multitudes; and compass the tents of the • faints about, and the beloved city:' that is, did make war against the church and people of God, which, in comparison of them, were but as a few tents, or fome little city. But mark what followeth, and confider the iffue of the battle: the Holy Ghost faith exprefsly, that fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them:' which doth plainly fhew, that the armies of Gog and Magog, though never fo huge, fhall be deftroyed by the fire of God's wrath.

Now from this I gather, that as the armies of the Pope fhall go down ftill more and more, as formerly hath been fhewed, and as experience in many years good fuccefs, both in Ireland, Netherland, and against Spain alfo, hath partly proved (God's most holy name be praifed:) fo alfo the armies of the Turk fhall be overthrown, fo far forth as they fight againft the true church; or at least be fo kept back, that they fhall not be able to compafs the tents of the faints, as we fee and feel this day God be thanked.

And the devil that deceived them, was caft into a lake of fire and brimftone, "where the beast and falfe prophet are and 'fhall be tormented, even day and night forevermore," Rev. xx. io.

Here is fet down the devil's doom; to wit, that he fhall be caft down into the infernal pit, as well worthy, both for his feducing all nations, and ftirring up the armies of Gog and Magog againit the church, even to root it up, if it were poffible.

Therefore St. John telleth us, that forafmuch as he is the author of all mischief, and he that hath fet all the reft. to work, therefore both he and his inftruments, the beaft and the falfe prophet, Gog and Magog, fhall all drink of the fame cup of God's eternal wrath, and be all thrown down together into one clofe prifon, which is that gaping gulf, and infernal lake that burneth with fire and brimftone forever.

Lo then what fhall be the end of the devil, the Turk, the Pope, the emperor, the king of Spain, the cardinals, and all other the devil's inftruments, which here on earth have perfecuted the church, and compaffed the tents of the faints, and the beloved city.

Now after all this, in the five last verses, St. John entereth into a lively and clear defcription of the laft judgment; first, noting the terror and majesty of the Judge himfelf, in this, that from his face both 'heaven and earth fled away;' Rev. xx. 11, that is, no creature fhall be able to endure his angry countenance in that day: and yet withal fetting down the purity and upright

6

nefs of his judgment, and judgment-feat, calling it a white throne. And after this, the general fitting and perfonal appearing of all men before him, of what degree, eftate, or condition foever: for both death and hell, fea and grave did deliver up their dead,' Rev. xx. 11, and all without exception came to judgment, and the books of their confciences were opened (for every man's work is engraven upon his confcience, as it were in letters of brafs, or with the point of a diamond, as the prophet fpeaketh.) And they were judged of those things which were written in the books according to their works, and according to the teftimony of their own confciences. And death and hell,' Rev. xx. 12, 14, that is, all the heirs of death and hell, even all the fociety of reprobates, both papifts, athiefts, and all unbelievers, yea, whofoever were not found written in the book of life, were caft into the lake of fire, which is the fecond death.' Rev. xx. 15, Now here I would have it diligently obferved, that the Holy Ghoft hath three feveral times in this book defcribed the laft judgment; to wit, in the latter end of the eleventh chapter, in the latter end of the fourteenth chapter, and now in the latter end of this chapter. And moreover, I would have the order and caufes of thefe

defcriptions, well weighed: for in the eeleventh chapter, having before defcribed the kingdom of the Pope and the Turk, with their overthrow, and alfo the preaching and prevailing of the gofpel in thefe laft days, he cometh to defcribe the laft judgment: In the fourteenth chapter, having fet down, that the everlafting gofpel 'fhould be plentifully preached in this laft

age, and the overthrow of Babylon' immediately following, forthwith he proceedeth to the defcription of the laft day: In this chapter, having before concluded of the utter overthrow of Rome, and of the beaft and falfe prophet, of Gog and Magog, and all adverfary power, at length he proceedeth to this defcription of Chrift's fecond coming, which we have heard of. And out of all this I do gather, that the utter overthrow of the Pope, and all his adherents fhall be in this life, a little before the coming of Chrift judgment.

CHAP. XXI.

As we have heard before the utter over

throw of the beaft, and the falfe pro

phet, and all their adherents; and alfo of

the everlasting condemnation of the dragon, that old ferpent, which fet them all to work: fo now in this chapter we dre to hear of that moft happy and bleffed eftate which the faithful fhall dwell in forever more: fo that the main defign of this chapter is most fully to defcribe that infinite glory and endlefs felicity to the which all the 144,000, that is, all the ele&t of God' fhall be advanced, when both the beaft, and all that have received his mark, fhall be caft down into the infernal lake.

This chapter may very fitly be divided into four parts:

The first is, a defcription of the renovation of the world, and the restoration of the creature.

The fecond is, a laying forth of the most. glorious eftate of the church, when it shall be freed from all mifery.

The third is, a proteftation from God himfelf concerning the renovation of all things, the felicity of the elect, and the endlefs pain and torment of all reprobates.

The fourth is a lively defcription of the very kingdom of God, and the unspeakable joys of heaven under the figure of a great city, called the holy Jerufalem;' which city is here moft gloriously defcribed in her walls, gates, foundations, streets, Numb. II.

Kk