forth the various punishments that befall this Monarchy for 7 or 8 hundred years, tobring it to its end. This Fire, thefe Flames, theíe Wheels burning like fire on which the throne moves, reprefent the greatness of thofe punishments. And behold the Text of the 9th. Ch. in which St. John prefents to our view the Saracens & the Turks, that make defolate the Roman Antichriftan Empire ; & of the 14th, 15th, 16th, 18th, & 19th, where God in divers vifions reprefents the different steps of the ruin ofthe Roman Antichriftian Empire.

As for what is faid here of the Kingdom given,to the Saints, 'tis the matter & Text of the end of the 11th. Ch. of the 20, 21, & 22. throughout.

So it will appear in following the path which we are entred into, that the whole Revelation is a commentary on ten or twelve verfes of the 7th. Ch. of Daniel.

CHAP. IV.

The Systeme of the feven feals & the seven Trumpets, that denote the great events, & bring the world to its eud.

N the 4th. Ch. the H. Spirit open'd the scene; the 5th, is a preludium for the vifion of the feven feals which is contained in the 6 .Ch. The first book is fealed with seven seals, that is to fay, 'tis very obfcure. Indeed it is fo to that degree that never will any thing be faid

on

on this first part of the Revelation that
that goes
beyond conjecture & probability. Wheras as
for the fecond, I hold that one may attain to the
true sense of it, & certainly know that one
hath found it. See what in my judgment may
beft be faid on the feven feals.

the feven

The feven feals certainly reach to the end of How far the world, but not in that manner as the feals reach, greatest part of our Interpreters have imagin'd, in dividing the duration of the World from J. Christ to its end into feven Periods almoft equal. The fix First feals do not go beyond 300. years. But the feventh feal is fubdivided into feven Trumpets, & doth produce them. Now these feven Trumpets bring the events even to the laft judgment, the first not beginning till after the 6th. feal. So that these seven feals are as fix branches, that shoot forth from the body of a Tree, with a feventh great branch, which it felf becomes a great arm, & fhoots forth feven other branches. As for this, it cannot be doubted by any that read the beginning of the 7th. Ch, with any attention.

To find out the mystery of the feven feals & the feven Trumpets, we must here again bring in that obfervation which we a little before made in the foregoing Ch. viz. that the Revelation contains enigmatically the Epitomy of the history of the fourth Monarchy, that is to fay, of the Roman Empire; a Monarchy which according to Daniel's Prophecy muft laft till the coming of the Kingdom of J. Chrift on the Earth, i. e. to the end of the reign of Antichrift. It is clear that the Holy

D 3

Spi

1

Spirit was to infift only on this fourth Monarchy, without confidering the other states & Empires of the world, because 'tis that only that Daniel spoke of after the three first Beasts, whofe reign was certainly paft in St. John's time. Moreover, 'tis under this fourth Monarchy, & in the extent of its dominions, that the Chriftian Church hath receiv'd its feat & its rule. That Chriftianity that is found beyond the extent of the Roman Empire, is almost nothing. And therfore 'tis that the Counfells which were aflembled from the feveral parts of the Roman Empire are called Oecumenical, as reprefenting the Univerfal Church. Now 'tis certain that all the Prophecies have a Mediate or an immediate Relation to the Church. So that they ought to infift only on those states in which the Church hath been nourisht & brought up.

There is a third Reason why thefe Prophecies cannot be understood but of the Roman Empire, viz.because the reign of Antichrift, which is the greateft affair that happens in the Church,& wch muft happen there, was to make a part & a continuation of this Roman Empire. For Antichriftianifm is the Roman Empire continued. This principle which I was willing to repeat here becaufe of its importance, will ferve to answer thofe that fay to us, How know you that the Prophecies of the Revelation do not refer to China or Tartary? This objection doth not feem to me to be worthy of understanding perfons.

This being supposed that the Revelation

it muft

cipal

alfo Cataftre

pening in

are dif

noted in

enigmatically contains the hiftory of the The prin Roman Empire continued be neceffarily fuppofed that the principal & phes hapgreat Changes that happened in this Empire the Roman are defcribed in large Characters, & with fome Empire note of diftinction in the Revelation. Other- tinaly wife the H. Spirit would not act according to the Rev his profound wisdom, if in making a hiftory Lation. of an Empire, he fhould omit to mark the great Catastrophes that are to happen therin, or if he fhould hide them, & make them to pafs without any character of diftinction among the other lefs events.

We must therfore confider what are the principal events that have happen'd in the Roman Empire. See here they are.

1. The fall of Paganifm, when the Roman Emperours became Chriftians. This is fo great an affair, that 'tis impoffible to suppose that the Holy Spirit should have taken no notice of it.

2. The fall ofthe Temporal Roman Empire, when 'twas divided into ten Kingdoms.

3. The erecting a new Roman Empire, or rather the continuation of the fame under the rule of Antichrist,

4. The Birth of the Saracen Empire by the Arabians, that come to afflict the Roman Empire in its Eastern branch, i. e. the Empire of Conftantinople.

5. The power of the Turks, that come to finish the deftruction of the Greek branch of the Roman Empire, & to lay desolate the Latin Empire.

D 4

See

See the five great events that have changed the face of the world & of the Empire. Wherfore I am perfwaded these must be found in the Revelation with Characters of distinction. Let us fuppofe therfore that in all the places where there is a notable diftinction, there we muft find one of these notable events.

The First diftinction is found at the end of the fixth feal. After the opening this feal, there happens a great Earthquake, the fun is eclypfed, & the moon becomes red as blood, the ftars fall. Afterwards the vifion of the feals is interrupted by a new vifion that comes between, in which an Angel marks the elect among the twelve Tribes, twelve thoufaud of every Tribe. After which the Holy Spirit returns to the feventh feal under which nothing is done befides the diftribution of the feven Trumpets to fevenAngells,that must found them fucceffively. 'Tis clear this is an Epocha, a point on which the H. Spirit would have our thoughts to dwell. This firft Character of diftinction must to all appearance be affixed to the firft diftinct event that happens in the Roman Empire; that is, the fall of Paganism. So that in the opening of the fixth feal, we must find the fall of the Pagan Religion.

The Second very obfervable diftinction is found at the fourth Trumpet. There the third part of the fun is in like manner eclypfed, the moon & the ftars fuffer the like diminution in their light. After which the process

of