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angel to fhew unto his fervants the things 'which muft fhortly be fulfilled,' Rev. xxii. 6, 7. The third is the teftimony of Jefus, who pronounceth them bleffed which keep the words of this prophecy. For faith he, Behold I come fhortly: bleffed is he that keepeth the words of this prophecy.'The fourth and laft is the witnefs of John, in these words, I am John which heard. and faw these things.' Now it may be demanded, what is the caufe that here are fo many things heaped up for the confirmation of the authority of this book. Surely we muft think there is fome special caufe and reason of it. For the Holy Gholt doth not ufe to deal fo much and fo earneftly in a matter, but upon great caufe. We may eafily gather what the caufe is. The book painteth out the whore of Babylon, and the whole kingdom of the great Antichrift, together with all Satan's cunning and flight therein, and for this caufe Satan hath laboured efpecially to weaken the credit and authority of this book. He by fome means. in old time prevailed thus far, that even a-mong fome churches of true Chriftians, the authority and truth of it was doubted of. The Holy Ghoft did well forefee the practice of Satan, and therefore bringeth the more reafons for the confirmation thereof. If the credit and authority of this book

fhould never have been impugned, there needed not any fuch special confirmation. But now, God be thanked, there is no queftion or controverfy concerning the authority of this prophecy. It is received as authentic by the common confent of all the churches. Almost all the ancient fathers do acknowledge it to be canonical. The new writers do with one voice give.confent and approbation unto it. The Papifts them-. felves do acknowledge it to be the facred and undoubted word of God, though of all. fcriptures they cannot endure it fhould be mentioned, because it cutteth them fo near the bone. Moreover, it may not be omitted, that God is called the Lord God of the holy prophets, which proveth that this prophecy is of equal authority with the prophecies which were of old, in as much as the fame God is the author of it. And this book is to be held in the fame account with the books of Mofes, and of the prophets, for all things contained in it fhall as certainly be fulfilled in their times, as theirs were. In Ifaiah, in Jeremiah, in Ezekiel, in Daniel, and in the reft we find many things, which the Lord fhewed by them long before they came to pafs. Likewife there are many things fore-fhewed and foreprophefied in this book, which in their time fhall be affuredly fulfilled. Nay, we

fee and know that many things here foretold, are already fulfilled, and fome things are come to pals even in our days. He that fhall look into the times that are past, fince this prophecy was given, fhall find that all things have fallen out agreeable to the prophecy of this book. And furely if there were no other thing to perfuade us touching the authority thereof, this might fuffice, that every thing hath fallen out juft and true, as the prophecy did fore-fhow. It is our great negligence, that we do not clearly fee fo much. And I do humbly entreat all the people of God to look more diligently and narrowly into it in all time to come. And thus much as concerning the circumstances.

Now a concerning the book itself, it may very fitly be divided into three vifions, as it were into three general parts. The firft vifion is contained in the three firft chapters. The fecond vifion is contained in the next eight chapters following, from the fourth to the twelfth chapter. And the laft vifion is contained in all the chapters following, from the twelfth to the end.

As concerning the firft vifion, my pur pofe is not to stand much upon it, becaufe it is plain and eafy to understand, and because it containeth no prophecies of things to come, but only openeth the prefent fate

of the church at that time; and also because I have already touched the fum of it in handling the circumftantial points, I will therefore content myfelf with a very brief opening and refolution of it, beginning at the first chapter.

CHAP. I.

Contents of the first Chapter.

THE first chapter containeth four principle things, viz.

The title of the book.

The falutation of the churches.

The manner of John's calling to receive this prophecy.

The defcription of Chrift, the perfon that called him.

The title of the book is fet down in thefe words: The Revelation of Jefus Chrift, 'which God gave him.'

It containeth three things: First, The Author of the book, which is Jefus Chrift,. receiving it from God the Father.

Secondly, The end and ufe of this book, which is, to fhew unto all the fervants of

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God, the things which muft fhortly come to pafs, Rev. i. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,

Thirdly, The fingular fruit and benefit which the church fhall receive by it, in these words: Bleffed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this pro' phecy,' &c.

The falutation is in these words, John to the feven churches which are in Afia, grace be with you and peace,' &c. It containeth a defcription of the Trinity, or three perfons in the Godhead. The Father is defcribed of his eternity, namely, to be he which is, which was, and which is to 'come.'

The Holy Ghoft is defcribed of his divers gifts and operations, and therefore is called the feven Spirits which are before the throne, or which proceed from the throne. But St. John fpeaketh here of the Holy Ghoft, according to the vifion fhewed him in the fifth chapter, where Christ is faid to have feven eyes, which are the feven Spirits which God fent into all the world. Which fhall be afterwards treated of.

Jefus Chrift is defcribed of his three great offices, of King, Prieft and Prophet, and alfo his glorious power and eternity.

First, Touching his Kingly office, he is called the Prince of the kings of the earth, that is, King of kings, for he is King of