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of reafon, a man would have thought long ere now, had been utterly extinct and abolifhed. But the apostle faith, God hath not caft off his people which he had chofen,' Rom. xi. 2. that is utterly cast them off.

It is therefore a moft fure a certain pofition in divinity, that God hath always his; that is, in all ages, in all times, in all places, in all countries, even in the midst of all troubles and flames of perfecution, yet God hath his hid and invifible church even upon the face of the earth. As it was in the days of Elias, and in Chrift's time, when the

Shepherd was fmitten, and the fheep scat❝tered.' And as it was in the days of the great Antichrift, as afterward we fhall fee.

Moreover, it is to be observed, that in the enumeration of the twelve tribes, the tribe of Dan is left out, and the tribe of Levi taken in. The cause of the omiflion of the tribe of Dan, was their continuance in idolatry from the time of the Judges (at what time they first fell into it) even unto the captivity. This tribe is alfo omitted in the catalogue of the tribes mentioned in 1 Chron. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. Then the reason of this omiffion, is firft their unworthiness; and secondly, that there might be room for the tribe of Levi to be taken in; which in this catalogue for fingular

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reafon, and a fpecial myftery might not be omitted. For, although the tribe of Levi had no portion or inheritance amongst the other tribes in the earthly Canaan; and now the priesthood being transferred unto Christ, the Holy Ghoft doth exprefsly affirm, that the tribe o Levi, as well as others, hath his part and portion in the heavenly inheritance, and the celeftial Canaan.

'After these things, I beheld, and lo 'a great multitude which no man can number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, ftood before the throne, and before the Lamb, cloth'ed with long white robes, and palms in 'their hands; and they cried with a loud ' voice, faying, falvation cometh of God,' &c. Rev. vii. 9, 10.

This is to be underflood of the church of the Gentiles, and they are faid to be an innumerable multitude of all countries ' and nations.' For although the church of God in refpect of the reprobates is very fmall, and as an handful upon the face of the earth; yet in itself fimply confidered, it is very great and large: for even out of Adam's curfed race, God hath chofen many thousands to life. And here ftill we are to obferve the great goodness and mercy of God, that notwithstanding former perfecutions, and the great blindness which

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afterward did invade the church in the prevailing errors and herefies: yet John heareth and feeth fuch an huge number fealed up to falvation, through Chrift, both of the Jews and the Gentiles.

The church of the Gentiles exceeding in number the church of the Jews, are here faid to have long white robes,' in token of their purity and innocency; and palms. in their hands,' in fign of their victory over the world, the flefh, and the devil.

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>palms in ancient times were enfigns and badges of victory.

After this, is fet down how the whole church of the Gentiles do praife and worfhip God freely, acknowledging falvation to be only of him through Chrift. And all the angels of heaven do applaud, fubfcribe, and fay Amen to the fame, Rev. vii. 10, 11, 12. as we have heard before in the fourth chapter.

The four beafts are here mentioned again, whereby is meant the angels, both because they are faid to have wings, chapter iv. which agreeth to none but angels, Ifaiah vi. and alfo because they are exprefsly named and interpreted to be the cherubims, Ezek, x.

If any man wonder why the angels

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fhould be called beafts, let him be refolved with thefe four reafons.

First, Because they are compared to beafts before, as the lion, calf, &c.

Secondly, Because Ezekiel called them fo, in as much as they draw God's chariot of triumph.

Thirdly, Because the prophet Zechariah compareth them to red, fpeckled, and white horfes.

Fourthly, Because the fame prophet calleth them God's coach-horses, and the multitudes and societies of them, he calleth God's chariots, which came out of two mountains of brafs, that is, they went forth at his decree (which ftandeth as faft, and unremoveable, as a mountain of brass) to comfort and deliver his church out of the captivity of Babylon, and alfo to fuccour and help the remnant which were left behind in Judea. Now in the prophets, these chariots and chariot-horfes are faid to carry the Almighty moft fwiftly throughout all the world. And therefore in Zechariah it is faid of the angels, these are they which go through the whole world,' Zech. i. 10. In Ezekiel it is faid, that the beasts ran, and returned like lightning.' And again, that they sparkled like the appearance of bright brafs, and fect wheels of God's chariots were moved

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with inconceivable swiftnefs, even as faft as the angels did fly,' Ezek. i. 14. thefe reasons and fcriptures then fatisfy us touching this, that the angels are called beafts. After all this, one of the twentyfour elders asketh John what they were, and from whence they came, which were thus arrayed in long white robes. Which

queftion is afked of the elder, not as being ignorant thereof; but to ftir up John, be ing ignorant, to inquire of the matter, that he might inftruct him therein. And therefore when John confeffed his ignorance, defiring to be inftructed therein, the elder telleth him the whole matter; namely, that they were fuch as were come out of great tribulation. For none can enter into life, but through many afflictions,' as the apostle faith. After this again, the militant and visible church is defcribed and fet forth, not according to their prefent ftate, but according to that which is to come; for they are here fpoken of, as if they were already in poffeflion of heaven, and that for the infallible certainty and affurance thereof. Therefore the apoftle faith, that even already do they fit toge 'ther in heavenly places.' And here they are faid to be in the prefence of the throne of God, &c. to hunger and thirst no more, &c. to have all tears wiped from

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