their eyes, and to be led by the Lamb unto the fountain of living waters,' Rev. vii. 16, 17. All which doth very plainly and plentifully exprefs that infinite glory and endlefs felicity which is prepared for all the true and faithful worfhippers of God.Many good leffons and obfervations might be gathered out of all this: But I do of purpofe omit them, in this work I do chiefly, ly and almost altogether aim at the interpretation, therein alfo ftudying brevity, foundnefs, and plainnefs.

WE

CHAP. VIII.

E have heard out of the feventh chapter, how the devils and their inftruments, the Roman emperors, did ftop the course of the gofpel. Now in this chapter we are to hear the woful effects of the ftopping thereof, which was the fpringing up, and prevailing of manifold errors and herefies in the world. So that the principle defign is to fhew, that God for the contempt of his gofpel, and great indignities offered to the true profeffors thereof, did give up the world to blindness, to error, to fuperftition and herefy: and as the apoftle faith, because they received

not the love of the truth, therefore God fent them ftrong delufions, that they 'fhould believe in lies,' 2 Thef. ii. 11. For as before we have heard how the world was most fearfully punished with external plagues and judgments, fo here we are to understand how the fame was punished with judgments fpiritual and temporal, as formerly was mentioned upon the topping of the four winds. For although that fpiritual plague was very great, yet thefe fpiritual plagues which follow upon the opening of the feventh feal, are far greater. For now we are to hear and underftand, not only of the errors and herefies, whereby a way and paffage was made by degrees, as it were by certain fteps, for Antichrift to climb up into his curfed chair, and to take poffeffion thereof; but also we are to understand of his very tyranny and kingdom itfelf; and alfo of the kingdom of the Turk, and the laft judgment. For the things contained under the opening of the feventh feal, do reach unto the end of the world. For the book fealed with feven feals, containeth all the whole matters which were to be revealed.

2

This chapter containeth four principle things, as it were the four parts thereof. i First, The great attention and filence, with admiration which was in the church

at and upon the coming forth of this most horrible vengeance.

Secondly, Before the execution of these moft execrable plagues, the church is remembered and fet in fafety with all her children, by her great mediator Christ Jefus.

Thirdly, The execution of this vengeance which cometh forth at the blowing of the feven trumpets by feven angels.

Fourthly, The vengeance itfelf contained in the prevailing of error and herefy; the falling away of the paftors of the church, and the univerfal darknefs that followed thereupon.

And when he had opened the seventh feal, there was filence in heaven above half an hour,' Rev. viii. 1.

By heaven in this place he meaneth not the kingdom of glory after this life; but by heaven is meant the church here upon earth, as it is fo taken, Rev. xii. 1.-xiv. 2. There may be three reafons affigned why the church is called heaven.

First, Because the birth thereof is from heaven; for it is born of God,' 1 John

V. I.

Secondly, Because the inheritance thereof is from heaven, and therefore is called, ⚫ the inheritance of the faints,' Col. i.. 12.

Thirdly, Because the converfation thereof is in heaven,' Phil. iii. 20.

6

To this may be added, that our Lord Jefus in his gospel doth fo often call his vifible church the kingdom of heaven,' by a trope, because Chrift beginneth his reign in the faithful therein, whom afterward he tranflateth actually into the very kingdom of glory. By filence here is meant the great attention of the church, because great things were now at hand. For now upon the opening of the feventh feal, far greater matters are threatened than any before: and therefore the church doth liften unto them in deep filence, and as it were in horror and trembling through admiration; for now there appear fuch dreadful judgments of God, to be executed upon the earth, that all the heavenly company are astonished and amazed to behold it, and do as it were quake and tremble to think upon it. For as when heavy news cometh down from the Prince to be proclaimed in open markets, all good fubjects do listen and give ear with filence and trembling; fo it fareth in this cafe. By half an hour, he meaneth that short time, wherein the minds of the godly were prepared, fitted and difpofed, wifely to confider of these matters, and to make good ufe of them. I know right well, that this verse is far other

.

wife interpreted by fome: but I take this to be most found, and fimple, and best agreeing to all that followeth; for the next verfe is joined unto this by a conjunction copulative, to note a coherence of the matter, and to draw the fenfe together: for he faith, And I faw feven angels, which stood before God, and to them were given fe⚫ven trumpets,' Rev. viii. 2.

Thefe feven trumpets fignify that God would proceed against the world in fearful hoftility, and come against it as an open enemy unto battle, proclaiming open war against it, as it were with found of trumpet and drum, fetting up the flag of defiance against it. And hereupon groweth this filence and trembling in the church, which only moved with the figns of God's wrath, when as all others fit ftill in fecurity, as the prophet Zechariah faith in a like cafe.

To ftand in this place, fignifieth to adminifter, as it is faid of the priests and Levites, that they ftand before God, and before the altar, that is minifter. So here the angels do ftand before God, as ready to 'adminifter and execute thefe judgments. For they are miniftring fpirits, and here they do found the alarm at the commandment of God. Thefe angels are propounded as feven in number, becaufe it pleafed