do nothing. They muft all be trode down under his feet of brafs..

And he had in his hand a little book open, and he put his right foot his right foot upon the 'fea, and his left foot upon the earth,' Rev.

x. ii.

This little book fignifieth the Bible.

It is called little in refpect of the great and huge volumes of Popish books, though in itself it be large.

It is faid to be open, that all men might look into it, because it had been fhut a long time before, even during all the time of the darkening of the fun and air, by the fmoke which came out of the bottomlefs pit. But although it was long fhut up in the time of Popery, and lay buried in a ftrange tongue: yet now it is opened, and publicly preached unto all the fervants of God. And all this no doubt is to be understood of Luther's time, and all the times ever fince the gofpel was fpread abroad after the great darknefs. For fome hundred years ago it was hard to find an English Bible, but now God be thanked, there are thoufands to be found in the hands of God's people. And therefore the things here prophetied of, are fulfilled in our days: for we live under the opening of the feventh feal, and the blowing of the Exth trumpet, and the pouring forth of

the fixth vial, as here doth partly appear, and fhall, God willing, be made more manifeft when we come to the fixteenth chapter. Now we are diligently to observe that as the opening of this book, and the preaching of the gofpel by Luther and his fucceffors, hath difperfed the former darknefs, and beaten down Popery; folfo hath it driven back the Turk, and taken from us all fear of him, which in former ages. was the terror of the world; for fince men have looked into this book, repented of their idolatry, and turned unto God with all their hearts, the Turk and his power hath not been feared, efpecially in thefe parts where the gofpel is preached.

For God in his merciful providence towards his church, hath diverted his power another way, and fet him to work elfewhere. So that if men cannot be brought to believe, that God raifed him up as a fcourge for idolaters, and a plague for idolatry and other foul fins, according to the words in the former chapter, where it is faid, They repented not of the works of their hands,' &c. yet when they fee, that at the opening of the book of God, and forfaking idolatry, the fear of him is removed, let them believe it. What can be more plain, than that this open book in the hand of an angel, hath delivered us

from the Pope, and from the Turk? A most happy opening of this bleffed book.

Further it is faid, that he put his right foot upon the fea, and his left on the . "earth. The fetting of Chrift's right-foot upon the fea, fignifieth that he is ruler of the fea, and ftandeth as firmly upon the fea as upon the land. The fetting of his left foot upon the earth, doth fignify, that he is Lord of the earth and true heir of all things in it.

And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth, and when he cried, feven • thunders uttered their voices,' Rev. x. 3.

This crying with a loud voice, like the roaring of a lion, doth fignify the manifef tation of the wrath of Chrift against all his enemies: for now he beginneth to roar against them, as a lion when he is hungry roareth for his prey. Therefore now both the fcorpion, locufts, and the fierce horfes and horfemen are like to go to the pot.

By the feven thunders which uttered their voices, is meant thofe perfect and exquifite judgments which now were to be inflicted both upon the kingdom of the Pope and the Turk. We have heard before, tliat feven is a perfect number in this book: and that thunder is put for the thundering of God's wrath, and all fuch broils and plagues

as follow thereupon, and this is the reafon of this interpretation.

And when the feven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven, faying unto me: Seal up thefe things which the feven thunders have fpoken, and write them not,' Rev. x. 4.

It should feem these seven thunders did fo fpeak, as they might be understood, for John was about to write the things which they fpake, thinking that they were uttered for that end and purpose, that he should deliver them in writing to the churches. But he receiveth a commandment to the contrary, for he is not permitted to write them, but to conceal them until the ap pointed time.

But fome man may fay; Why were they uttered, feeing they must be concealed and kept clofe? I answer, it was not in vain: for first, though the particulars be not expreffed what the thunders fpeak: yet here. we are taught, that there remain most fearful judgments against all the oppreffors of the church, which Chrift hath thundered out with terror against them. And when the time determined is come, they fhall be feen and underftcod: but in the mean time, they are fealed up and kept close according to that of Job. Why thould not the times

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be hid of the Almighty, fo as they which 'know him, fhould not perceive the times ' appointed of him?' And that of Daniel, These things are fealed up until the time ' determined.'

And the angel which I faw ftand upon the fea and upon the earth, lifted up his 'hand to heaven. And fware by him that liveth for evermore, which created heaven, and the things that therein are; and 'the earth, and the things that therein are; ' and the fea, and the things that therein are, that time fhould be no more. But in the days of the voice of the feventh angel, when he fhall begin to blow the 'trumpet, even the miniftry of God fhall 'be finished, as he hath declared unto his 'fervants the prophets,' Rev. x. 5, 6, 7.

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The fum of thefe three verfes is, that Chrift giveth warning of the laft judgment, that men might awake and look out in time. And because men for the most part are careless and fecure, putting the evil day far from them,' as the prophet speaketh, therefore, here Chrift bindeth it with a folemn oath, and folemn gestures thereunto annexed, as was the lifting up of the hand in ancient time, Gen. xiv. 22. The thing that our Lord Jefus difpofeth, is, that 'time fhall be no more;' that is, time as it is now, or the ftate of things as they be