the angels, faints, and all the creatures in heaven and earth.

I faw in the right hand of him that fat upon the throne, a book written within, ⚫ and on the back fide, fealed with seven feals.' Rev. v. 1.

By this book here mentioned, is meant this prefent book of Revelation, as it fhall plainly appear in the next chapter, when we come to the opening of the feven feals thereof. For the things which fall out, upon the opening of the feveral feals, do plainly declare, that all is meant of the particular matters contained in this book.

This book is faid to be in the right hand of him that fitteth upon the throne, becaufe all the fegrets revealed in it, come from the counsel and decree of the most high God, and are ordered by his mere direction and providence.

It is called a written book, to fhew that the things contained in it, are o firmly decreed in the counfel of God, that none of them shall fail, but come to pass, and be fulfilled in their feafon. They are fuch as we may write of, as we use to say: and therefore the certainty of them, they are here faid to be written in a book.

This book is faid to be written within and without, for the multitude and variety of matters contained in it. For there were

both many and great things which fhould fall out in the world, from the time that John received the prophecy, unto the end of the world.

This book is fealed with feven feals, that is to fav, perfectly fealed, because the things contained herein, are counfels and fecrets, only known to God, till it pleafed him to reveal them to his church by his Son. The elect angels knew nothing of the things written in this book, before the feals were opened.

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And I faw a strong angel, which claimed with a loud voice; who is worthy to open the book, and to loofe the feals thereof." Rev. v. 2.

Here is proclamation made to all creatures; that if there were any manner of perfons in heaven or earth, among men or angels, that would take upon them to open and expound this book, that they should come forth and fhew themselves, and be very willing and gladly heard. But alas, the next verfe doth fhew, that none in ⚫ heaven or earth was able to open the book and expound it; whereupon John wept very much, becaufe no man was found worthy to open and interpret this book.' Rev. v. 3.

The cause of John's weeping and lamensing, was for fear the church fhould be

deprived of fuch profitable and excellent things as he knew were contained in this book. Such was his love to the church: fuch was his zeal and care for the people of God. An example worthy of all imitation to mourn and weep for the concealing of the book of God, and to rejoice in the 'opening of it. But Papifts and Atheists are of a contrary mind, for they rejoice in the concealing and keeping clofe of the fcriptures, and are much grieved with the opening and revealing thereof; because thereby their hypocrify and villany is de tected and difcarded.

Upon this, one of the elders faid unto John, weep not: behold, the Lion which is of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath obtained to open the book, and to loofe the feals thereof. Rev. v. 5.

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Here we fee how John is comforted and cheered up by one of the elders, being now very penfive and fad; and is willed to pluck up a good heart, and to be of good cheer, for he could tell him good news; to wit, of one that could open and expound this book, and all the fecrets in it; and that is Jefus Chrift, the great revealer of fecrets, and only expounder of all riddles, and hidden myfteries, as before hath been fpr ken.

Jefus Chrift is here faid to be of the

tribe of Judah, because he is lineally defcended of that tribe, according to the flesh, and his human nature.

He is compared unto a lion, by allufion unto Jacob's words in his laft will and teftament, concerning Judah, namely, that he fhould couch as a lion, and as a lionefs, ' and none fhould ftir him." He is fitly compared to a lion, for his great and admirable power and ftrength, for he reigneth and muft reign over all his enemies, and in the midst of all his enemies, till he hath · trode all his enemies under his feet. He is called the root of David, both here, and alfo in the xxii. chapter of this book, verse 16. because he fprung out of David, the fon of Jeffe, as a branch out of his root, as the prophet did foretel, that a rod fhould 'come forth of the ftock of Jeffe, and a graft fhould grow out of his roots.' And the apostle faith, that Chrift was made of the feed of David, according to the flesh.'

Then, faith John, I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne, and of the four beafts, and of the elders, ftood a lamb, as though he had been killed, which had feven horns, and feven eyes, which are the feven fpirits of God fent into all the world.' Rev. v. 6.

Here John taketh a view and fight of Jefus Chrift, from the very midst of the

throne, and of the four beafts, and the elders. Chrift doth not appear about the throne, as do the faints and angels, which are but minifters and miniftring fpirits: but in the very midft of the throne, and the four beafts, &c. because he is God everlafting, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father; in whom, as the apoftle faith, dwelleth all the fulness of the godhead bodily or effentially.' And here afterwards the fame worfhip and honour is afcribed unto him both by the faints and angels, which before is afcribed unto God the Father.

Christ is here compared to a lamb, for his innocency; for the fcripture faith, ‘ he fwas a fheep dumb before his fhearers. He 6 is the Lamb of God, that taketh away the fins of the world. He is the Lamb flain from the beginning of the world:' He is compared to a lion, for his great and incomparable ftrength in conquering hell, death, and damnation, and all infernal power. And to a lamb, because he hath dispatched all this upon the cross, by the facrifice of himself once offered: for he did never more lively Thew forth his lion-like power, than when he was as a lamb flain and facrificed upon the cross.

This Lamb Chrift is here faid to have feven horns, which fignify his manifold