And they cried with a loud voice, faying, how long, Lord, holy and true, doft not thou judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell upon the earth?". Rev. vi. 10.

Here we fee plainly, that the fouls of the martyrs do very vehemently cry for vengeance upon these cruel tyrants which fhed their blood. Moreover, they cry for it fpeedily, and feem to be impatient of delay. But it is to be obferved, that they do not this in any hatred, or private defire of revenge, in refpect of any wrong or cruelty fhewed to them; but in very love and burning zeal of the kingdom and glory of Chrift, and whatsoever defire they have, it is wholly to that end. Wherefore they are here under a figure brought in crying for vengeance, rather to exprefs what judgment of God tarrieth for the cruel perfecuters, then to fhew what mind they bear towards them. For it is indeed their caufe that crieth for vengeance. And as

Abel's blood, fo their blood crieth aloud in the ears of the Lord of holls for revenge.

Moreover, we may not imagine or gather out of this loud crying of the martyrs in heaven, that they have any difturbance, impatience, difquietnefs, or any difcontentment there. But this they do in a fervent defire of that fulness of glory, which they

affuredly hope for and look for in confumation of all things, when both their fouls and bodies fhall be joined together.

And long white robes were given unto every one; and it was faid unto them, That they fhould reft for a little feafon, ' until their fellow fervants and their brethren which fhould be killed, even as they were, were fulfilled.' Rev. vi. 11.

Thefe white robes do fignify that honour, glory, and dignity, whereunto not only the martyrs, but alfo of all other faithful believers are advanced in the chambers of peace: for fo white robes are to be underftood in fundry other places of this book. And this doth plainly prove, that the martyrs were now in glory with Chrift.

Now, as concerning the answer to their complaint and cry, it was this, that they fhould be content, and have patience for a little feafon, (for the time remaining, to the end of the world, was but as a day with God, and as a moment in comparison of eternity:) and the reafon of the delay is yielded, which is this, that there were numbers of others, their brethren in the world, which fhould be martyred and flain for the truth, as well as they, under the great antichrift of Rome, and the bloody Turk, at and upon the opening of the feventh feal. And therefore in confidera

tion that the most wife God had decreed and fore-determined with himself in most fecret and hid counfel, to bring multitudes of others to glory by the fame way and means that they themselves were brought, that therefore in the mean time, being fo short a time, they fhould reft fatisfied and contented. And here by the way, we fee what stayeth the coming of Chrift unto judgment; namely this, that the number of the martyrs and faints and all fuch as he hath chofen unto life, are not yet accom plifhed.

And behold when he opened the fixth feal, and lo, there was a great earth-quake, and the fun was as black as fack-cloth of hair, and the moon was like blood." Rev. vi. 12.

And the ftars of heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig-tree cafteth her green figs, when it is fhaken of a mighty wind." Rev. vi. 13.

And heaven departed away as a scroll when it is rolled, and every mountain ⚫ and ifle were moved out of their place.' Rev. vi. 14.

Upon the opening of the fixth feal, very doleful and fearful things do follow: as earth-quakes, the darkning of the fun, the obfcurity of the moon, the falling of the ftars, the rolling together of the heavens,

the removing of mountains and ifles out of their places, the howlings and horrors of kings, captains, and other potentates of the earth, which are all things very terrible and fearful to behold: and all thefe do reprefent and figure out unto us the most fearful tokens of God's high difpleasure and most heavy indignation against the wicked world. Very grievous things fell out upon the opening of the fecond, third, and fourth feals: but they are far more grievous which follow upon the opening of this fixth feal: for this fixth feal containeth an aggravation and increase of all the former judgements. For now after the cry of the martyrs for vengeance, God the avenger of the blood of the righteous doth fhew himself from heaven, and declare his wrath in a more fearful manner than before, even to the great aftonishment of all the creatures in heaven and earth. So horrible a thing is the fhedding of the blood of the Chriftians. For now we fee plainly, that God heareth the cries of his martyrs, and cometh as a giant, or an armed man, to take vengeance of all their enemies, for, precious in the fight of the Lord is the death of his faints:'. Pfal. cxvi. 15. and he is much moved with the cry of their blood, as here we fee. And therefore now threatened to hold a general aflize, wherein he will make inquifition

after blood, and arraign and condemn all fuch as are found guilty thereof: according as the perfecuting emperors and many others did find and feel by woful experience. For, if God be angry but a little, who may endure it.

Now although the ftories do report, that in those days, which was above three hundred years after Chrift, there were many great and fearful earth-quakes in divers nations and cities of the world: yet it is apparent, that the earth-quake here spoken of, cannot be taken literally, nor any of the rest here mentioned. For there was never any time, neither is it mentioned in any chronicle, that ever the fun was as black as fack-cloth of hair; or the moon turned into blood; or the ftars fell from heaven; or the heavens rolled together like a fcroll; or that mountains and islands were moved out of their places. Therefore of neceffity all this must be understood metaphorically; that is, that God did in fo ftrange and fearful a manner manifeft his wrath from heaven by tumults, commotions, feditions, and alterations of kingdoms, as if these things of the fun, moon, and stars, had been vifibly represented to the eye. An earth-quake in this book, and other books alfo of the fcriptures, doth by a borrowed fpeech fignify commotions of com