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gracious souls, in which he speaks satisfaction to them these two ways, 1. By somewhat given them for the present, 2. By somewhat promised them hereafter. First, white robes were given at present to every one of them, that is, large measures of heavenly glory, as the reward of their sufferings and services, beyond other saints; as if God had said, "Though the time be not yet come to satisfy your desires in the final ruin of Satan's kingdom, yet it shall be well with you in the mean time, you shall walk with me in white, and enjoy my glory in heaven." Secondly, That is not all, but the very things they cry for shall be given them after a little season, for God had more to call unto sufferings besides them, and they having conquered shall be crowned together; as if God had said, "You my faithful witnesses, wait a little while until your brethren be got through the Red-sea of suffering as well as you, and then you shall see the feet of Christ upon the necks of all his enemies, and justice shall fully avenge the precious innocent blood of all the saints, which in all ages has been shed for the testimony of the gospel, from Abel the martyr to the last sufferer Rest for a little season, until your fellow-servants also, and your brethren, shall be killed as you were." Now from the whole learn these lessons of instruction. Learn, 1. That the souls of men perish not with their bodies, but do certainly out-live them, and subsist in a state of separation from them; the bodies of these martyrs were destroyed by divers sorts of torments, but their souls were out of the reach of danger, they were in safety under the altar, and in glory, clothed with their white robes,

:

when their bodies were either turned to ashes, or torn in pieces by wild beasts; we shall not cease to be, when we cease to breathe; our souls do not vanish with our breath. Learn, 2. That as the soul is alive in a state of separation from the body, so it is awake also, and doth not sleep with the body. Mark, These souls cried with a loud voice; then they were not asleep, though their bodies were asleep in the dust; the opinion of the soul's sleeping with the body, until the resurrection, is a wicked dream; it is granted that the organical acts of the soul, that is, such acts as do depend upon the members of the body, must cease when the body ceases: but we find when we are asleep, that our soul can act of itself, without the assistance of the body; the soul grieves and rejoices, hopes

and fears, chooses and refuses, therefore the soul is not only alive, but awake also, in its state of separation from the body. Learn, 3. That there are not only praises, but prayers in heaven, and that for justice to be inflicted upon persecutors here on earth. O the miserable condition of bloody persecutors! when heaven and earth both pray against them. Learn, 4. That there is no sin committed upon earth, which doth more loudly call for vengeance from God in heaven, and which he will more certainly and severely punish, than persecuting and wronging of his saints and servants. Learn, 5. That one reason why the suffering servants of God are not presently delivered from their persecutions, is this, because more of their brethren must suffer besides them, before their persecutions are ripe and ready for signal vengeance. Learn lastly, That the souls of God's martyrs shall be under the altar in heaven clothed in white, enjoying divine glory, before the fatal day of final vengeance come upon the persecuting world; for though the patience of God suffers long, yet the holiness of God cannot permit that innocency should always suffer, and violence with persecution go unpunished, but in the mean time they shall put on their crown and their robes.

12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind: the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

14 And

A threefold interpretation is given relating to this sixth seal, and the opening of it. 1. Some apply it altogether to the Jews, and that their destruction in Judea and at Jerusalem was so dismal, that it was represented to St. John as the darkening of the sun, and the moon looking like blood, and the stars falling, such calamities impending as if heaven and earth were dissolving: doubtless at and before the destruction of Jerusalem there was a confluence of such calamities, so dismal, and so

dreadful, as can very difficultly be represented or described. 2. Others apply it to the overthrow of Paganism, and the destruction of the Heathen emperors; the fall of Paganism, by means of Constantine's conversion to the christian faith, was the most terrible judgment that ever fell upon the devil's kingdom: and accordingly, by the earth's quaking, the sun's becoming black, the moon's becoming blood, and the stars falling from heaven to earth, is to be understood the great changes that were made in the Roman empire, by overturning the whole Pagan state, and making christianity the religion of the greatest part of the world; so that the sense of the foregoing expression is metaphorical, and signifies a great and general alteration of the face of affairs, as if the world was to be another thing. But, 3. There are that interpret all this of the great and horrible confusion of the christian world under Antichrist, when Christ the Sun of righteousness began to be obscured, that is, his doctrine concerning his offices and benefits darkened; the moon or church turned into blood; the stars or pastors fallen from heavenly offices; the scriptures, like the heavens rolled up, forbidden to be read; the mountains, kings and princes, in jeopardy; and the islands brought under Antichrist's yoke and tyranny. Lastly, Some apply all this to the last dissolution of the world, and the final judgment of the great day; according to what follows in the three next verses.

15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bond-man, and every free-man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Observe here, That if this was meant of the Jews at the destruction of Jerusalem, it was exceeding dreadful, and bespake all sorts of men, from the highest to the lowest, to be under a most dreadful consternation, when they saw an inevitable vengeance coming upon them for crucifying Christ, and persecuting his members, which made

them run into rocks, and call upon mountains to hide them: if it be applied to the judgment of the great day, it shows the justice of Christ in forcing those to call upon the mountains to hide them, who by persecution had driven his members to hide themselves in mountains, dens, and caves, of the earth: any sort of hope of deliverance would be then welcome; but, alas! all help will fail, and all hope will be then in vain; neither greatness nor numbers will save any from misery and terror, when that day of vengeance is come. Learn hence, That wicked men, how numerous, how powerful and strong soever, shall fall before the wrath and indignation of Christ; if when Christ appears like an angry Lamb the greatest in the world fall before him, what will they then do when Christ shall put on the fierceness and severity of a roaring lion?" Matissima sententia quæ a mitissima' judice denuntiatur. If the wrath of the Lamb cannot be borne, if the unbelieving kings and potentates of the earth shall be cast down at the sight of Christ, where shall the wicked and the sinner appear? If the wrath of a king be as the roaring of a lion, what will the wrath of God, an angry God, be? Let us now be cast down at the sight of sin, and we shall not be cast down hereafter at the sight of God; but when others, at his appearance, cry to the rocks to cover them, and to the mountains to fall upon them, such as have seen sin to their abasement and humiliation, shall see a Saviour to their joyful satisfaction, and spend an eternity in the rapturous contemplation and ravishing fruition of him. Amen.

CHAP. VII.

The former chapter gave us a general view and description of God's terrible vengeance on his church's enemies, that is, upon the obstinate Jews in Judea, the crucifiers of the Son of God, say some; upon the Pagan world, or Heathen em perors, say others, under whom the christian church suffered a bitter and bloody persecution for the first three hundred years, namely, till the time of Constantine the Great.

Now the following chapters give an account of the execution of those denounced temporal judgments upon the Jews, according to some; or, according to others, they represent the dark kingdom of Antichrist, wherein a great storm of heresy did arise, and a flood of errors and false doctrines did flow down to the corrupting such vast numbers, that the whole world is said to wonder after the beast. Lest then the faithful should faint, as if the apostasy would be universal, and the Christian church totally fail, Almighty God declares to St. John his pleasure in this chapter, to seal an bun dred forty-four thousand, that is, to preserve a very, very great number, from the stroke of this judg ment, be it temporal or spiritual; if temporal, is would mark them, as he did the Israelites in

Egypt, that the destroyer might pass over them; if spiritual, he would preserve a number in his church, which should not apostatize; so that the

church should not fail, a number of sealed ones, having the promise of preservation from God.

A

ND after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

Observe here, 1. That if a temporal judgment on the Jews be here intended, then this vision represented to St. John God's decree and purpose for suspending the dreadful execution of the threatened and intended vengeance upon Judea for a time, namely, until God had sealed his number, that is, marked them for preservation, according to Ezek. ix. 4. Set a mark upon the forehead of the men, &c. that is, preserve the penitent believers from the common destruction, as the Israelites were preserved in Egypt from the destroying angel. I beheld four angels, that had power to inflict judgments, famine, sword, and pestilence, (foretold chap. vi.) upon Judea; I beheld these angels making a stay and stop, before they would suffer those mischiefs to break forth upon the earth. Where note, That the office of the holy angels in heaven is at God's command, and by God's direction, to execute vengeance, and to inflict all temporal judgments upon obstinate sinners here on earth; yet glad they are when it pleases God to stay and stop them from a speedy execution of his wrath and vengeance; for as judgment is God's strange work, in which he does not delight, so neither is it pleasing to the angels as an act of punishment, but only in obedience to the command of God, and with an eye and respect to the glory of God. Observe, 2. That if a spiritual judgment be here intended, as others apprehend, namely, the calamities befalling the church by reason of an apostasy under Antichrist; then by the winds they understand heresies and false doctrines of all sorts, which have an impetuous force and violence, like winds, to drive unstable souls from their stedfastness in the truths of God, into damnable errors. Now God takes special care that these winds should not blow, these antichristian errors and false doctrines should not overflow the earth, until he had sealed his people, that is, secured them from that danger, preserving them from spiritual defilement, as the undoubted fruit of their

sealing; where we see, that in all times of public calamity, be it temporal or spiritual, God has a special care of his own, and bears a special regard unto his own; here he commands the angels to hold the winds from smiting the earth until the number of his sealed ones was completed.

2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

Observe here, 1. The special and distinguishing care which God took of his church and faithful people before he suffered the approaching storm to come upon the world: he did by another angel cry to the four angels that were ready, as God's executioners, to hurt the earth, that they should hurt nothing until the servants of God were sealed in their foreheads; and his crying with a loud voice intimates his great care to preserve his faithful ones. Quest. What was this sealing? Answ. Some understand it of an external visible sealing, by setting a mark upon their foreheads for preservation, according to Ezek. ix. 4. the letter Tau: doubtless there was some notification made by Almighty God to the destroying angels, of every one whom he would have preserved. Others do understand this seal to be internal, by sanctification; and from whence we may gather, that inward holiness is the best guard against temporal or spiritual judgments. But take this sealing in either sense, either for an outward or inward sealing, the notion doth imply, 1. That the persons sealed are of precious and excellent esteem with God. 2. It imports preservation and security from danger: God sealeth his people, that the destruction coming upon others may escape them: thus here God's servants were sealed, that they might be preserved: that they are kept either from sin and error, or from judgment and danger, is not from themselves, but from God's care and love towards them in the sealing of them, the angel said, Hurt not the earth, &c. till we have sealed the servants of our God, &c.

4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed; and there

were

were sealed an hundred and forty
and four thousand of all the tribes
of the children of Israel. 5 Of the
tribe of Judah were sealed twelve
thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben
were sealed twelve thousand. Of
the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve
thousand. 6 Of the tribe of Aser
were sealed twelve thousand. Of
the tribe of Nephthalim
sealed twelve thousand. Of the
tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve
thousand. 7 Of the tribe of Si-
meon were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Levi were sealed
twelve thousand. Of the tribe of
Issachar were sealed twelve thou-
sand, 8 Of the tribe of Zebulun
were sealed twelve thousand. Of
the tribe of Joseph were sealed
twelve thousand. Of the tribe of
Benjamin were sealed twelve thou-
sand.

Observe here, 1. That the true church is represented in this book by the name of the Jews, and the false church by the Gentiles; so that by the tribes of the children of Is rael is to be understood the whole universal church of sincere and serious christians, all that profess and practise the faith of Abraham, and so are his spiritual seed. Note, 2. That these hundred forty and four thousand are particularly mentioned, chap. xiv. 1. as the pure virgin church, distinguished from the adulterers; this number then comprehends all such as during Antichrist's tyranny should be kept from his delusions, of whatsoever nation they be; all that adhere to Christ against Antichrist are sealed, to preserve them from that defection wherein others would be involved. Note, 3. The great care which Almighty God takes in a time of general apostasy, to preserve a number in all his churches from that fatal mischief, that the Catholic church may not fail: God has a number sealed: and such as are sealed shall be preserved. Note, 4. That though the number of God's sealed ones be great in itself, 144,000, yet how small is it in comparison of the not sealed. Note, 5. That as God had a number out of all the

tribes of Israel, so doth he gather to himself a people out of all nations, ranks, and conditions of men, in and throughout the whole world. Note, 6. That the tribe of

Dan is here left out; the reasons assigned for it are various; because, say some, Antichrist was to come of that tribe; but it doth not any where appear that ever Almighty God punished a people before they committed sin. Others with more reason conceive it was the great idolatry which this tribe fell into, and continued in until the captivity, see Judg. xviii. 30. and Amos viii. 14. yet we must not suppose that none of this tribe were saved, because here not mentioned; for we find Samson of this tribe, and reckoned among those worthies, whose names are recorded, Heb. xì. By faith Samson. Note, 7. That Levi, or the Levites, who had no inheritance in the earthly Canaan, but were dispersed and scattered throughout all the tribes, that they might teach the people the law of the Lord, and so could not be numbered there; yet, says the learned and pious Dr. Hammond, in Christ their portion was as good as the rest, and therefore were not omitted here. Behold here a consideration which administers much comfort to us the ministers of the gospel; though many of us have no earthly possessions, and some cut short of outward comforts, yet our title to the heavenly inheritance is good, and we shall not miss of it as the reward of our faithfulness. Note lastly, That although Levi had the charge of all the tribes, and had the peculiar favour above all the rest to stand before God, and administer to him in holy things, yet no more are sealed of this than of the other tribes; all were teachers, but all were not sealed; all are not saved that are of the holy calling, and who may be in

strumental to save others. It was a solemn

speech of an ancient father, Non temere
dico, sed ut affectus sum, ac ut animo
sentio: Revere puto sacerdotes non mul-
tos esse qui salvi fient, et plures esse
With it agrees St. Paul,
qui pereunt.
1 Cor. ix. 27. Fearing, lest having preach-
ed to others, he himself should become a
cast-away.

9 After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lainb. 11

And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

St. John having had in the former verses a visionary view of the church militant, under the denomination of sealed ones, in these verses a prospect is given him of the church triumphant in heaven; a most magnificent description of which we have here before us. Where note, 1. The triumphant church above is described by its multitude: A numberless number which no man can number: according to the promise made to Christ, of bringing many sons unto glory. 2. They are described by their variety; some out of every nation, tribe, people, and language, according to that of our Saviour, Matt. viii. 11. They shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 3. They are described by their posture, they stand before the throne, and before the Lamb, as servants attending upon their Lord, a most happy station, and as such accounted by them; not that they stand perpetually gazing upon God, and doing nothing else, but they express their love unto him, by attending upon him, to execute his commands. 4. They are described by their habit: They are clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; white garments import their dignity, their purity, their joy. The saints dignity in heaven is great, they are kings and priests unto God; their purity great, being purified as he is pure; their joy great, being entered into the joy of their Lord, this joy being too great to enter into them. Note farther, How these glorified saints do ascribe all their glory, happiness, and salvation, to Christ, and nothing to themselves, Salvation to our God, who sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb. Sancti quasi sanguine tincti, say some; Many of these saints were martyrs, that shed their blood for Christ." But mark, Their garments were made white, not in their own blood, but in the blood of the Lamb. Again, They are described with palms in

VOL. II.

their hands, as well as clothed in white. Now this denotes their victory, and the rewards of their victory. Palms were aAll the saints enter heaven with palmis in mongst the Roman ensigns of their victory. their hands, having conquered sin, Satan, and the world, and the whole host of spiritual enemies. Observe next, How the holy angels in heaven do join with these saints and martyrs in worshipping God, and adoring the Lamb, ver. 11. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and fell on their faces, and worshipped God, concurring with the church in their congratulations, adding their Amen to what the palm-bearers had said, and much more of their own, ascribing blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, unto him for ever and ever. Where note, how the triumphant church is made up of an innumerable company of angels, as well as saints: Heb. xii. besides the spirits of just men made perfect, makes mention of an innumerable company of angels, as part of the church of the first-born. (Angeli οτασιν Sancti Αναστασιν debent Christo, Mediatori, says one.) And St. Paul, Ephes. i. 10. says, That in the dispensation of the fulness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him. Whence it appears, that though angels sinned not, yet Christ gathered them and us into one society, and is an head both to them and us.

13 And one of the elders an

swered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes ? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, Thou knowest.

And he said unto me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 There

fore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

As if John had said, One of the elders, not out of ignorance as to himself, but out of desire to inform me, asked me, Whe

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