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the things revealed in this prophefy. For this book is a moft precious jewel which God hath bestowed upon his church in this last age, and it is a great pity that all the fervants of God are not better acquainted with it, especially in thefe times, for now in this age is and fhall be the very heat of the war, and brunt of the battle betwixt Papifts and Proteftants, betwixt God and Belial: betwixt the armies of Chrift, and the armies of Antichrift. Now this prophefy layeth all open, and plainly telleth us what fhall be the iffue and fuccels in the day of battle; which fide shall have the victory, and which side shall go down. And therefore very needful it is, that it fhould be expounded again and again, and all the Lord's people made thoroughly acquainted with it. For in this age wherein we live, this prophefy can never be enough opened and beaten upon, that all good Proteftants may be armed with it against future times, even as it were with an armour of proof. Saint John plainly telleth the people of his time, even the churches of Afia, that they fhould be bleffed by reading and studying this book, because they should thereby be fore-warned and fore-armed against many eminent troubles and future dangers. For faith he, the time is at hand: that is to fay, fome

things were even then to be fulfilled. For fome matters foretold in this book, did begin to be fulfilled, even presently after they were fhewed unto John; for the mystery of iniquity did even then begin to work. The church in the apoftles time had her conflicts. The ten great perfecutions began even then to be raised up. Herefies fhortly after began to fpring and sprout. Afterwards by degrees, the great Antichrist did approach toward his curfed feat. And after all this St. John foretelleth how he fhould take poffeffion of his abominable and most execrable feat and fee of Rome; how he fhould reign and rule for a time as the monarch of the world; how he should prevail against the church, and make war against the faints; how he fhould reign but a fhort time, and afterward come tumbling down, as faft as ever he rofe up, and decrease as fast as ever he encreased, therefore bleffed is he (faith St. Johm) that diligently readeth and perufeth this book,' that thereby he may forefee all these things, and be armed against them. For as the heathen man faith, Levius lædit quicquid provideris ante, " Foreseeing dangers do leaft hurt." Now to apply all this to our times, I fay, they are twice happy that are ftudious and painful in fearching out the true fenfe and meaning of this prophefy,

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that thereby they may be ftrengthened a gainft all the affaults of the Papifts, our profeffed enemies, and the enemies of God's church, and ftand fast to the everlasting truth of God, knowing for a certainty that the fons of Belial fhall not long prevail, Rev. ix. 11. The date of their reign is almoft out, and the time draweth on apace, wherein both they and their king Abaddon fhall be laid in the duft. But I will now proceed to a new reafon, to prove that this book of the Revelation ought not to be concealed, but openly preached and publifhed to the whole church of God in this age. My reafon is taken out of Rev. xxii. 10. Seal not the words of the prophesy of this book, for the time is at hand.' Here is a direct commandment from God, that this book and doctrine of it may not be fealed up, that is to fay, kept clofe from the knowledge of God's people, but it muft ly always unfealed, that all men may open it, read it, and fee what is in it, for it is a borrowed fpeech taken from fealing of letters. For we all know that love let ters are fealed, none may open them, or read them, but only those whom it doth concern; but if they be purpofely left unfealed, then any man may read them without danger: So the Lord willeth and commandeth, that this book of the Revelation

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fhould of purpose be left unfealed, that all the people of God might read it, ftudy it, and know it. If any man doubt whether the metaphor of fealing be thus taken in the fcripture, let him read the places that are quoted, and in all thofe he shall find it taken in this fenfe. Whereby it doth evidently appear, that the mind and meaning of God is, that this book fhould be pro-claimed and published in all the churches, Ifa. xxix. 11. Dan. xii. 9. Rev. iv. 1-x.4. And upon this ground, I hold that every minister of the gofpel ftandeth bound, as, much as in him lieth, to preach the doctrine of the Revelation to his particular charge and congregation; for every minifter of the gofpel muft fhew unto his people all the counfel of God, and keep back nothing, as Paul teftifieth that he did, to the great comfort of his confcience. But the doctrine of the Revelation is a part and parcel of the council and will of God, therefore it must not be concealed or kept back from the knowledge of the people of God. And in these days I think it not only meet and convenient that it should be so, but in truth abfolutely neceffary.

But now me thinketh I hear fome men fay, What, muft this book of the Revelation be preached and made known to the common people? alas, what should they do

with it? It is not for them to meddle with at all: it is not for their diet. I anfwer, yet not I, but the Holy Ghost, that this book must be made known to all the fervants of God; for St. John calls it the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to fhew unto all his fervants. It is plain therefore, that all the servants of God, both men and women, young and old, rich and poor, must be made acquainted with this book. Moreover, John is commanded by the God of heaven, to fet down all the vifions which the angel fhewed him, and to write them all in a book, and fend them to the feven churches of Afia, that is, to people of all forts and conditions; and therefore this book doth not only concern preachers and deep divines, but even all the Lord's people whatsoever: for it doth minifter great comfort and strength of faith to all the people of God that live in this age. But here the Papifts object, that this book is full of darknefs and obfcurity, and therefore not for the common people to meddle with; nay, fay they, there are as many myfteries as words in it, and therefore why fhould men trouble their heads about it. But no wonder though the Papists fay fo much, for it is the wound of their kingdom, and the battery of their Babylon. As for others both learned and

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