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Part 2.

ties in fuch a Light, as is necessary to pierce into them; we must bring things into their natural order, and explain the vifions, according to the order of thofe events which they fore-tell. In doing this, we will begin with the 16th Chapter of the Revela tion, which contains the admirable vifion of the feven viols, which are the feven periods, through which the Antichriftian Empire ought to pass to come to its fall.

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God does The fifteenth Chapter is nothing but a préparaordinarily prepare for tion for the vifion of the fixteenth. Where are the greater vi- feven laft plagues (as the twelve first verses of the fions by leffer. 24th, are nothing but a preparation unto the vifion of the harvest and vintage,) which is very evident from the beginning of the 15th Chapter, which is, fign in Heaven great and marvellous, feven Angels having the feven laft plagues. As a preparation unto the vifion of thefe feven laft plagues, God does make the Prophet see a sea of glass, or of chrystal mingled with fire, that is, a fea where ice and fire are mingled: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast; and over his Image; that is, them that had efcaped his corruption and idolatry; ftand upon the sea of glass, or of ice, and they fung the song of Alofes, and the fong of the Lamb; Great and marvellous are thy works. Alively It is clear, that the Prophet does make an allufion Image of rhole who unto the paffage through the red Sea, and unto the efcape the Children of Ifrael, who being got upon the fhore corruption of that Sea, fung the fong which Mofes compoits perfe- fed for them. The Sea of glass mingled with fire, cutions. anfwers to the red fea; they who had gotten the vi

of Popery, &

&tory over the Beast; answer to the Ifraelites, who had overcome the Egyptians. Egypt, out of which the Ifraelites marcht, anfwers to this Antichriftian Empire, out of which the Elect do efcape. There

fore

fore as the red fea, and its waves were the danger out Part 2. of which the Ifraelites coming out of Egypt were deliver'd; fo this fea of glass mingled with fire, represents the evils which the Faithful who leave Babylon do escape. These evils are called a fea, on the account of their greatness and bitterness, my breach is great like the fea, faid feremy: they are called a fea of glass, or a fea of ice, because of their hardness. 'Tis more easy to escape out of a fea of water, because the liquidity of waters does make it poffible to fwim through them: but if a fea was glafs or ice, it would be impoffible to get out of it. There is alfo fire mingled with glass, to represent the burning, and extream dolours of thofe evils. Fire and Ice are two extreams in evil; yet they are joyn'd in the defcription of the calamities of the Church, though they seem inconfi ftent: if it be a fea of ice, there cannot be fire there; and if there be fire, how can it fubfift with ice? This is to exprefs, that the calamities of the Church are extream, and that they include all kinds of evils: There is Ice, that is Irreligion, a privation of the Fire of Piety: There is fire through the cruelty of perfecutions. 'Tis for this, that the Spirit ufed the term glass inftead of ice; to fignify that it fhould be a frozen fea, which fhould fubfift with fire. I know not what they had in their thoughts, who have faid, that this fea of glafs fignified the Church. The Ifraelites who are escaped out of the fpiritual Egypt, are represented upon the fea of glass, that is, upon its shore, and as those who come out of the water. In the style of the holy language, upon the river, upon the fea, is, upon the shore of the river, and upon the fhore of the fea,

After this come out of the Temple, which is
E e

v. 6.

7.7.

Part 2 in Heaven, the feven Angels appointed to pour out the feven vials of the wrath of God. They are clothed in white, to denote their purity; they bad their loins girt, after the fashion of the ancients, who girt themselves,when they made themfelves ready for a combate, or any other difficult work. One of the four beafts gives to each of them one viol, a bottle out of which we pour into a cup. This Figure of speaking is common, we pour out of a viol into a cup. Now aCup in the figurative and Prophetick ftyle, fignifies the judgements of God, in allufion unto that ftupifying cup, which was given to Criminals condemned to dye, that they might be lefs fenfible of the pain of their punishment. Or rather, which I judge more probable, God in this vifion makes an allufion to hourglaffes, in which water did run out, to mark the. hours and duration of time; as now adays this is done by the running of fand. And this later explication is to be preferr'd; becaufe by this, we shall more cafily diftinguish the Periods, from the judgements which are executed during those periods. Fiols, or bour-glaffes, are appointed to measure periods and times, and the plagues naturally fignity, the judgements of God upon men. Forthefe feven viols fignify feven Periods of time, which God defigned to run out (during feven or eight Centuries) leafurely, as water and fand run out in bour-glaffes.

7.8.

The Temple was filled with smoke from the Glory of God,and from his power, and no man was able to enter into the Temple, till the feven plagues were fullfill'd. 'Tis a manifeft allufion, to that which happen'd in the Tabernacle, when it was dedicated by Mofes; and in the Temple when it was dedicated by Solomon, fuch a cloud and smoke did at that

time fill the Temple, that Mofes could not enter Part 2, into it, nor the Priefts were able to ftand there. Both here and there, this fignifies the extraordinary prefence of God; there, for the confecration of the Tabernacle and Temple; here, for the accomplishing his decrees,and the executing of his judgements: I do not believe, that we ought to fearch after any other myfteries here.

Till now,

nothing

understood

Chapter of

After this begins the 16th Chapter, and the vifi- Ch. 16 on of the viols; it is one ofthe most anguft and ex-. cellent vifions in the whole Book, but withal the leaft understood. I am fully perfwaded, that Interpreters have understood nothing of the meaning hath beeh of this Chapter; Gods knows whether we fhall be. of the fenfe more happy, if we are mistaken, as others are, this of the 16th muftbe charged on us: if we light upon the truth, the Reve this must be afcribed to God. But I am perfwaded, which is that God hath beard me in this thing, and hath an- of the fall fwer'd the very ardent defire, which I have had, to of Antipierce into thefe profound myfteries, to the end, that I might defcry the deliverance of his Church There cannot be a greater miftake, then that of fome moderni Interpreters, who make these seven plagues to be poured out, during seven ages, either of the Church in general, or of the Christian Church in particular,

All that others feem to have understood as to this Chapter, is, that it contains the History of seven degrees, or feven periods, through which the Antichriftian Kingdom ought to pafs before its fall; every period containing difmal judgements of God, which are to afflict the Empire of the Beaft. This carries fuch evidence along with it, that it is almoft impoffible not to fee it; but yet, this hath been seen very confusedly, and the application which hath been made, hath been very unhappy. Ee 2 Now

chrift.

Part 2. Now fince others have understood nothing of the fense of this Chapter, we muft not wonder that they have faid nothing pertinently concerning the fall of the Antichriftian Empire,& concerning the time in which it must come to pafs: for here is the Key of all, this is a compleat Hiftory of its calamities. Tis the most important Chapter of all, and from which we may learn the time of the ruin of popery. If thefe plagues are not yet pour'd out, if they are all yet to come, as Monfieur de Lau nay afferts, we are then indeed a great way behind, and very far from the end of our reckoning; We muft yet tarry many ages. Those that are more liberal and judicious, do allow us two or three viols already run out, but they will have that four or five are yet to come. I admire that the pier cing fofeph Mede fhould entertain this opinion: if he was now alive, one might convince him, that this cannot agree with the other Principles, which he hath laid down with fo much exactness, and depth of judgement. As to my felf, I affert, that. the feven plagues are already paft, and hope to prove it with all that evidence which can be gi ven to explications of Prophecies, about which it is very difficult to frame demonftrations. And 'tis from hence, that I intend to draw my strongest proof, wherewith to fuftainmy general hypothefis, That the Empire of Popery is just come to its end. We fhall fee fuch an admirable agreement, between the events and the Prophecies explain'd, that shall abundantly conviace, that what I am about to fay, is not simple conje&ture: But we must not pafs judgement upon one piece, we must fee the whole.

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Now that I may affift my Readers the more easi ly, to comprehend the true fenfe ofthe feven viols,

and

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