two prophets vexed them that dwelt on the earth.' Rev. xi. 10.

Here we fee how the inhabitants of the earth, that is, the feduced multitude and blind people in the time of ignorance, do greatly infult and triumph over the death of the Lord's witneffes; and they do exprefs their joy by sending gifts and prefents one to another, as if they had received fome great benefits, or had heard the most joyful news in the world. And the reason. is added, because they vexed and tormented them; meaning thereby, that the preaching of the truth, and the reproving of their errors, idolatries, and manifold impieties, was a dagger, and a corfey unto them, they could at no hand endure it, for the preaching of the gospel is the torment of the world, and the preachers the tormenters. Thefe few preachers thundering against their fuperftitions and abominable fervice of Antichrift, did vex every vein in their heart, and inwardly fo wound and lance their confciences, that they could have no reft till they had rid them out of the world. But now having dispatched them, and made riddance of them, they are very crank and jocund.

But after three days and a half, the fpirit of life coming from God, fhall enter into them, and they shall ftand upon their

feet, and great fear fhall come upon them which faw them.' Rev. xi. 11.

Notwithstanding the rage and favage fury of the Pope and his followers, yet here is fhewed, that they could not prevail as they defired: for within three days and a half, that is, when the date of Antichrift's reign was expired, and the time come that Popery must be difclofed by the light of the gofpel breaking forth, there followeth a great alteration: For thefe two prophets or witneffes are raised up again: For he faith, the Spirit of life which came from God, fhall enter into them, and they fhall ftand upon their feet.

This may feem fomewhat frange, but it is not to be understood, that they should be raised up bodily in their perfons, till the laft refurrection: but that God would raise up others endued with the fame fpirit, which fhould mightily defend both the doctrine, cause, and quarrel, which their predeceffors had maintained, and fealed with their blood: in whom they fhould after a fort revive, and live again, even as Elias did revive, and as it were live again. in John Baptift, who is faid to be endued with the power and the fpirit of Elias, as it was foretold by the prophet, and as our Saviour himself doth avouch. Now bleffed be God, that we live in thefe days, wherein

we fee with our eyes all thefe things fulfilled. For when the Pope and his clergy had murdered Gerbardus, Dulcimus, Navarrenfis, Waldus,-Nicholaus Orem, John Picus, John Zisca, Vifilus, Groningenfis, Armerias, Wickliffe, Huffe, Jerome of Prague, and many preachers in Suevia, and one hundred holy Chriftians in the Country of Alfatia, and many other countries, and of all conditions of men: yet for all that, fpite of their hearts, God raised. up others in their ftead, as Luther, Calvin, Zuinglius, Peter Martyr, Peter Viret, Melanthon, Bucer, Bullinger, and their fucceffors, yea, the thoufands of excellent minifters and preachers which are difperfed over all Europe at this day: in whom all the former witneffes do revive, and as it were ftand upon their feet again. And now a great fear is come upon the Pope and his clergy, and all his favourites; for they did never fo much as dream of fuch an alteration: but this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.

And they fhall hear a great voice from him, faying unto them: Come up hither, and they fhall afcend up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies fhall fee them.' Rev. xi. 12.

Here the Lord's witneffes, whom Antichrift had murdered, are called, and taken

up into heaven, that they may be crowned with glory and immortality, having in the earth fought fo excellent a fight of faith as they had: for even as Chrift their head was taken up in a cloud to the heavens, even fo his faithful members are here taken up in a cloud to reign with him for ever. Moreover, it is here faid, that their enemies fhall fee them afcending up:' they fhall as it were afcend up in their fight: for from the fire and faggot, fwords and fpears of their enemies, they went directly unto God, and the very confciences of their perfecutors did witnefs fo much; nay fome of them being in horrible convulfions of confcience, did not stick to utter it, avouching the innocency of God's martyrs: as fometimes Pilate, and the Centurion did of Chrift. But though they had not been juftified by their enemies, yet are here juftified by a great teftimony: for the voice from heaven, the voice of God doth juftify them, and clear them, accounting them worthy to be called up from the earth to heaven, and received to eternal glory. For whofoever the Pope and his clergy condemned them for heretics and fchifmatics: yet here they are juftified and cleared by a voice from heaven, which is more than the voices, fuffrages, and approbations of all men in the world.

And the fame hour there fhall be a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fhall fall, and in the earthquake 'fhall be flain in number feven thoufand, and the remnant were fore feared, and gave glory to the God of heaven.' Rev. ix. 13.

As he hath fhewed before that the world was very joyful and jocund, when they had made dispatch of God's witneffes: but afterward full of fear and terror, when they faw what followed: fo here in this verfe is fhewed, that at the fame hour, that is, about the fame time when they haye perfecuted the faints, and see thousands of others raised up in their ftead, and as it were out of their blood, that there should immediately follow a great earth quake:' that is, horrible commotions, feditions, tumults, and open wars among the kingdoms and nations of the world, and amongst all people which fhould live after the breaking forth of the light of the gofpel; as this day we fee with our eyes: for who now in thefe days doth not fee and feel this earthquake? Who knoweth not what ftirs there have been, and are every where about religion? Who is ignorant that all the wars, feditions, treacheries, treafons, and rebellions that are this day in Europe betwixt one kingdom and another, are especially concerning . the matter of religion? But mark what