wine of the wrath of her fornication. Where note, 1. That by fornication her errors, idolatries, and false worship, are understood. Note, 2. That these are coinpared to wine upon several accounts. Is wine pleasant to the palate? so is idolatry to corrupt nature, which is hugely pleased with a pompous worship and a sensual religion. Is wine inflaming? so is idolatry; inflaming themselves with idols, Isa. lvii. 5. Does the wine deceive, and insensibly steal upon the drinker, and intoxicate him ere he is aware of it: so doth error and idolatry grow upon persons by insensible degrees; and accordingly, chap. xiii. 14. the beast is said to deceive them that dwell on the earth in a word, as persons drunk with wine are altogether incapable of counsel and advice from their best friends, in like manner such as are drunk with error and idolatry, with the wine of the whore's fornication, are besotted, benumbed, will not acknowledge their error, nor receive instruction. Note, 3. That this wine, as sweet as it is, is called the wine of wrath, partly be cause it inflames them that are drunk therewith with rage and cruel fury against sincere worshippers, and partly because it brings the wrath of God upon them that drink it little do idolaters think of this, because it is a worship of their own invention, it pleases them because it feasts their outward senses, it is grateful as wine unto them; but they forget that it is wine mixed with wrath, even with the wrath of God, the dregs of which shall be wrung out, and all idolaters shall drink them up. 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Observe here, The great and special care which Almighty God takes to wain men and women of those dreadful plagues which should most certainly come upon the heads of idolaters: a third angel followed, crying with a loud voice. O how good is God in that he does always premonish before he punishes, warns before he strikes, and advises all not to partake with others in their sins, lest they be partakers of their plagues! Observe, 2. A most dreadful denunciation of the wrath of God, against all those who shall worship the beast and his image, that is, submit to the enjoined idolatry, and receive his mark in their foreheads or hands, that is, yield obedience to the beast as a ser_vant, and openly own subjection to him as his slaves. Lord! what a dreadful guiltiness is it to follow antichrist, and to continue obstinate in idolatry, after God has sent one angel after another, minister after minister, to acquaint them both with their sin and danger! Observe, 3. The denunciation itself in the several parts of it, 1. They shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, that is, for their sin shall partake of severe judgments, the effects of God's wrath. Mark, Here is wine for wine, for the wine of Babylon's fornication, here is the wine of the wrath of God; the former wine was not so sweet, but the latter shall be as sharp. 2. Here is the quality of this wrath, it is poured out without mixture: its being poured out shows the abundance of it, and without mixture shows that it is without the least drop of mercy to allay the extremity of their torment. 3. It is called a cup of indignation, thereby intimating, that it is not the correction of a father, which is accompanied with lenity and love, but the vengeance of a judge that designs utter destruction. 4. Here is the effect of their drinking of this cup of the Lord's indignation, their being tormented with fire and brimstone; which expression denotes these sinners' torments to be most exquisite, both intolerable and interminable, and their punishment both easeless and endless. 5. It is here said, that this their torment shall be in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb; in the sight of the Lamb, against whom, and in the sight of the angels, before whom they had sinned, in worshipping the beast; they shall see them, but none shall help them. 6. The eternity as well as the extremity of their torments is here set forth : their smoke ascends for ever and ever; the torments of hell are here set forth as most acute and exquisite, and as endless and easeless, they have no rest day nor night, nor a moment's ease. It is well observed by Mr. Mede, that there is not a more terrible description of punishment in the whole book of God, than is here denounced against those idolaters which adhere to the beast; the smoke of their torment, that is, the fire and smoke wherewith they were tormented, ascendeth up for ever and ever, and they have no rest day nor night. And if the church of Rome, or Papal Babylon, be here intended, and not Pagan, as most Protestants believe and affirm, then this shows that those of her communion, living and dying in a firm adherence to the chiel doctrines of Popery, and framing their lives by them, after they have had, or might have had, sufficient means to convince them of their error and idolatry, do expose their salvation to extreme hazard and danger. Blessed be God for our happy reformation, from the idolatry and superstition, from the tyranny and oppression, and the intolerable yoke, of the church of Rome. God grant we may be reformed in our lives as well as in our religion, otherwise our damnation is as sure as theirs is great, for the holiest doctrine and purest worship will be of no avail to impure worshippers and unholy livers; it matters not what church or what communion a bad man is of, for it is certain he cannot be saved by any. : 12 Here is the patience of the saints here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. That is, here at this time will be exercised all the faith and patience of Christ's faithful servants, and this their exercise of these graces will make it appear that they were true, and not counterfeit Christians; it follows, here are they which keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus, that is, who discover themselves sincere in their profession, by obeying the commands of God, and rightly believing on our Lord Jesus Christ. Where note, What is the characteristical mark of a sincere Christian, namely, faith and obedience united together; faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and obedience to the will of God in all things, are never separated where they are sincere. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth : Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours ; and their works do follow them. These word, in their original and primary intention were delivered by the Spirit, and commanded to be written by St. John, for the support and comfort of the church under that severe persecution which should befall it; and do declare the happy condition of martyrs particularly, and such as die for the Lord; but they may be considered in a greater latitude, and be of general use to the church of God in all ages, and under all circumstances, and administer comfort to all believers who die in the Lord, that is, in the faith of the Lord, in the fear of the Lord, and in the favour of the Lord, to all that die sincere Christians, both in faith and practice. Here note, 1. A solemn declaration of the blessed state of good men after this life; their death is blessed, and a blessing to them. Note, 2. The time from whence their blessedness commences, from henceforth, that is, from the time of their death, then doth their blessedness begin. Thence learn, That all good Christians immediately upon their dissolution and departure out of this life are in a Llessed and happy condition. Note, 3. Wherein the blessedness of the righteous after their departure doth consist : 1. In resting from their labours, that is, from all the troubles, sorrows, and sufferings, from all the calamities, infirmities, and miseries of this frail, mortal state; no sin shall affect then, no sorrow afflict them, no danger affright them. 2. In reaping the comfort of all the good works they have done in the world, their works follow them; that is, 1. A delightful remembrance of their good works is found with them, which if it refreshes their souls with transporting pleasures now, how will it swallow them up with the highest transports of complacency and delight then! 2. The blessed fruits and happy effects of their good works, and the special reward belonging to them, shall accompany good men into another world, which will render them completely blessed, by procuring for them, through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, an admission into heaven, where they shall drink of those pleasures which are at God's right hand for evermore. Note lastly, How this truth concerning the future blessedness of the righteous deserves our most serious and attentive regard and meditation, because delivered by an audible voice from heaven, expressly commanded to be written, and confirmed by the solemn asseveration of the Spirit, I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. 14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. In these verses a description is given of Christ as coming to judgment, to inflict punishment upon his stubborn enemies; and here we have the judge described, 1. By his form or shape, he was one like the Son of man. 2. By his place and posture of judgment, sitting on a white cloud, the cloud denoting the sovereignty of the judge, and whiteness prefiguring the uprightness of his proceedings, and both signifying his speed and swiftness in coming to execute judgment; on this white cloud did he sit, denoting thereby both his composedness and freedom from all passion and perturbation as a judge, and also his majesty and authority, sitting as a king upon his throne, as well as like a judge upon his tribunal. 3. He is described by his royal ornament, having on his head a golden crown. Behold here the different estate of our Lord Jesus Christ above, from what it was here below; here crowned with thorns, there crowned with gold, the reward of his sufferings! Blessed be God, that as it was with the Head, so shall it be with all the members! 4. By the instrument which he had in his hand fit for the work which he had in hand, namely, a sharp sickle for the reaping of the earth. A sickle is a circular instrument, and compasseth the corn round about, which it is to cut down; the judgment of Christ upon the wicked will inclose them all, not a soul of them shall be able to escape it; and a sharp sickle signifies the quality of his judgment, that it will be se vere. Behold here the unavoidable destruction of the wicked, and how impossible it is for them to escape the judgments of Christ; all the wicked together are no more in the hand of Christ than as an handful of grass, or ripe corn, to a sharp sickle in a strong hand. In the fifteenth verse we have a manifestation of the church's fervent desire that Christ would make speed, and hasten his work, and come quickly to judgment, both for the consummation of their glory, and for the destruction of his own and their enemies: Thrust in thy sickle, and reap, for the harvest is ripe; that is, it is full time to their sins (which call for these judgments) execute thy judgment on the wicked, for are now come to the height. Behold here Christ's day of judgment is like a day of harvest; when the corn is ripe, the sickle is got ready; when the sickle is got ready, it is set to work; when it is set to work, it cuts down all, wheat and tares, corn and grass, without discrimination; but the Lord of the harvest soon commands a separation to be made of the good grain from the tares, of the righteous from the wicked, laying up the former in the granary of heaven, binding up the latter for the fire of hell. In the sixteenth verse we have observable, 1. Christ's ready answering of, and complying with, the desires of his people, to thrust in the sickle of his judgment, and reap the earth: he that sat on the cloud did thrust in his sickle. How ready is Christ to fulfil the desires of them that fear him, to hear their cry, and help them in his own time, in the best and fittest season! Observe, 2. The great and infinite power of our Lord Jesus Christ, that upon the thrusting in of his sickle, the whole earth was presently reaped. Behold the ability of Christ for judgment, as well as his impartiality in judging such a Judge is he, as the power of the mightiest cannot daunt; such a Judge, as the riches of the wealthiest cannot bribe; such a Judge, as the subtilty of the wisest cannot deceive; in a word, such a Judge, as there is no appealing from, no repealing of, his sentence. O great day; when the stiffest knee shall bow at the tribunal of Christ, and the strongest back shall bend under the insupportable burden of the wrath of the Lamb; when the Alexanders and Cæsars, which once shook the earth, and caused the world to tremble, shall revere and lie prostrate at the foot of Christ! Behold then, and admire the wonderful power and dexterity of Christ in judging, that upon the thrusting in of his sickle the whole earth was presently reaped! 17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire: and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great wine-press of the wrath of God. 20 And the wine-press was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the wine-press, even unto the horse-bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. In the former verses we meet with the metaphor of an harvest, in these we meet with that of a vintage; there the wicked were compared to ripe corn fit for the harvest, here to ripe grapes fit for the wine-press; signifying by both, that the wicked, by filling up the measure of their sins, do make themselves ripe and ready for judgment. Note here, 1. That as the true church is called a vine, so is the wicked antichristian church here called; but with this addition, a vine of the earth, cleaving to, and only favouring of, the earth; a good name will signify little in judgment; to be called christians, virgins, &c. what will it profit, without burning and shining lamps? Note, 2. Whereas the grapes of this vine are said to be not only ripe, but fully ripe, how great is the forbearance and long-suffering of God towards the wicked! Maximum miraculum est Dei longanimitas, the patience of God towards sinners is the greatest miracle in the world; but though lasting it will not be everlasting; when long abused, it turns at last into fury: ripening in sin, is a sure prognostication of judgment at hand. Note, 3. The vine with all its clusters are gathered, small and great, one and another, all shall appear before the bar of Christ, chap. xx. 12. I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God: and the books were opened, and the dead were judged out of those books. Note, 4. Whither this degenerated This and the following chapter acquaints us with a fresh vision, which St. John had of the pouring forth of the vials, or the inflicting of the seven last plagues and judgments upon the world; upon the Heathen world, say some; upon the antichristian world, say most; I saw seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God; where, by seven angels, understand the ministers and executioners of the wrath of God; by the seven plagues, understand the last dreadful judgments that should be inflicted, which would make a final end of him, whoever he be, that they should be poured forth upon, one after another. Where note, 1. How the patience, forbearance, and long-suffering goodness, of God, is wonderfully seen in his carriage towards sinners: though he punishes the wicked sometimes, to let them see that his justice is not asleep, yet he doth not stir up all his wrath, nor poureth it out all at once upon them, but gradually; desirous of and waiting for their repentance, even when he has begun in justice to punish them. Note, 2. Whereas it is said, in them (that is, in the present seven plagues) is filled up the wrath of God; we learn, what final impenitency, and incorrigibleness under former judgments, will produce at last; namely, Judgment to the uttermost: ripeness in sin will at last make men ripe for ruin; and when they have filled up the measure of their sins, God will fill up the measure of his wrath; in them is filled up the wrath of God. 2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire; and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 3. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty: just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee for thy judgments are made manifest. There seems here to be an allusion to the Israelites' deliverance out of Egypt, and to the song of Moses upon that occasion, recorded Exod. xv. As they were delivered out of literal Egypt, so these from mystical Egypt, both nests of idolatry and false worship; a deliverance from both which deservedly called for a song of thanksgiving. I saw a sea of glass mingled with fire; that is, a great number of pure, zealous christians, their multitude being represented by the sea, their purity by glass, and their zeal by fire. Who had gotten victory over the beast, and over his image; that is, who overcame all temptations to idolatry, both from the Pagan and antichristian emperors, called the beast and his image. Having the harps of God in their hand, in allusion to the musical instruments used in the temple-service, and denoting hearts fitted for, and tuned by, the Spirit of God; to praise him with cheerfulness for preserving them from being overcome by temptations to idolatry. Learn hence, That such as are sincerely gracious, are truly thankful to God for all his benefits and blessings, but especially for their preservation from sin, and their getting victory over temptations. Observe next, The work of solemn praise and thanksgiving, which these purified and preserved souls were engaged in and employed about: They sung the song of Moses and the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, O Lord. Where note, 1. The title of the song, namely, the song of Moses and the Lamb. The song of Moses, that is, a song much like unto that of Moses and the Israelites after they had passed safely through the Red Sea, Exod. xv. and the song of the Lamb, so called, because it was a song indited by the Spirit of the Lamb, and tending to advance the glory of the Lamb. Note, 2. The matter of the song, which is divided into two parts, 1. The church's confession and declaration of those works which Christ doth: Great and marvellous are thy works, just and true are thy ways; that is, they are great and wonderful works, fit only to be done just and true, well becoming him who is by him who is the Lord God Almighty; King of saints. 2. The use which the church makes of these works; and that is, 1. To record, celebrate, and publish them. 2. To oblige and bind themselves faster and closer to him in his worship and serand glorify thy name? for thou only art vice: Who shall not fear thee, O Lord! holy. Obserre farther, The titles which are here by the church given unto God. 1. |