kingdom ad- vances towards its completion, Ifa. Hi. 15. and when, the Lord is about to open any new revelation, or frefh difcovery of his will, it is his pleafure to advertife his chofen people thereof. This was now the cafe; the time of this prophecy being at hand, nothing muft any longer be concealed, but every thing muft appear in a clear light. The time that thefe things fhould com- mence was then at hand, though the full completion is not yet come j yet as this prophecy defcribes a con- tinued feries of facts, as one palTes away, another is ilill at hand, till the whole fhall be finifhed; and all that fear God, ought to have their eyes open, and to be upon their watch, that they may under- K k a ftand 5oo A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION Hand how far thefe things are already accomplifhed, and what yet remains unfulfilled, that they may know what is next to be expected to fucceed, and that they may be prepared, waiting for it. Ver. ii. He that is unjufi, let him be unjufi fiill: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy fiill : and he that is righteous, let him be righteous fiill : and he that is holy, let him be holy fiill. THIS fentence fhall be the final decifion in the laft day, when every thing fhall be perfectly adjufted, and immutably fixed, to remain in the fame pofition as it fhall then be found, without any change for ever. The wicked fhall be totally call: out, beyond the bounds of all mercy j as no expedient ever will be found to juflify the unjufi, or to purify the unclean. Every one mall be taken as they then are, and unalterably configned to their own element, even fin which they have chofen'; and for ever exiled from God whom they hated. Nor fhall any thing ever be found to condemn the righteous, or ( to pollute the holy, forafmuch as they are found of the Lord in peace : and as they then are, they fhall for ever be ; being raifed above every adver- fary, and every power that might either condemn, de- file, or by any means hurt them. Their life being fe- cured with Chrift in God, their righteoufnefs and holi- nefs, their peace and joy, their felicity and glory fhall for ever remain unmolefted, and fhall mine in the ut- moft effulgence and eternal perfection. Ver. 12. And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 501 with me, to give every man according as his work Jhall ie. THE Lord repeats his promife to come quickly, that his children may not faint at his long delay. For however they may think , their trials long, he is not flack concerning his promife, nor will poftpone the time beyond what fhall be for his own glory, his people's happinefs, and the perfefting of his kingdom ; and fo long they that are bleffed with his fpirit are wil- ling to wait, for their wills are involved in his will, and his glory is their ultimate defire: and whether it be their perfbnal departure out of the body, to be prefent with the Lord j or it be his coming to reign through the whole world, by the gofpel of his grace ; or it be his fecond perfonal coming, to raife and to judge the quick and the dead j all thefe the Father has put in his own power, and will not fail to accompliih in due feafon* He alfo repeats his promife of bringing his reward with him, which fhall be both to his friends and to his ene- mies, according as their works fhall demonftrate them to be. The faints fhall then poflefs the ultimate defire of their hearts : this is not a reward of merit, or of debt, but of bounty, and of grace, Rom. iv. 4, 5,6. a reward of inheritance, Col. iii. 24. But the decifive fentence in the final judgment, muft pafs according as every man's work fhall be made to appear, and by no other criterion, Rom. ii. 6 — 11. For all that are called of God in Chrift Jefus, do the will of God from the heart ; and in that great day their works mail appear (not as the matter of their juflification, forafmuch as thefe works were never performed, until the perfons K k 3 were J#| A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION were juftified by faith in the righteoufnefs of Chriftr; but) as an evidence to what kingdom they belong j for it fhall then be manifeft that thefe deeds were wrought in God, John iii. 21. But the works of the ungodly {hall then be manifeft, that they were wrought in the fpirit of the wicked one ; and their own works (hall be their condemnation, their reward, and their portion, to eat and drink the fruit thereof for ever. Ver. 13. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the firft and the laftK THESE words, with thofe in the verfe foregoing, by whatever mefifenger they were delivered, are the words of the Holy One of God. He has frequently defcribed himfelf by thefe two figurative characters, being the firft and laft letters in the alphabet of that language in which the New Teftament was written ; to imprefs it upon our minds, that whatfoever is found in all the Book of God, from the beginning to the end, is written concerning himfelf; and that every thing contained in the Holy Scriptures, is defigned to direct our minds into the openings of his glory. And in fo many other places he not only calls himfelf Alpha and Omega, but declares himfelf to be the beginning and the end, the firft and the laft, that we may view him as the abfolute All in all: firft and laft, in all the counfels of the Father j firft and laft, in bringing in everlafting righteoufnefs j firft and laft, in our calling, faith, and fanctification ; firft and laft, in accomplish- ing every work in his kingdom j and in every commu- nication of grace and glory. Ver, of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 503 Ver. 14. Blejfed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. A CARNAL or natural man may do the external acts which God has commanded, but forafmuch as he has not the love of God dwelling in him, without which there can be no genuine obedience, he never does the commandments of the Lord : but every be- liever delights in the law of God, after the inner man, Pfalm i. 2. and does his will in deed, and in truth. The Son of God did the Father's will in unblemifhed perfection, Pfalm xl. 8. and every foul that does his will in fincerity, keeping his commandments in the letter and in the fpirit, is a living member of Chrift, the living head ; and, in this vital union, has an in- dubitable right to Him, the tree of life, and to all the bleflings that pertain to his kingdom. There are three gates of righteoufnefs, or three gradations, by which the faints come to the tree of life, or enter into the holy city : firft, there is the right of title, which they poflefs in confequence of their covenant union, or marriage relation to Chrift, 1 Cor. iii. 21, 23. fecond, there is a right of meetnefs, Col. i. 12. to which they arrive through the fanctification of the Spirit, in con- fequence of their fpiritual union with Chrift; and third, there is a right of evidence, through which their title of right and fitnefs is manifefted by a holy converfation, Mat. vii. 21. Ver. 15. For without are dogs, andforcerers, and whore - K k 4 mongers, 504 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION mongers , and murderers, and idolaters, and who/oevet* loveth and maketh a lie, THESE who are (hut out, are utterly the reverfe to thofe that have a right to enter in : for nothing can be found in the work of God that is abfurd or inconfiftenti therefore nothing fhall enter his kingdom whofe nature is not genuinely adapted to the fanctuary. But the per- fons here mentioned, are aliens and ftrangers. The dog is an unclean and voracious creature j and none fuch fhall enter the gates of that paradife, which is perfect purity, peace, and love. Sorcerers are deceivers, who by ferpentine arts, feduce or terrify ignorant people, under pretence of having power with devils ; but none that are in any . kind of league with devils, have any part in the kingdom of Chrift. Whoremongers devote their bodies (which ought to be holy temples to God) to filthinefs and impurity ; this is lb contrary to nature, and fuch a violation of the ordinance of God, that they can never inherit that kingdom which is all order and perfection. Murderers are deftroyers of life, enemies to human nature ; thefe can never inherit eternal life, or dwell in peace with God. Idolaters are worfhippers of that which is not God* and as they are devoted to a falfe god, they can have no portion in the true God. Whofoever loveth and maketh a lie, are children of the devil, and muft be enemies to Chrift j therefore can have no inheritance in the kingdom of the God of truth. All thefe abominations may be in nature, and they may all be in fpirit -, but if the natural filthinefs be prohibited the kingdom, much more the fpiritual wickedr ot the BOOK of the REVELATION". 505 wickednefs, which is the deeper abomination, fhall for ever be excluded. Ver. 16. IJefus have/ent mine angel to tefiify unto you theje things in the churches. I am the root and the cfffyring of ~David> and the bright and morning-fiar. ALL gofpel light, truth, bleflednefs, and glory is from the Father, and is revealed by the Son, who ap- points whom he will to be his meffengers, to publifh and teftify his good pleafure to his chofen. Under the Old Teftament, the whole will of God was entrufted to the miniftry of angels to deliver to his church : the law on mount Sinai was delivered by angels, Acts vii. £2' Gal. iii. 19. Heb. ii. 2. and in every place through the Old Teftament, where it is faid, The Lord appear- ed, or, God fpake to any one, it was no other than as he was perfonated by angels j for God was never heard, nor feen, John v. 37. But fince the appearing of the Lord of glory in our nature, the myfteries of the New Teftament are too fublime for angels to declare ; the opening of the deep things of gofpel glory is too high ever to come within their province ; it is referved to Him alone who dwells in the bofom of the Father. Yet he is pleafed to appoint men, as fubordinate mef- fengers, to publifh the glad tidings ; and notwithstand- ing the glorious myfteries of gofpel grace never were committed to angels, 1 Pet. i. 12. yet before the coming of Chrift, they were not only authorized to difpenfe the law, but alfo to declare or foretel the coming of the Juft One, and the glory that fhould follow ; and after the Lord's afcenfion he did, for a time, employ them in 506 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION in fuch work as was compatible with their natures and capacities, to bring meiTages, declare facts, and foretel future events, till the whole of the vifion and prophecy- was fulfilled. So this angel was fent to teftify thefe things in the churches ; not to the world, for the world cannot underftand them. Jesus is the root, the head, and lord of David, as all the bleflings that ever came upon the houfe of David proceeded from his fulnefsj fo he is the feed, the fon, and offfpring of David, as he proceeded from his loins, and as David foretold his incarnation, his fufferings, his refurrection, and his glorification j and alfo as he reigns on the throne of his, father David. David was anointed over the literal Ifrael during his life ; Jefus is anointed over the fpiritual Ifrael for ever- more. Jefus is the bright and morning-ftar; there is no dimnefs, dulnefs, or mixture of darknefs in Chriftj in what mode or degree foever he reveals himfelf, ho is perfect luftre, brightnefs, and beauty : when he ap- pears it is morning, the morning of an eternal day, where night fhall never fucceed. He truly is the fun of righteoufnefs j but forafmuch as his ultimate glory does not yet appear to us, he now compares his light to a ftar, to direct us to look forward, and wait for the openings of the higheft refulgence of his glory, Ifa. lx. 19, 20. Ver. 17. And the Spirit, and the hide fay. Come. And let him that heareth. Jay, Come. And let him that is a-thirft come : And wh 0/0 ever will, let him take the water of life freely. JESUS of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 507 JESUS CHRIST is the water of life, as every be- lieving foul upon earth experimentally knows j for it is himfelf, according to the word of God, that is the perpetual fupply of every heaven-born babe ; and it is himfelf they drink into their intellectual powers, by faith. But the formalift, who attends only to the theory of the gofpel, and lives only on the empty found, nor has ever digefted his own ideas, will bring his fpurious logic to prove that the water of life is not Chrift, telling us, the water of life is only a gift which Chrift gives, therefore cannot be himfelf: thus fools bewray their folly ; as if a fountain could not be water, becaufe it fends forth water. Chrift is both the foun- tain opened, the place of broad rivers, and the ftreams : he is the fountain of living water in himfelf, and the well of living water in his faints. Doth not he give life? John vi. 23- x« a^« Yet himfelf is that life, John xiv. 6. 1 John v. 20. He gives all temporal bleffings, and thefe are not himfelf ; they proceed from his bounty, but not from his efTence: but offpiritual ble/Tings he has nothing to give but himfelf. But this is the reafon why they deny his grace to be himfelf; they have got fome whims in their heads, which they call grace, yet they are fenfible thefe are too phantom- like to be called God, for they are not life, but vapour; fo they conclude, the grace of God is fomething in- ferior to himfelf: but it is becaufe they are ftrangers to it. The faints drink of his fulnefs, which is himfelf John i. 16. and it is himfelf they eat, John vi. 57. By eating his flefh, and drinking his blood, we are filled with his wifdom, his power, his truth, and his love -, yea, filled with his righteoufnefs, his peace, his 5oS A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION joy, and his hope : and every foul that thirfts for thefe blefiings, has all the encouragement that poflibly can be given, laid open before him, to invite him to thefe waters of life. The call is, to corner and every believer under heaven knows very well what this coming means, be- caufe himfelf hath come, and doth come. His very heart and foul comes, with ferious atttention, earneft defire, and deep humility, to enquire after God's Holy One i to feek, that he may find j to behold, that he may know ; and to embrace, that he may enjoy the Chrift of God : and with this view he becomes a dili- gent fearcher of the Scriptures, to learn the truth j and a fincere praying foul, that he may be blelTed with the power, and have his heart united through the commu- nion of the Spirit of holinefs. And now the time being come that the whole Scripture, of which Chrift is Alpha and Omega, ihall be fmiihed and fealed up, the Lord is pleafed to clofe up the vifion with the ftrongeft declarations of the freenefs of his grace to every waiting foul. The Spirit, in the Scriptures of truth, invites, by reprefenting Chrift in the riches of his excellency, grace, and glory j the bride, the church, invites, by ihewing what blefiings he hath conferred upon her : and whofoever heareth the voice of the Lord, doth af- furedly receive the bleflingj and therefore is admo- niflied to invite others, by declaring what God has done for his foul : and whofoever thirtieth, is invited to come i fo then there never was, nor ever will be, nor poflibly can be a difappointment to any foul that feeks Jefus. And they that neither afk, third, nor feek, of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 509 feek, cannot be difappointed in what they never defire ; and they that do thirft and wait, are certain to receive, for the God of truth never treats any creature with de- ceit: and this water of life, or fulnefs of Chrift, is freely prefented to the option of every one that will ; fo that every man is made arbiter of his own caufe, whe- ther he will or will not enjoy eternal life. But now methinks I hear the Calvinift cry out, This deftroys the doctrine of fovereign grace ; there can be no peculiar election, if there be fuch an univer- fal proclamation of grace, that every one has it in his choice, and may receive it if he will. Then methinks 1 hear the Arminian cry out, This is all we plead for, that there is no fuch thing as particular eternal election, or abfolute unconditional grace; but that falvation de- pends on every man's own free-will. Thus the enemies of God rafhly run into wide extremes, becaufe they arc not humble enough to take God at his word, and wait for his Spirit to guide them into the truth thereof; or becaufe they cannot fubmit to receive the kingdom of God as little children ; but in their pride and ftoutnefs of their hearts, undertake to defcribe the unfearchable God by their own weak perverted logic, and reprefent the things of the kingdom of God as abfurdities and contradictions, becaufe they neither know God nor love him, but are glad to take up any thing to render him contemptible, fo they wreft the Scriptures to their own deftruction. But the children of light believe his word, and receive it with meeknefs, reverence, and godly fear; and though they may find many things therein fo deep, that at the nrft they may not underftand, yet as 5io A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION as the Lord has promifed that they that follow him fhall not walk in darknefs, they continue to follow him, fearching his word, and waiting for his fpirit, until the truth be made clear to their understandings. And they know how to reply to the fallacies of both the cavillers above mentioned : they can tell the form- er, that if ever he does receive the grace of God in truth, he will not receive it upon an imagination of himfelf being a peculiar chofen veflel, but being deeply convinced that he is a loft miferable finner, without God, without hope, he will fly for refuge, upon the encouragement given in the univerfal proclamation of grace to every finner that is willing to receive it; and they can tell the latter, that if ever he does embrace that grace which is univerfally held forth to finners, he will have fo deep a fenfe of the plague and wickednefs of his own heart, that he will know that unlefs all his powers had been overcome with the love of Chrift, by the abfolute fovereign grace of the Father, through the life of the Spirit of truth, his rebellious will had never fubmitted to the righteoulhefs of God, John vi. 44, 45> 65- Ver. 18. For I tejiify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book. If any man pall add unto thefe things, God fhall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. GOD does not leave men in the dark, for his wrath to come upon them unawares, but admonifhes them of every evil, and every danger, that they may efcape it. He therefore teftifies to every man that hears the words of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 511 Words of this book, the vengeance that fhall come upon him that fhall be fo rebellious, wicked, and deiperate, to fet himfelf in the place of God, or to infult the Lord of glory by adding to his words : fuch arrogancy mull certainly deferve, and cannot fail to receive the hotteft damnation j for the hotteft plagues written in all the Bible, are written in this book j and as all the Sacred Writings come from God, it muft be equally criminal, to add to any other part of the word of God, as to this Book of Revelation : and as all traditions of men are additions to the word of God ; if any man will allow himfelf to receive any doclrines of men, as if they were the word of God, that man is certain to add fo the divine teftimony, and to bring the curfe upon himfelf. The religious world makes a light matter of adhering to human wifdom, or whether the Opinions they imbibe be, or be not, according to the oracles of God; but every one that fears God in truth, trembles at it, Ifa. lxvi. 2. And as the vifion and prophecy of the whole Scripture is fealed up in this book, God never did, nor ever will, add any more, the revelation of his will being now compleat ; fo that if ever any living man fince this period did pretend to receive any meflage, vifion, voice, revelation, or in- telligence of any kind immediately from heaven, what- ever his pretences be, that man muft have been under the influence of the fpirit of devils, and an enemy to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Ghoft. Ver. 19. And if any man jhall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God fhall take away his part 512 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION fart out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. THE word of God is perfect, and whatfoever 13 written is upright, even words of truth i and whether in this Book in particular, or in the Sacred Writings in general, all is given to us as a manifeftation of the love of God, for our inftruction and comfort : and whofoever takes away, denies, ftrives to pervert, or goes about to hinder perfons from receiving any part thereof, is an enemy to God and men •, and in denying a part, he in effect denies the whole, for the fyftem of divine light cannot appear perfect without every part- He, therefore, that rejects any part of the holy record^ rejects his own falvation, and cuts himfelf off from any of the bleflings contained in the teftimony of God. But it may be faid, What part had that man in the book of life, in the holy city, or in the bleflings written? I anfwer, His conduct makes it evident, that he had no part in the book of eternal union with Chrift from the foundation of the world, chap. xiii. 8. nor had he any part as an inhabitant in the holy city, where he never could come, chap. xxi. 27. nor had he any part in the fpiritual enjoyments to which he was a ftranger, 1 John ii. 19. But the gofpel is a book of life, and in it are contained all the bleflings that proceed from God, or that can be enjoyed by men ; and this gofpel being preached to every creature under heaven, every man's name is therein contained, one as fair as another, till the difference appears by the effects : when a foul is called by grace, his right is eftablifhed for ever ; but when of the BOOK of the REVELATION. 51 3 when unbelief or contempt of the gofpel has demon- flrated a man to be of the fepent's feed, he is then cut off from all blefTednefs and all hope for ever, Heb. vi. 4, 5, 6. x. 26, 27. Ver. 20. He which tejiifieth theje things, faith. Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even Jo, come Lord Jefus. THE teftifier of thefe things is the Son of God ; notwithstanding, as his herald, the angel pronounced them. It is the good pleafure of the Lord, that his children fhall never be left difconfolate. Therefore, under the former difpenfation, when his coming in the fiefh was waited for by his church, he ftill comforted them with promifes that he would not delay the time, Hab. ii. 3. Mai. iii. 1. And now he arTures us of his conflancy to his chofen in the ftrongeft terms, and with his latefl breath ; for thefe are the very laft words that ever Jefus was heard to fpeak, Surely I come quickly. Amen. This promife directs us to his fecond perfonal coming, but it includes his fpiritual coming to fill the earth with the grace and glory of his gofpel s for his work muft be done in order, the latter cannot be till the former has had its courfe. This gives joy and delight to all his faints, who wait with pleafure to fee his appearing, Luke xxi. 28. and to his Amen, they reply, Even Jo ; to exprefs the perfect unity of fpirit betwixt the bridegroom and the bride. And the laft words of the church which are recorded, are an earned wifh for her Lord's return j Come Lord Jefus. Thefe words doubtlefs were expreffed by John, but it was as LI he 5 14 A SCRIPTURAL ILLUSTRATION, &c. he perfonated the church, whofe language it is, and will continue the fame till his glory fhall appear. Ver. 21. Tbe grace of our Lord J ejus Chrift be with you. all. Amen. THIS is the prayer of John the revelator, for the feven churches in Afia, to whom he directly wrote thefe things ; and as this prophecy was intended for all the churches of Chrift upon earth, fo was this prayer for all the faithful in the univerfe. John, taking his leave of thefe churches, ufes the fame prayer frequently u fed by the apoftles in the conclufion of the epiftles which they wrote to the churches; and the fubftance of this petition is conftantly ufed by all the faints and churches of Chrift throughout the whole world, for one another ; as it contains the fum and fubftance of the whole defign of the gofpel, of all the labours of the minifters of Chrift, and of all the bleflings given to the church. That the faints may be filled with the fulnefs of grace and truth, which is in Chrift Jefus. To whom, with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, be glory for ever and ever.' Amen. THE E N D. Publijhed by the Author of this Book, In Two Volumes O&avo, Price Eight Shillings, fewed ; And fold by B.Law, Ave-Maria Lane, London ; and S. Crane, Bookfeller, in Liverpool. THE RICHES OF GOSPEL GRACE OPENED, I N TWELVE DISCOURSES ON THE FOLLOWING Interefting Subjects of the New Testament; The Word of God in its Truth and Efficacy. The Word of God in its extenfive Latitude. Chrift the great High Prieft. Chrift all in all. Repentance and Remiflion of Sins. Regeneration} or, being born of God. Juftificatlon by Faith. Evangelical Sanclification. The Baptifm of the Holy Ghoft. The Spirit's Tefiimony of the Son. The Father's Glory opened by the Son. The Son of God on the Throne of Judgment. DATE DUE ■ CAVLOND rniNTEO IN USA mm i*!!^*!*1*****