prophet faith that Chrift hath seven eyes which go through the whole world; where by is fignified his watchful providence for his church; for he is always looking out for the good of it, to defend and protect it against all adverfary power. Which thing was figured in the rams fkins which covered the ark, to defend it against all violence of wind and weather. Even fo the merciful protection of Chrift, as it were the continual covering of his church.

As touching the parts and members of his royal perfon, he is defcribed of hist head, and hair, of his face, of his eyes, of his voice, of his feet, of his garments, and of his girdle.

As concerning his head and hair, they are faid to be as white as wool, and as fnow,' which fignifieth his great wisdom and knowledge, to perform all things in his church, for wisdom and knowledge for the most part do accompany white heads and gray hairs.

His face fhineth as the fun in his 'ftrength:' which fignifieth that Chrift is the fame to his church, that the fun is to the world. For as the fun lighteneth the whole world with his brightnefs, fo Chrift with the brightness of his face enlighteneth whole chur ch.

"His eyes are like a flame of fire: that

is, exceeding bright, and piercing into all places, yea the very heart of men, for nothing is hid from his fight, with whom we have to do. He hath eagles eyes to forefee all dangers intended and plotted against his church, that he may in due time prevent them.

His voice is compared to the found of many waters,' because it should found throught all the world by the preaching of the gofpel. Waters is expounded, Rev. xvii.15.of multitudes, nations, and tongues. Chrift's voice therefore is like many wa ters, becaufe his voice fhould many countries and kingdoms.

go through

His feet are compared to fine brafs;' to denote both the perfection of all his ways, and alfo his mighty power, to tread down all his enemies.

He is clothed with a garment down to ground,' to denote that he walked as King and Priest in the midst of the feven golden candlesticks. For kings and priests in old time did wear long garments, espe cially in the execution of their offices.

He is girded about the paps with a gol'den girdle:' for as kings and priests did gird their garments clofe unto them, left otherwife they might be hindered in the execution of their offices; fo Chrift girdeth himself close to his bufinefs; for he is

no idle beholder of the ftate of his church, but one that continually worketh out the good thereof.

Concerning his provident care over his faithful minifters, he is faid to carry them in his right hand; for He had in his right hand seven stars,' Rev. i. 16. that is, the minifters of the churches.

As Chrift faith, "The feven stars are the angels; that is, the minifters of the feven churches. Minifters are compared to stars, because they should shine as bright stars in this dark world, both by life and doctrine..

Chrift is faid to hold them in his right hand, becaufe he always defended thein against the malice and fury of the world, which of all others is most outragiously bent against them, and their favourites..

But let men take heed of over-bold prefuming to pull the ftars out of Chrift's right-hand, left they fmart for it. The world is very bufy this way, they think to wring them out of his hands: but alas! poor fouls, they are not able, he holdeth too fast, who can pull them out of his right hand? If they continue bold, and bufy this way, they may happen at last to take a bear by the tooth, and peradventure pull an old house over their heads.

Another reason why Chrift is faid to hold the seven stars in his right-hand, is because

he worketh by them, and their ministry, as an artificer with his tool in his right-hand. The things which Chrift hath done by these inftruments are glorious and admirable. For by the miniftry of the gofpel he hath converted many finners, and faved many fouls, then the which nothing can be more honourable and wonderful; and therefore the word of God which is the minifters. weapon, is compared to a fharp twoedged fword, which came out of Chrift's mouth.' Now unto all this may be ad ded that Chrift faith; he was dead, but now alive,' because he died and rofe again. And alfo that he faith, he had the

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keys of hell and death,' that is, authority and power over hell and damnation. For he hath abfolute power over hell and damnation; for he hath abfolute power to open and fhut, bind and loofe, and therefore it is written, he hath the key of David, which openeth and no man shutteth, and fhutteth and no man openeth.' All this fetteth forth the great power and glory of Chrift's perfon, and all aimeth at this mark and end, to commend unto us the authority of this book, because it cometh from a perfon of fo great dignity and excellency. Last of all, it remaineth to fhew how John was affected with this vifion, wherein Chrift did fo gloriously appear unto him; for he

faith, When I faw him I fell at his feet as 'dead.' Wherein he fheweth how greatly he was amazed and daunted with the fight of Christ's most glorious perfonage. He was ftricken with fuch an aftonifhment and fear, that there was almost no life or fpirit left in him, and all this was to humble him and to ftrike him down even to the ground, in as much as by it, he findeth his own weakness and imperfection; not capable of fuch a fight, fo far as to endure it. It was no doubt profitable, or rather neceffary that this holy fervant of God fhould thus be humbled and made fit to receive this Revelation with the greater reverence from his great Lord and mafter. And alfo it maketh much for our profit, as appeareth in that every part of this vision is rehearsed in the epiftles to the churches. But to conclude, John being thus humbled and caft down in himfelf, is comforted and raifed up by Chrift, who laid his right hand on him, and willed him to fear nothing,' for faith he, ‘I am the First and the Laft, and am alive, but I was dead, behold, I am alive for ' evermore.' In which words he doth greatly chear up John's heart, and telleth him plainly, that this might and terror of his perfon is bent only against the wicked enemies of his church, nothing at all against the friends thereof; but contrari.

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