clothed with the fun, &c. but a far greater wonder in the spiritual sense, as we shall hear; and the greatest wonder of all, that a poor weak woman fhould encounter with a great red dragon and overcome him. It is to be a wonder in heaven, because the church here in vifion appeareth not upon the earth, but in heaven, in as much as her birth is from heaven, her inheritance in heaven, and her converfation in heaven.

The church is here compared to a woman, as in Pfalm xlv. and in the whole of the Song of Solomon, and that for three reafons.

First, As a woman is weak and feeble, and in law can do nothing of herself without her husband; fo we of ourselves are weak and feeble, and in matters of God's law and worship, can do nothing without our husband Christ, as he faith, Without me ye can nothing.'

Secondly, As a woman through the company of her husband is fruitful, and bringeth forth children: fo the church by her conjunction with Christ and his word, doth bring forth many children unto God.

Thirdly, As the love and affection of a woman is to her husband, as Genefis ii. 16. fo the love and affection of the church is altogether to Chrift, and Chrift to her.

6

This woman is clothed with the fun:"

that is, the church is clothed with Chrift the fun of righteoufnefs,' Mal. iv. 2. as the prophet fpeaketh.

The moon was under her feet.' Whereby is meant, that the church treadeth under her feet all worldly things, which are compared to the moon for their often changes, waxings, wainings, and increasings, decreafings, continual mutations, and uncertainties. The church treadeth all transitory things under her feet: that is, the maketh light account of them, fhe regardeth them not in comparison of heavenly things: for he that is clothed with the fun, careth little for the light of the moon.

She hath upon her head a crown of twelve ftars:' which fignifieth that the church is adorned and beautified with the doctrine of the twelve apoftles; that is, the doctrine of the gofpel, as it were with a crown of gold, of pearl, and precious ftones. For the doctrine of the gofpel is the crown of the church.

And he was with child, and cried travailing in birth, and was pained ready ⚫ to be delivered.' Rev. xii. 2.

The church is faid to be with child after fhe hath conceived the immortal feed of the word by the miniftry of the gofpel, as the apostle faith: In Chrift Jefus I have begotten you through the gofpel:' 2 Cor iv. 15.

And to the Galatians, O ye little children, ' of whom I travail in birth again till Christ 'be formed in you.'

It is not only faid, that this woman was with child; but alfo, that she was very near her time, ready to bring forth, and to be delivered, and that fhe crieth in travail. Now the child which fhe bringeth forth is Chrift Jefus, as appeareth in the fifth verfe, for there it is faid of him, that he should rule all nations with a rod of iron,' Gal. v. 19.

Now although Chrift was born but of one member of the church, which is the Virigin Mary: yet may it be faid, that the whole church, which was before his com ing, did even travail with pain to bring him forth, because they had, through faith in the promises, a longing and fervent defire and expectation of his coming. For from the first promise made to Adam, and afterward renewed to Abraham and his pofterity, the church stood in a continual expectation of the promised Meffiah, looking earnestly every day when he fhould be actually exhibited to the world. For which cause here fhe is faid to cry, travailing in birth.' And not unfitly alfo may the church be faid to cry travailing in birth, when, through many perfecutions and afflictions, fhe bringeth forth children unto God by the miniftry

of the word. For the church bringeth forth no children at ease, but with hard travail, and much ado, having so few friends to help her, and fo many enemies against her, as after we shall hear.

' And there appeared another wonder in heaven: For behold a great red dragon having feven heads, and ten horns, and feven crowns upon his head. And his ⚫tail drew the third part of the ftars of heaven, and caft them to the earth. And the dragon ftood before the woman, which was ready to be delivered,' Rev. xii. 3, 4.

Now we are come to the defcription of the church's great and capital enemy, which is the devil: who, because he ftudieth and laboureth continually to impeach the good state of the church in heavenly things, to deject her from her dignity, and difpoffefs her of her inheritance, therefore here in a vilion he is faid to appear in heaven: for he meddleth with the church in and about heavenly things, practifing to pull her out of heaven, from whence the came, and whither fhe muft return, even to caft her into hell and condemnation with himself, if it were poffible. The devil is compared to a dragon, for his fury and cunning; to a dragon, for his power and might; and a red dragon, for his bloody cruelty,

malice, and madness against Christ and all his members.

His feven heads' fignify his manifold flights and fubtilities, wherein he is a craftsmafter.

His ten horns' fignify his dreadful power. For he knoweth not that he is ftronger than any other creature, having not loft his ftrength by his fall, but remaineth as ftrong as an angel of light.

His feven crowns upon his heads' do fignify his manifold victories over the world. For he hath from time to time, and from age to age got fo many conquefts over the world through his flight and power, that now he is the god of the world,' as the apostle faith, and reigneth as king over 6 them.'

The dragon hath a monstrous tail both for length and ftrength; for it is fo long that it reacheth up to heaven, and fo ftrong, that it brufheth down many ftars thence. That is, the devil through abomination and covetoufnefs, and other fleshly lufts, doth pull down many minifters, which fhined in doctrine and life as the stars of heaven, even unto the earth, where they have loft their brightnefs and glory, and fhine as much as the moon in a mist.

Moreover, it is faid, that the dragon ftood before the woman in travail, to de