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^
THE
WORKS
OF THE
REV. ANDREW FULLER,
IN EIGHT VOLUMES.
VOL. VI. -
NEW-HAVEN: pAihted and published by s. comverse.
1825.
SCM, UiNOX AND
8
,4 FOUNDATIONS. |
EXPOSITORY DISCOURSES
THE APOCALYPSE
INTEHSFERSEO WITH
PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.
* .-.1 ■ ) '?S ■ )!, \}i,
2^^l. ^ '
CONTENTS. ,
Preface, --. = xi
Schetneofths Prophuy, »- ---tt
DISCOURSE I.
Chap. i. The Introduction and Preparatory Vision, --------86
DISCOURSE n.
Chap. ii. 1—17.
The Epistles to the Churches, --- ---35
DISCOURSE in.
Chap. ii. 18—29. Chap. iii. The Epistles to the Churches, continued, - - 43
DISCOURSE IV.
Chap. iv. ThtVisionprtcedingthe Book with Seven Seals, - ------ 55
DISCOURSE V.
Chap. V.
The Book with Seven Seals, - " B9
vi COKTENTS.
DISCOURSE VI.
Chap. vi. 1 — 4.
Page
The Seals o^pened, ..---------------65
DISCOURSE vn.
Chap. vi. 5— 17. The Opening o/the Seals, continued, -.-■ '1
DISCOURSE vin.
Chap.vii. ?7ie Sealing of the Servomts of Ood, - ^ - - - - - - - - 11
DISCOURSE IX.
Chap. viii. 1 — 12. TheSubdivisionof the Seventh Seal into Seven Trumpets, - - - - 83
APPENDIX TO DISCOURSE IX. A Sketch of the History of the First Four Trumpets, 8f
DISCOURSE X.
Chap. viii. 13. Chap. ix. 1—12. The first Woe-Trumpet; or, the Smoke and Locmt&, 97
DISCOURSE XL
Chap. ix. 13—21. The Second Woe-Trumpet: or,iht Army of Harsemtn, - - - - 103
eoNTKirrs. vn
DISCOURSE XII.
Chap. X. Introduction to the Western, or Papal Apostasy, 109
DISCOURSE XIII.
Chap xi. 1—6
The First General Description of the Papal Apostasy, and of the
State of the Church under it, - 115
APPENDIX TO DISCOURSE XIII. The History of the fitnesses, -------121
DISCOURSE XIV.
Chap. xi. 7- 13.
The First General Description, continued ; or the Slaughter and Resurrection of the Witnesses, with the Falling of the Tenth Part of the City, - -. 12S
DISCOURSE XV. Chap. XI. 14—19.
The First General Description, concluded; or the Sounding of the
Seventh Angel, 139
DISCOURSE XVI.
Chap. xii. 1—6.
The Second General Description ; or, the Great Red Dragon, and
the Woman fleeing into the Wilderness, -146
VUl CONTENTS.
DISCOURSE XVII.
Chap. xii. 7 — 17.
Pagi The Second General Description, concluded ; or the War between
Michael and the Dragon, -- --153
DISCOURSE XVIIL
Chap. xiii. I — 10.
The Third General Description ; or, the Beast with Seven Heads
and Ten Horns, --- 159
DISCOURSE XIX.
Chap.xiii. 11—18.
The Third General Description, continued ; or, the Beast with two
Horns like a Lamb, ----- _--. 16T
DISCOURSE XX.
Chap. xiv. 1 — 5.
The Third General Description, continued ; or the LamVs Company, 173
/ (
DISCOURSE XXI.
Chap. xiv. 6—20.
The Third General Description, concluded ; or, the Messages of the
Three Angels, the Harvest, and the Vintage, 17ft
DISCOURSE XXIL
Chap. XV.
lh<rodvctton to <lfte Viais, .--------.--- 186
CONTENTS. IX
DISCOURSE XXIII.
Chap. xvi. 1 — 9.
Pagt Onthe Vials, - 191
DISCOURSE XXIV.
Chap. xvi. 10—21. The Vials, continued, .---...--,-6--.- 1^7
DISCOURSE XXV. '
Chap. xvii. The Great Harlot, and the Beast that carrieth her, -..-.- 204
DISCOURSE XXVI.
Chap, xviii. Chap. xix. 1 — 10. The Fall of Babylon, and the Marriage of the Lamb, - - - - . 216
DISCOURSE XXVII.
Chap. xix. II — 31. The Taking of the Beast and the False Prophet, ...... 225
DISCOURSE XXVIII.
Chap. XX. I — 6.
On the Millennium, ............. i. - 233
DISCOURSE XXIX.
Chap. XX. 7—16.
The Falling away, the End of the World, the Resurrection of the
I>ead,and the Last Judgment, -.-^-i..--. 243 Vol. VI. 2
MSCtWRSE XXX.
Cluap,. X-xL iC3iap.sxiL i — 5^
Pfige *I%e JS'evo Htamng tmd ifce J^-etv ^Em-Oi^ wkh ihe.J\rs.to Jfmtsahm, ~ -24?
©ISCOUESE XXXL
BAPTIST CHURCH OF CHRIST
AT KETTERING.
J>EAR Brethren, . , . ; .
It is at yoar request that these discoarses appear in print* When in the course of exposition I first entered on them, it was not from an idea that 1 at that time suflBciently understood the prophecy, but from a hope that by this means I might understand it better. And now that I have ventured to pub- lish, it is not because I am fully satisfied of haying given the true meaning in every instance. There are parts in which 1 can only say, I have done the best I could. If^ however, I had not been satisfied as to the general meaning of the pro- phecy, or had been conscious of having thrown no new fight upon it, I should have felt it to be my duty to withhold my ■ papers from the public eye.
Obsen^ing the "blessing pronounced on "him that readethj, and on them that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are tvritten therein," I had a desire to enter
xu
upon it, accompanied, I think, with some sense of my depen- dence upon the enlightening influences of the Holy Spirit. The reason also assigned why we should study this part of the Holy Scriptures in particular — that " the time is at hand," seemed to have greater force after a lapse of above seven- teen hundred years, than it could have at the time of its being written. I conceived also that the events of the present times, though we should beware of illusive hypotheses founded upon them, yet called for a special attention to prophecy. They might also be expected to throw some light upon it. Some late writers upon the subject appear to understand many things which earlier ones did not ; and there is reason to expect that prophecy will be understood much better in years to conae than it is at present. . .
The method I pursued Avas, first to read it carefully over, and as I went on, to note down what first struck me as the meaning. After reducing these notes into something like a scheme of the prophecy, I examined the best expositors I could procure, and comparing my own first thoughts with theirs, was better able to judge of their justness. Some of them were confirmed, some corrected, and many added to them.
I have dealt but little in quotations, refusing nothing how- ever from any writer which appeared to me to be just. And as to what appeared otherwise, I have generally passed it over without attempting to refute it ; as being rather desirous of giving the true meaning, than of proving that other men's opinions were founded in mistake.
The exposition of a prophecy, deHvered in symbolical language, must be liable to many mistakes. A style so highly figurative furnishes great scope for the imagination, which, unless it be accompanied with a sober and just judgment, will lead us into labyrinths of error. How far I have been enabled to avoid them, and to succeed in throwing light upon any part of the prophecy, it is not for me to decide. This I know, my object has been to obtain its true meaning, and to communicate it in a manner suited, not to the curious, but to the Christian reader.
The manuscript has lien by me between four and five years, during which I have frequently re-examined its contents, and availed myself of any farther light which by reading or reflec- tion has appeared on the subject. During this period several of our most highly esteemed friends, who joined in the re- quest, are gone the way of all the earth. We shall soon fol- low them. Wie have seen enough, amidst all the troubles of our times, to gladden our hearts ; and trust that our childrep will see greater things than these.
I am,
Your affectionate Pastor,
ANDREW FULLER.
Kettering, March 21, 1815.
;. ,,!-', :." :-V-
i^€HEME OF THE PROPHECY.
The addresses to the seven churches are applicable to all other churches in similar circumstances, in all ages, but not prophetic — The things which the apostle was commanded to write being those which he had seen, those vdiich were, and those which should b^ hereafter, prove that the prophecy commences, not from the time of the vision, but probably from the ascension of Christ, in like manner as the four monarchies of Daniel commenced from the rising up of the Babylonish empire, n-.any years before tiie time of the vision ,..,,. ^ Chapters i — iii.
The book of seven seats contains the whole of the prophecy, the .trumpets being only a subdivision of the seventh seal, and the vials of •the seventh trumpet .. ^ ........ - Chapters iv, v<
The opening of the Jirst seal, — on which appeared " a white hoi-se, and iie that sat on him had a bow; and a crown wns given imto him: and he T^'ciit tbrlh conquering and tr> conquer" — represents the great progress of the gospel in the apostolic age ....... Chapter vi. 1, 2.
The opening of the second seal — on which there appeared " a red horse, and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and (hat Ihcy should kill one another," — signifies the wars between tlic Jews and the Romans, who had united in persecuting Christ, and his followers ............ Chapter vi. 3, 4.
The o-pening of the ihird seal — on which there appeared "a black horse, and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand, ^c." — denotes a famiiie, or scarcity approaching to famine, in which the neces- saijesof life would be required to be weighed out with the utmost care, and which was fulfilk-d during the reigns of the Antonines Chap. vi. 5, 6,
Xvi SCHEME OF THE PROPHECY.
The opening- of the fourth seal — on which there appeared " a pale horse, and his name that sat on him was Death, and hell followed," — signifies great mortahty, owing to the intrigues and intestine wars in the empire, between the years 193 and 270, which produced famine and pestilence, and by diminishing the number of men gave ascendancy to the beasts of prey Chap. vi. 7, 8.
The Jifth seal was opened, on which were seen " under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth ? And white robes were given unto every one of them, and it was said unto them that they should rest [or wait] yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants also, and their brethren that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled." This seal represents the state of the church about the year 270, when it had endured nine out of ten of the heathen persecutions, and was about to endure the tenth under Dioclesian and Maximian, after which God would avenge their cause, by an utter overthrow of their persecutors . Chap. vi. 9 — 11.
The opening of the sixth seal— on which appeared " an earthquake," and as it were a day of judgment, — signified the revolution of Constan- tine when the pagan empire was overthrown, and the prayers of the souls under the altar were answered Chap. vi. 12 — 17.
The " sealing of the servants of God in their foreheads," portends danger to the spiritual interests of the church from its outward prosper- ity, and distinguishes the faithful from the crowd of nominal Christians that would now be pressing into it Chap. vii. 1 — 8.
This chapter concludes with a vision of the martyrs who had overcome, serving to strengthen the servants of God to encounter new trials.
Chap. vii. 9—17.
The seventh seal is opened — A solemn pause ensues — It is then subdi- vided into SEVEN TRUMPETS, which are put into the hands of seven angels; and the sounding of them is prefaced by " another angel's offering up the prayers of the saints with much incense, filling his censer with fire,
SCHEME OF THE PROPHECV. XTJI
and casting- it into the earth, denoting' that the judgments to be brought by the trumpets would be in answer to their prayers . Chap, viii. 1—5.
The sounding o{ the first four trumpets, which affect " the earth, the sea, the fountains of waters, and the sun, moon, and stars," denote the iontinental, the maritime, and the mountainous parts of the empire, by the invasion of the northern nations, the issue of which was the eclipse of (he government, supreme and subordinate. As the seals overthrew the pagan empire, these overthrew the Christian . . . Chap. \\\i. 6 — 12.
The sounding of the fifth, or first woe-trumpet, on which followed "■ smoke from the bottomless pit, and locusts," represents popery as filling the world with infernal darkness, and thus preparing the way for Mahometan delusion and depredation Chap. ix. 1 — 12.
The sixth, or second woe-trumpet, is complex, relating partly to the " loosing of the four angels in Euphrates," followed by " an army of horsemen," and partly to the conduct of " the rest of the men, who were not killed by these plagues,"— the first denoting the rise and rav- ages of the Turks, by whom the eastern empire, and with it the Greek church, were overthrown; and the last, the idolatries and cruelties of the members of the western church, who, instead of taking warning from the fate of the eastern, repented not, but persisted in corrupting the religion of Jesus Christ, and in persecuting his witnesses.
Chap. ix. 20, 21. to Chap. xi. 14.
The vision of the angel with " a little book open," whose cry was followed by " sevjen thunders," refers to the Western, or papal church, which the prophecy now goes some ages back to take up, and which occupies the whole of what follows, till the beast and the false prophet are taken, or down to the times of the Millennium. The " thunders" may probably refer to the same things in the form of a general threatening, which are afterwards particularly disclosed under the vials : for it appears to be of their execution that the angel swears by Him that liveth for ever and ever that there shall be no delay ; but that in the days of the Toice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, (that is, in the times of the pouring out of the vials) the mystery of God should be finish- ed." This accounts for the command "not to write them," as they •would be particularized under the vials . Chap. s.
Vol. VI. ■^
xviii SCHEME OK THE FROPHECY.
The eleventh and three following chapters are considered as three general descriptions of the false church, chiefly under the 1260 years of antichristian usurpation, together with the state of the true churck during the same period. These general descriptions of course are not confined to the times of this or that trumpet, but comprehend those of the greater part of the trumpets.
The first general description, contained in the eleventh chapter, de- nominates the false church "gentiles," and the true church "wit- nesses," who bear testimony against them. It leaves out of " the tem- ple of God" the place occupied by the former. It represents, by the " slaughter of the witnesses," the prevalence of the antichristian party; by their " resurrection and ascension to heaven," the protestant refor- mation ; and by the " earthquake," in which a tenth part of the city fell, (and which, by the way, marks the termination of the sixth, or second woe-trumpet) the late revolution in France. By the sounding of the seventh angel, a signal is given of the progress of the gospel. And by the song of the heavenly choir, are intimated the judgments which should be inflicted on the antichristian party, and the Millennial glory that should follow - . Chap. xi.
The second general description, contained in the twelfth chapter, repre- sents the true church prior to the introduction of antichristian corrup- tions, as " clothed with the sun, having the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars." These corruptions originate in a third part of the stars of heaven being drawn from their orbits by the tail of the dragon, and cast upon the earth; or by the rulers of the church being seduced by the riches and honours of the Roman empire. The dragon having thus prevailed over a part of the Christian church, aims* to devour the other. The true church fleeth into the wilderness, where she exists without legal protection or toleration, till the Reformation in the sixteenth century, when Michael fights her battles, and the dragon is cast down. Succeeding persecutions are the effect of his defeat.
Chap. xii.
The third general description, contained in the thirteenth and four- teenth chapters, represents " a beast rising out of the sea, with seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, &c." signifying that secular government by which the false church has been all along support- ed— namely, The Roman empire under its last head, after it had been divided into ten independent kingdoms, each of which was a horn of the
SCHEME OF THE PROPHECY. XIX
beast. When paganism was overthrown, the beast, in one of its heads was, "as it were, wounded to death ;" but when Christianity became so corrupted as to be paganized, " the deadly wound was healed."
- Chap. xiii. 1 — 16.
Another beast " rose out of the earth, with two horns like a lamb, but who spake as a dragon" — denoting the hierarchy, or false church itself, which is cotemporary, and all along acts in concert with the first or secular beast Chap. xiii. 11 — 18.
During the ravages of these beasts, and in opposition to them and their followers, appears " a Lamb standing upon Mount Sion, and with him 144,000, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. Their victory over antichristian error and corruption at the Reformation, is signified by " the voice of many waters, like thunder, and of harpers, harping with their harps." The spirit lately excited to carry the gospel to the heathen, is thought to be denoted by the evangelical " angel." The diminution and approaching dissolution of tlic antichristian power, is represented by " another angel following, and saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen !" And the danger of symbolizing and tampering with antichristianism is suggested by the solemn warnings of " a third angel." Then follows that of which the signal only had been given in the cry of the second angel — namely, the overthrow of Babylon, which is denoted by a harvest and a vintage Chap. xiv.
Three general descriptions having been given, each of which carried us to the end of the 1260 years, the series of the prophecy, from the time of the sounding of the seventh, or third woe-trumpet, is now resumed. This trumpet wears a two-fold aspect : it is partly a woe-trumpet, and partly what may be called a jubilee-trumpet. In the first view, the SEVEN viALs are a subdivision of it — in the last, it comprehends the Mil- lennium, and all that follows to the end of the prophecy - Chap. xv.
The sounding of the seventh angel is the signal for the commencement of the pouring out of the vials, and is supposed to have taken place within the last five and twenty years. The vials are interpreted on the principle of their resemblance to the trumpets — namely, the Jirst, poured out on the " earth," is supposed to denote the late wars on the conti- nent between France and the other continental powers; the second, poured upon the " sea," the wars carrying on in the maritime nations of Spain and Portugal ; the third, poured upon the " rivers and foun-
XX SCHEME OF THE PKoPHECt.
tains of water," the wars which, if the principle here adopted be just, will ere long' befall Italy and Savoy, the countries where was shed in shocking profusion the blood of the Waldenses; the fourth, poured upon the " sun," the oppression of the supreme g-overnment to which the antichristian church will be subjected at the time ; the fifth, poured on " the seat of the beast," such judgments as will either drive him from his den, or render him very miserable in it; the sixth, poured on "Euphra- tes," and producing the battle of " Armageddon," partly the overthrow of the Turkish empire, and partly the temporal ruin of the adherents of popery; the seventh, poured into the " air," the overthrow of the spiritual power of popery, and of every other species of false religion.
Chap. xvi.
The three following chapters are considered as J^otes of Illustration, containing more particular accounts of several subjects which have been already introduced. In the first of them, (Chap, xvii.) the false church is described under the opprobrious name of " the great whore," and the powers which support her, under that of " a beast with seven heads and ten horns." This beast, namely, the Roman empire, " was, and is not, and vet is." When it was pagan, it existed with all its beastly proper- ties ; when it became Christian, it was supposed to have lost them, and to be a beast no longer; but by the corruptions introduced into Chris- tianity, and which were supported by it, the beast still continued.
The "seven heads" of the beast have a two-fold application. — First, ■they are said to be "seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth;" referring to the seven lulls on which Rome, when in its full extent, is well known to have stood, and so pointing out the seat of the hierarchy. They are also said to be " seven kings," that is, governments, under which the empire had subsisted, did subsist, and would subsist hereafter. The forms under which it had subsisted, but which were passed away at the time of the commencement of the prophecy, were Kings, Consuls, Die- tpJ^ors, Decemvirs, and ^Military Tribunes ; the form under which it then subsisted was that of Emperors ; and that which was " yet to come, and to continue a short space," was the government which succeeded the. overthrow of the Emperors, and continued under various changes for about 300 years, till the days of Charlemagne; when a government was established which combined all the nations of Europe in support of the antichristian hierarchy. This short-lived intermediate power might on some accounts be considered as the " seventh" head of the beast, and as ^ch be distinguished from its last head, which in this view would be th«
SCHEME OF THE PJlOtHECV. XXI
•'cightVi;" but upon the whole, it was rather to be considered as- belonging to that in which it terminated, and which in this view would be "of the seven."
The " ten horns" are the king'doms of Europe, which till the Refor- mation all united with the empire in supporting- the harlot ; but which have already begun, and will go on to hate her, to eat her flesh, and to burn her with fire Chap. xvii.
The second of these JVotes of Illustration (contained in the 18th and the first eight verses of the 19th chapter) is a sacred ode, sent, as it were from heaven, to be suug at the overthrow of the antichristiau church, in which are celebrated not only the "fall of Babylon," but " the marriage of the Lamb;" that is, not only the termination of the reign of the beast» but the introduction of the Millennial reign of Christ, which shall follow upon it Chap, xviii. xix. 1 — 8.
The third and last of these J^otes (which begins at the 9th verse of the 19th chapter) describes the actual accomplishment of the fall of Baby*- Ion, which the foregoing ode had anticipated. He whose name is the Word of God goes forth '' riding upon a white horse," (the appropriate symbol for the success of the gospel,) joined by his faithful followers. — This provakes the adherents of the beast and of the false prophet, who, gathering together their forces to opjwse them, perish in the attempt.
Chap. xix. a— 21.
As the overthrow of the antichristian hierarchy was celebrated in the preceding ode, under the symbol of " the fall of Babylon," prior to ite actual accomplishment ; so was the Millennium under that of " the marriage-supper of the Lamb." This glorious period is now introduced as actually taking place. The " beast and the false prophet," or the secular and ecclesiastical powers being fallen, the Dragon himself is next seized and thrust into a state of confinement. — "Thrones" may denote stations of importance both in the world and in the church, which will now be filled by righteous men : thus " the kingdom is given to the people of the saints of the Most High;" and as the public mind will favour it, righteousness will every where prevail ; corruptions, oppres- sions, wars, tumults, and rebellions, will cease from the earth, and all nations feel towards each other as children of the same family. — Nov " judgment" is given to the martyrs, inasmuch as the cause for which ihey were slain is vindicated, and lieir memorj- honoured; while "' the
XXn SCHEME OF THE FROPHECV.
rest," or the remnant of the antichristian party, who escaped from the battle in which their leaders were " taken," will be as dead men till the thousand years are ended. To them this glorious period will be a burial, but to the other a " resurrection."
After the Millennium, Satan is loosed for a little season, and makes one more desperate effort to corrupt the world, and to destroy the church. This brings on the general conflagration — the resurrection of the dead — and the last judgment Chap. xx.
After this appear " the new heavens and the new earth" spoken of by Peter, " wherein dwelleth righteousness." The world, purified from sin and its effects, becomes the everlasting abode of the righteous, who having been raised from the dead, are immortal. — The whole animate and inanimate creation, in so far as it has been " made subject to the vanity" of subserving the cause of evil, is emancipated, and possessed that for which it has " travailed in pain," from the fall of man until now. — No more shall the earth be polluted and desolated by a succession of beasts ; but lo, " the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them, and be their God.
Conclusion. — The present the period of the vials; or that space of kme which begins with the sounding of the seventh trumpet, and ends in the Millennium. — The termination of the 1260 years probably uncer- tain.— A time of persecution to be previously expected. — Great success will attend the preaching of the gospel before the Millennium. — Aspect
of the present times. — The Millennial glory Concluding reflections on
the recent changes in Europe.
EXPOSITORY DISCOURSES,
DISCOURSE I.
THE INTRODUCTION AND PREPARATORY VISION.
Chap.
I HAVE lately expressed a wish to enter upon this difficult part of the Holy Scriptures : not because I conceive myself at present equal to the undertaking ; but because I think I understand some- thing of it, and hope by going through it in the way of exposition to understand more. I enter on it with fear : but as I shall not attempt to explain that which appears to me of doubtful import, I hope it may not be a presumptuous, but a profitable undertaking.*
1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to patt ; and he sent and signijied it hy his angel unto his servant John •• 2 fVho bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is be that read-
* These Discour?es were Jelivered in. the ycars^ 1809 and 1810, axti dratrti out in 181 1.
Vol.. VI. 4
26 INTRODUCTION. [DiseotTRSE I.
eth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein : for the time is at hand.
The book takes its title, it seems, from the first vor^e. aU scripture is a revelation in some sense ; but this is a disclosure of things to come.
Christ is the great prophet of the church. He it was, as we shall see, that was found worthy to open the sealed book. It is necessary to distinguish between the knowledge of Christ as a divine person, and that which he possesses as the prophet of his- church. As divine, he knows all things ; all things are naked to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do : but as a prophet he receives his messages from the Father, and makes them known to us. In this sense he knew not the day of judgment ; that is, it was no part of the revelation which God gave to him to make known to men. As Christ in the character of a prophet has these things revealed to him, so in communicating them after his ascen- sion he made use of an angel. It might have been too much for a mortal man to be admitted directly to converse with him in his glorified state.
The writer introduces himself to the churches in the character of a witness, declaring that the things which he was about to com- municate were from above — they were " the word of God," and therefore might be depended upon ; " the testimony of Jesus Christ," on the fulfilment of which he rested the truth of the gospel, and which he himself in vision plainly "saw."
To induce us to give the most serious attention to the subject, a blessing is pronounced on those who *' read, and hear, and keep" the words of this prophecy, especially as the time of its fulfilment was at hand. I recollect no other part of scripture that is prefaced with such an inducement to read and understand and practically regard it. The prophecy must be of immediate concern to the church of Christ, and requires to be read and heard, not for the gratifying of curiosity, but for the obedience of faith. We must " keep" it, as one engaged in a voyage through dangerous seas keeps his chart, and consults it on all necessary occasions. It is that to the New Testament church which the
Chapter I.] INTRODUCTION. 27
pillar of the cloud was to the church in the wilderness, guiding it through the labyrinths of antichristian errors and corruptions. It must not be neglected under a notion of its being hard to be understood. As well might the mariner amidst the rocks neglect his friendly chart, under an idea of its being difficult to understand and apply it.
It would seem too from this promise, that the successful study of the prophecy depends not merely on literary attainments, but on a practical regard to the things contained in it. What- ever advantages attach to the former, and these are many and great, they will not succeed nor obtain the blessing without the latter.
4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia : Grace hi unto ynu^ and peace from him which is, and zvkich was, and which is to come : and from the seven spirits which are before his throne : 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father ; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold he cotneth with clouds ; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him : and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
The proconsular Asia had probably been the chief seat of the writer's labours since the death of the apostle Paul. To the churches in this province, therefore, he was directed to address the prophecy. The benediction is affectionate and appropriate- The periphrasis used of God the Father, " Who is, and who was, and who is to come," is singularly appropriate as an introJucfion to a prophecy concerning the mutability of creatures. The " seven spirits" are the abundant gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit, or the Holy Spirit in respect of his abundant gifts and graces. The number seven is not only a well-known symbol of perfection, but corresponds with the number of the churches ; and as they repre- sent the whole church, so these describe the Holy Spirit in his rich and abundant influences. •< . -. .
g}8 INTRODUCTION. [Uisc«orse I.
To the blessing from the Father and the Holy Spirit he adds, " And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithfuV witness, the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the ecirth.*' By the first of these appellations our Lord accredits the pro- phecy as being his testimony ; and by the last two cheers his suf- fering followers, by reminding them of his having emerged from death and obtained a complete ascendency over all his and their enemies.
And now having mentioned the name of Jesus Christ he cannot leave it without adding a sweet doxology on his dying love, and iti inrerestiog effects- — " Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our ?in8 in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests untd God and his Father ; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." Nor has he yet taken leave of this subject : Christ's suffering people must be directed to his second coming, when the persecuting Jews who pierced him in his person, and the persecuting Gentiles who were now piercing him in his members, will be called to account. To their just punishment, dreadful as it will be, the servants of God will add their " Amen."
8 / am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saitk the Lord, tohich t>, and which wat, and which is to come, the Almighty.
1 he apostle, after expatiating on the glory of Christ in his salu- tation, now introduces him as speaking himself. That these are his words, and not those of the Father, will appear from compar- ing them u'ith Chap i. l.andxxii. 6 — 16. It was Jesus Christ, and not the Father, who communicated, through the angel, with his servant John. The Father is sometimes referred to in the prophecy ; ^ut, if I mistake not, it is in the third person only : not a« speaking, but as spoken of. Jesus Christ therefore is '* the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the ending, who is, and who was, and who Vs to come, the Almighty ;" and consequently is able to preserve his church, and to execute the punishments denounced in this prophecy against her enemies.
9 / John, who also am yotir brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that
CHAi-fBul.] rREPARATORY VISION. 29
is called Patmos,for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10lu)asi7i the spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 1 1 Saying, lam Alpha and Omega, thefrst and the last : and, tVhat thou seett, write in a book, and send it Wito the seven churches which are in Asia ; unto Ephesus, and unto ^myrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. 1 2 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw severi golden candlesticks ; 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks, one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle, 14 His head and hit hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a fame off re ; 1 5 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace ; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars : and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword : and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead: and he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not ; I am the first and the last : 18/ am he that liveth, and was dead ; and behold, 1 am alive for ever- more. Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. 19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter, 20. 2%e mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand^ ana the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven church- es : and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest, are the seven churches.
It was usual tor the most eminent prophets to be introduced to their work by an extraordinary vision. Such was the introduction of Isaiah, of Jeremiah, and of Ezekiei ; * and such is that of John. Having been banished to the Isle of Patmos by Domitian, for preaching Christ, the spirit of prophecy came upon him on the Lord's day ; when he heard from behind him a great voice as of a trumpet, saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last,
*IsH. vi. Jer. i. Ezek. i
30 PREPARATORY VISION. [Discourse !.
and what thou seest write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia. Turning to see from whence the voice proceeded, he saw " seven golden candlesticks, and in the midst of them one like unto the Son of man." It was from him therefore that the great voice proceeded. In short, he saw the Lord Jesus Christ, who as to his human nature had lived and died on earth, but who as to his divine person was " the first and the last," standing as the great High Priest over the bouse of God, in the midst of his churches, clothed with ineffable glory.
The effect of such a vision was more than a frail mortal could sustain. He who when his Lord was upon earth leaned familiarly on his bosom, now " fell at his feet as dead." But, laying his right hand upon him, he said, '' Fear nol, I am the first and the last; I am he that liveth and was dead, and behold 1 am alive for evermore, Amen ; and have the keys of hell and of death." This impressive vision would not only excite in his mind a deep interest in the kingdom of Christ, and so prepare him for what he was to see, and hear, and write ; but must l>ave tended greatly to relieve him from those anxieties for his brethren and companions in tribulation from whom he had been separated. All the apostles were dead : he only was left, and they had banished him. Hell and death threatened to swallow up the church. In this situation he is told not to fear, for that his Lord lived, and had the control of both the invisible and visible world.
Being commanded to write " the things which he had seen, the things that were, and the things that should be hereafter,^'' we may conclude that what he wrote respected not only the future state of the church, from the time of the vision, but the whole gospel dispensation, from the ascension of Christ to the end of the world.
What is said of the " seven stars and seven golden candle- slicks," would tend greatly to encourage both the ministers and Ihe churches of Christ. There was a golden candlestick in the
Chapter I] PREPARATORY VISION.
31
tabernacle, and in the second temple,* That was but one can- dlestick, though it had seven branches ; but these are seven can- dlesticks ; agreeing with the different constitutions of the Old and New Testament church, the former being national, and the latter congregational.
* Exod. xxT. 31—40. Zech. iv. 2,
DISCOURSE II.
THE EPISTLES TO THE CHUHCHES.
Chap. ii. 1—17.
Before we enter on these Epistles distinctly, it is proper to make a few general remarks.
First, Some have considered these churches as prophelicalhj representing the different states of the church at large under the gospel dispensation. There is no doubt but analogies may be found between them : but it appears to me that the hypothesis is unfounded. The church of Ephesus, if designed to represent the whole Christian church in the age of the apostles, might be ex- pected to sustain as high a character at least as any that follow ; whereas Smyrna in respect of its purity is manifestly superior to it. Every thing addressed to the latter is in its praise ; which is not the case with the former. But surely it is not true that any age of the church since that of the apostles is to be com- pared with it, much less that it has excelled it in evangelical purity.
Others, doubting the justness of this hypothesis, have consider- ed the Epistles to the churches as referring to the then present state of the church, and the sealed book to that which was future. And this they consider as agreeing with the division of the book intu " things which the writer had seen, things which were, and things which should be hereafter.* This is Mr. Lowman's view of it. When I entered on the-ie Discourses from the pulpit, I adeiit-
*Chap. i. 19. •
Vol. VI. 5 '
34 THE EPISTLES. [Discourse II.
cd this opinion : but before I had proceeded far in the work, I was compelled to give it up, the reasons for which will appear when we enter on the opening of the seals, in Chap. vi. under the fifth general remark in Discourse VI.
Instead of considering the Epistles to the seven churches, either as prophetic, or as descriptive of the state of the church at large «s it then tmas, I should rather consider them as descriptive of the state of those seven churches as it then was, and as designed to fur- nish encouragements, reproofs, warnings, and counsels, to all other churches and Christians, in all future ages, as their cases are found to resemble theirs. The application ought not to be confined to one age more than to another, nor even to collective bodies: every one in every age, that hath an ear to hear, is called to •' hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
In applying them to ourselves, we should consider the Great Head of the Church as watching over us, and closely observing the state of our hearts towards him, with all our proceedings, whether good or evil ; and inquire, what would be his address to us were he to commission an angel or an apostle to write to us,
Second/7/, By the Epistles being addressed to the angels, we are not to understand them as concerning the pastors only, in distinc- tion from the churches, but to consider them as their represen- tatives. That which the Spirit saith in these Epistles is " to the churches."
Thirdly, In every address to the churches Christ assumes a distinct character, taken from some one part of the description given of him in the preceding vision ; each of which, if we rightly understand it, will be found to be appropriate to the char- acter or circumstances of the church addressed.
Fourthly, Every address begins with commendation, provided there be any thing to commend. This shows that Christ knows all, and notices that which is good amongst us as well as that which is evil ; nay, that he takes more pleasure in noticing the good than in complaining of the evil — an example worthy of our imita- tion in dealing with one another. If we wish to reclaim our brethren who have fallen into sin, we must begin by appreciating the good in them, and in candidly commending it, before we re-
Chapter II.J EPHESUS. 35
prove them for their faults. Such was the conduct of Paul to the Corinthians, when about to censure them for their abuse of the Lord's supper — " Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances as I delivered them unto you."
Fifthly, Most of the churches have somewhat on account of which they are censured and admonished. This is an humbling truth, even of the first and purest churches, how much more of those in our times ! U the Son of God, whose eyes are as a flaming fire, were to pronounce our character, would there not be "somewhat against us?" We can see each other's errors and defects ; but it were to much more advantage if we could detect our own.
Finally, Every epistle concludes with a promise to him that overcoraeth, and an exhortation to hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Professing Christians in this world are soldiers enlisted under the banner of Christ. Some have proved desert- ers; many have been partially overcome ; the Captain of the Lord's host here addresses them, holding forth the glory that awaits them who are finally victorious.
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesiis, write ; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks ; 2 1 know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil : and thou hast tried them lohich say they are apostles, and are not ; and hast found them liars : 3 And hast horncj and hast patience, and for my name''s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from tvhence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works ; or else I ivill come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 6 But this thou hast, that thou hateth the deeds of the Kicolaitanes, which 1 also hate. 7 He that hath an ear, let him hear ivhat the Spirit saith unto the churches. To him that overcoineth ivill I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the jiaradise of God. '
36 EPHESLS. [Dis.ouRgE it.
Ephesus was the metropolis of the Proconsular Asia ; and it is probable that all these churches were planted by the labours of the apostle Paul, during his two years' residence at Ephesus, wheu " all they who dwelt in Asia, heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks." Acts xis. 10.
The Ephesians appear to have been in a good state when the apostle Paul took leave of their elders at Miletus ; but he then gave them to expect a time of trial after his departure, and which by this tine seems to have come upon them.
The character which our Lord here assumes is taken from Chap. i. 16, 20. and seems to contain both encouragement and warning; which fitly applies to their character, as partly com- mendable, and partly blameable. They had been distinguished by their exertions in promoting the cause of Christ, and their sufferings on account of it. They " worked," yea, they " laboured," for Christ, and when called to encounter persecution, bore it with " patience." They were zealous also in the exercise of a strict and holy discipline, not suffering evil characters and impostors to remain amongst them : and in this course of obedeince they had " not fainted." Altogether, this is a high character. Yet even here is something amiss : they had "left their first love." We see here, that the Lord looketh at the heart. We may retain our character and respectabilty among the churches, while yet, as to the state of our minds, Christ hath somewhat against us. To leave our first love is a very common case, so much so that some will give young Christians to expect it as a matter of course : but Christ treats it as a sin, and calls on the parties to " repent" of it, yea, and threatens to " remove their candlestick out of its place except they repented." To decline in our attachments to Christ, his gospel, his ordinances, his people, and his cause, is practically reproaching him ; it is saying to those around us, that we have not found that in his religion which we once expected to find. O my people, wJiat have J done unto thee, and wherein have I wearied thee'/ Testify ugninst me !
A declonbion in love is followed by a degeneracy in good works. If this had not been the case, they would not have been admon- ished to do tlieir " first works." Either they were neglected, or
Chapter II.] SMYRNA. 37
attended to in a half-hearted manner, different from what they were at the beginning.
The Lord, to show that he did not find fault with them with pleasure, again commends them as far as they were commendable : they hated the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which he also hated. Clemens of Alexandria, as quoted by Eusebius, speaks of these as a people who practised a community of wives, living in fornication and adultery. It is thought, and with some probability, fhat they were the people to whom Peter and Jude refer, the antinomians of the primitive church.
If we have an ear to hear what the Spirit saith unto this church, we shall learn from it, among other things, that works are the chief test of character J that in serving the Lord in this world there is great occasion for patience under suflferings, and discrim- ination of characters ; and that while justly censuring others, we may decline in spirituality ourselves.
The promise to him that overcometh, is, that he shall " eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." That which grew in the earthly paradise became inaccessible by sin; but no flaming sword nor cherubim prevent access to this.
8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna, write, These things saith the first and the last ; rvhich was dead, and is alive ; 9 I know thy tvorks, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich,) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 10 Fear none of those things which thou shah suffer : behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days : be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crotvn of life. 1 1 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
No mention is made of this church and several others, except in these epistles. Polycarp, the disciple of John, was pastor of it, and suffered martyrdom. Whether he was the angel here address- ed is uncertain ; but when he suffered, which was about the year 162, he speaks of himself as having served Christ 86 years, and Irenaeus speaks of him as having been ordained Bishop of Smyrna
3S SMYRNA. {DiscoBRSK II.
by the apostles. This church seems distinguished by its persecu- tions ; all that is said has respect to them.
The character under which Chirst addresses them is taken from Chap. i. 11, 18. These things, saith the first and the last, who was dead, and is alive." The former is expressive of his God- head, and suggests how vain it is for the enemies of the gospel to oppose him ! In the latter he holds up himself as an example of persecution before them, and as an ea-rnest of deliverance from it.
The commendaton of their "works" in the midst of tribulation and poverty, (poverty it is likely, arising from their persecutions,) is much to their honour. We see here of what little account worldly wealth is in the estimation of Christ. We hear much of respectable congregations, and churches, when little else is meant but that they are numerous or opulent : but the estimation of Christ goes on quite another principle. What a contrast there is between this church and that at Laodicea ! They were rich in this world's goods, but poor towards God : these were poor in this world, but rich towards God.
It is intimated that they had not only to contend with Heathens, but JeiDs, who had a synagogue in this city : and it is remarkable that in the account of the martyrdom of Polycarp, the Jews are spoken of as being very active in it, and as joining the Heathens in Kindling the fire. We see here to what a state of mind that peo- ple were left after having rejected Christ : they had been the people of God, but were now no longer such, but blasphemers : their synagogues had been places where God had been worship- ped: there our Lord himself attended, and to them the friends of God in Heathen countries had been used to resort ; but from hence they became the synagogues of Satan!
They are given to expect more persecutions, but are encour- aged to meet them with fortitude. The devil would stir up his agents to imprison some of them for a season, and some of them might expect to die for the name of Christ ; but if faithful unto death, they are promised a crown of life.
It was about sixty-seven years after this that Polycarp and other members of this church, sufiered martyrdom; the account of
Chapter ll.J PERGAMOS. 39
which is given by Eusebius in a letter from the church of Smyrna. When Polycarp was apprehended by his persecutors, they set him on an ass, and brought him to the place of judgment. He was met by some of the magistrates, who took him into their carriage, and tried to persuade him to deny Christ and save his life, but which he resisted. On his approaching the place of execution the Pro- consul, ashamed of putting so aged and venerable a man to death, urged him to blaspheme Christ. It was then that he answered, *' Eighty-six years have I served him, during all which time he never did me injury; how then can I blaspheme my king and my Saviour?" When further urged, his answer was, "I am a Christian." When threatened with wild beasts, he said, " Bring them forth." When with fire, he reminded them of the eternal fire that awaited the ungodly. His last address to God had more of praise in it than of prayer.
It is a high honour to this persecuted people that nothing is said to them in a way of reproof. To be " blameless and harm- less, the sons of God without rebuke in an evil generation," is great, even in respect of our fellow-creatures ; but to be without rebuke from Christ himself is much greater.
To this suffering church Christ saith, "^ Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give the a crown of life. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." Let every one that hath an ear hear this language, and be armed by it against the fear of man.
1 2 A7id to the angel of the church in Pergamos zirite ; These things saith he which hath the sharp sicord with ttoo edges; 13 I know thy works, and where thou dtvellest, even tvhere Satan's seat is; and thou holdest fast my name^ and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr j who was slain among yon, -where Satan dwelleth. 14 But I hane a ferv things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, loho taught Balac to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. iG Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and zvill fight against them with
40 PERGAMOS. [DiscouRiE II,
the sword of my mouth. 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches ; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden tnatma, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Pergamos was a city of Mysia, not far from Troas. We find the apostle Paul at this latter city more than once, and that " a door was here opened to him of the Lord, to preach Christ's gos- pel."* Here it was that he afterwards commemorated the Lord's death with the disciples ; and as he had to wait seven days for their coming together, it would seem as if they had to come from some great distance. The church at Pergamos might there- fore be planted about the same time.
The character under which our Lord addresses them is taken from Chap. I. 16. "He that hath the sharp sword with two edges ;" and wears a terrible aspect towards a corrupt party amongst them, against whom he threatens to wage war. Kind and encouraging things, however, are addressed to the body of them. Christ knew their "works," and their firm adherence to him under great trials and persecutions, in which one of their number in particular, and probably their pastor, had suffered martyrdom. Pergamos was a city said to be "■ sacred to the gods :" here therefore we might expect to find the head-quarters of idol- atry and persecutions ; and their standing firm in such a place, and at such times, was much to their honour.
But there were " a few things" amongst them which dis- pleased Christ. Some of the members tampered with idolatry and its ordinary attendant, fornication ; and the rest connived at it. This is called " the doctrine of Balaam," because it was in this way that the wicked prophet dr^w Israel into sin. They had also some of the " Nicolaitanes" amongst them, whose principles and practices the Lord abhorred.
They are called upon to repent, on painofChrfst's displeasure, who threatens, except they repent, to come unto them quickly,
* 2 Cor. ii. 12. .
ChapteeILJ PERGAMOS. 41
and to execute the judgments of his word against them, even against the transgressors themselves, and all who favoured them.
These warnings and threatenings require our attention, and that of all who are guilty in a greater or less degree of the same evils j nor do the encouragements to them that overcome require it less. The •* hidden manna," the " white stone," and the " new name," being promised as the reward of them that overcome, seems to refer to the blessedness and honour of a future state, rather than of the present ; though Christians doubtless have a foretaste of them even in this life. The " hidden manna" refers to those who should deny themselves of "eating things sacrificed to idols," and other carnal enjoyments, for Christ's sake ; and denotes that there is a feast in reserve for them, which shall infinitely exceed the pleasures of flesh and sense. The Romans in judgment are said to have given their suffrage for condemnation by casting black stones into an urn, and for absolution white stones. White stones are also said to have been given by the Greeks to the conquerors in the Olympic games, with their names upon them, and the value of the prize they won. The application of this is easy.
Vol. VI.
DISCOURSE III.
THE EPISTLES TO THE CHlfRCHESj CO^TINUED.
Chap. ii. 18—29. Chap. iii.
Jind unto the angel of the church in Thyntira write ; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a Jlame of fre, and his feet are like fine brass ; 19 I know thy loorks, and charity and service, and faith., and thy patience, and thy zeorks ; and the last to be more than the first. 20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication ; and she repented not. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that com- mit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds, 23 And I will kill her children with death ; and all the churches shall know thai I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts : and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. 24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, As many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak ; 1 will put upon you none other bwden. 25 But that which ye have already, hold fast till I come. 26 And he that overcometh, and keepcth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations : 2'7 (^And he shall ride them with a rod of iron : as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shi' vers :) even as I received of my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He that hath an ear to hear., let Mm hear tohat the Spirit saith unto the churches.
44 THYATIRA. [Discourse III.
The character under which our Lord addresses this church is taken from Chap. i. I3~ 15. with this variation : there he is described as " one like unto the Son of God ;" as denoting his divine personaHty. With this agrees what is sai4 of him, that "his eyes were like unto a flame of fire," discerning the secrets of the heart ; *' and his feet like fine brass" denoting the stability and glory of his proceedings. It is like saying, " All things are naked and open to the eyes of him with whom you have to do. Seeing then that ye have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, hold fast your profession !"
It is a high commendation that is given of this church, for its "works, and charity, and service, and patience, and works." Nor is this last word repeated without cause ; it denotes their perse- vering and even abounding in good works ; " the last were more than the first." There are few churches, I fear, of which this can be said. Christ may know our works — and our works : but in moat cases the first are more than the last !
Yet with all this excellence, Christ has a few things against them. With all this positive good, there was a mixture of relative evil. " The woman Jezebel," seems to relate to a corrupt part of the church, who though united to God's people, as Jezebel was by marrying an Israelitish prince, yet were in heart attached to idolatry, and laboured to seduce others into it. As a corrupt part of the Christian church is described as a harlot, so a corrupt part of a particular church, may be thus designated ; and as Jezebel pretended to divine authority, and had her prophets to draw the servants of God into literal and spiritual fornication, so these had a kind of religion which would comport with eating and drinking at idolatrous temples, and so with occasional conformity to idola- try. They had had space to repent ; the Lord had long borne with them : but his forbearance operated, as it often does, to harden them in their sin. This forbearance, however, will not continue always : Jezebel, with her adulterous paramours, will, except they repent, be cast together into a bed of devouring fire j and this for a warning to the churches.
It seems that, like some among the Corinthians, they boasted of their knowledge, as being able to distinguish between eating at an
Chapter III.] SARDIS. 45
idol's temple and worshipping it (1 Cor. viii. 1.) ; they spake of their depths in knowledge ; but Christ calls them '• the depths of Satan," and virtually disowns their abettors, distinguishing the faithful from them — " Unto you, I say, and unto the rest in Thya- tira, as many as have not this doctrine, and who have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak ; I will put upon you none other burden. But that whicfi ye have hold fast till I come."
The promise to them that overcome the temptations of the pre= sent life is a final triumph. They shall judge the world of the ungodly : and those who have persecuted them, and set themselves against them, and then fall before them. As a potter's vessel is broken to shivers, so shall they be destroyed ; and all this accor- ding to the commission which Christ i ceived of his Father.
Nor is this all : Christ will gi-- jnto them that overcome " the morning star." As this is one of the names assumed by himself, (Chap. xxii. 16.) it may denote that he himself will be their por- tion.
The exhortation " He that hath an ear, let him hear," &c. may in this case direct our attention to the following important particu- lars— That we may be members of a true church, and yet not true members of the church ; that the mixture of evil characters and evil things which at present are found in Christ's visible kingdom greatly tarnishes its glory, but in the end he will gather them out, and then shall the righteous shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father ; that we may have space given us for repentance, and yet never repent, which will greatly aggravate our doom ; that there is a species of knowledge with which it is our honour and happiness to be unacquainted ; finally, that the hope of victory is sufficient to stimulate us under all our conflicts.
1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis u)rife ; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, und the seven stars ; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things 'which remain, that are ready to die : for I have notfoiind thy works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I
46 SAEDIS. [Discourse Ilf.
will come upon thee. 4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis, which have not dejiled their garments ; and they shall walk with me in white : for they are zvorthy. 5 He that overcomtth, the same shall be clothed in white raiments ; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
This church lies under the heavy charge of having " a name to live while it was dead." The address to it is taken from Chap. i. 4. 20. and may be designed to direct them and their pastor where to look for reviving grace. Nothing is said in a way of commenda- tion, except to individuals amongst them. This indicates a bad state indeed. There are not many churches but individuals might be found in them who love the Lord. The " works" which Christ knew appear to be the same as those which he had " not found perfect before God.'' Though therefore he knew them, he did not approve of them. It is bad for the world to be dead ; but for a church to be so is worse : this is salt without savour ; which is neither fit for the land nor the dunghill. It is bid for individuals to be dead ; but for the body of a church to be so is deplorable. It is implied, that they were not otdy destitute of spirituality, but had defiled their garments by worldly conformity.
There had been some good amongst them, or they would not have been called to " remember how they had received and heard;" and some remains of it might continue. As no complaint is made of false doctrine, it is likely they continued orthodox, and kept up the forms of godliness. There seem to have been some- thing of truth, love, and zeal; but they were like dying embers, ready to expire.
Christ admonishes them to awake from their stupidness, to take the alarm, and to strengthen the things which remained that were ready to die. This is done by each one beginning with himself, and ending with one another.
The means of recovery from such a state are, " Remembering how we received and heard" the gospel at first. Call to remem- brance the former days, not to get comfort under our declensions, but to recover those views and sensations which we had at the
Chapter IU.J PHILADELPHIA. 47
beginning of our Christian course. There were many also, who at first had received the gospel with much heart, and had heard it with delight, but who in the course of forty years would be removed by death. Let them call to remembrance the love and zeal of their fathers, and be ashamed of their own declensions. If these admonitions did not awaken them, they are given to under- stand that Christ will come upon them in an unexpected hour, even as a thief cometh in the night.
The " few names which had not defiled their garments" are highly commended. To walk with God at any time is acceptable to him ; and to do this while others around us are corrupt, is more so. This is being fiiithful among the faithless. They shall walk with Christ in glory, honour, and purity. With this agrees the promise to them that overcome : " They shall be clothed in white raiment ; and Christ will not blot out their names from the book of life." The blessed God is represented as keeping a register of his servants, not as elect, or as redeemed, or as called, but as his professed followers. When any turn back, their names are blotted out. Hence at the last judgment it is made the rule of condemnation. " Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Chap. xx. 15. Some were never there, having never professed to be the followers of Jesus, while others who had been there were blotted jut • in either case their names would not be found there. Hence also it is the rule of admission into the New Jerusalem. Chap. xxi. 27.
" He that hath an ear to hear let him hear." Let us be aware of judging ourselves by what others think of us. We may have a name to live amongst our brethren, and yet be dead. Our names may be written among the professed followers of Christ, and yet be blotted out when he comes to judgment. But let faithful indi- viduals know, that whatever may be the end of others, Jesus will confess them before his Father, and before his angels.
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write ; These things saith he that is holy : he that is true ; he that hath the key of David ; he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shntteth, and no man openeth ; 8 / know thy works :'J)ehold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can^shut it : for thou hast a little
48 PHILADELPHIA, [Discohrse IH.
strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogxie of Satan, {which say they are Jews, and art not, but do lie ;) behold, 1 will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dxaell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly : hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 12 Him that overcometh, will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out : and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is neto Jerusalem, which cometh down out of Heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 13 He that hath an ear. let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
There is a great difference between this church and the last : there was there nothing to commend ; here nothing is censured. The character under which they are addressed is taken from Chap. i. 18. and accords with the address itself. ''He that was holy, and true" approved of them ; and he that had the keys of David, who opened end no man shut, had "set an open door before them."
The Lord knew and approved of their works, and would make hem more and more successful. Thej' were not distinguished opulence ; nor perhaps by any of those things that render a people respectable in the eyes of the world ; but of their " little strength," they had made good use ; had held fast the truth, and stood firm under persecution, which is of more account in the esteem of Christ than all other things.
This, and most of the primitive churches met with great oppo- sition from the Jewish synagogue, which is here again called " the synagogue of Satan ; " whose members having rejected the Mes- siah, were no longer worthy of the name of Jews. They that say {hey are what they are not, whether it be Jews or Christians, are commonly the bitterest of persecutors. Their "coming" to them in a way of cringing submission, may refer to a state of things in which, a door being opened in a way of success, the Christians should be increased in number and in power ; while the Jews,
Chapter III.] LAODICEA. 49
owing to their wars with the Romans, would be glad of theip friendship.
The gospel is called "the word of Christ's patience," in respect of what it was to them. The retention of it under a succession of cruel persecutions required great patience ; yet they had kept it, and the Lord promised in return to keep them in a particular time of trial that was coming upon the world. It might be by a renewal of persecution in the empire, or by the prevailing of corruptions in the church. As the Lord punishes sin by giving men up to sin» so he rewards righteousness by preserving them in the paths of it. We have had many of these hours of temptation, and may have many more : blessed are they that are preserved through them !
They are directed to look for the coming of their Lord, and to hold fast truth and true religion, lest their adversaries should wrest it out of their hands, and so deprive them of their reward.
The promise to (hem that overcome is, that they shall be " pil- lars in the celestial temple ; and unlike those of the Jewish tem- ple, which were removed by the Chaldeans and by the Romans, shall " go no more out." We are not to reckon the future great- ness of men according to their talents in this life, but according to the use made of them. Those who have here had but " a little strength," may there become pillars in the temple. The pillars of the church on earth go out and leave it by death ; hut those of the church above will abide for ever.
The writing upon them of the name of God, and the name of the city of God, the New Jerusalem, and of his own new name, doubt- less means as much as this — that they should be treated as the sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty, as citizens of the Heaveidy Jerusalem, and as those who are redeemed from among men.
It is for us, both as individuals and as churches, to take encour- ngement from this address to hold that fast which we have, that no man take our crown.
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans trrite ; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true ivitnms, the be- ginning of the creation of God; 15> I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou zi-ert cold or hot. 16 Sa then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will
Vol. VI. 7
g0 LAODICEA. [Discourse IIT.
spttc thee out of my movth. 17 Because thou say est, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing ; and knowest noi that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked : 18/ counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich ; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear ; and anoint thine eyts with eyt salve, that thou inayest see. 19 Jls many as I love, I rebuke and chasten : be zealous therefore and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock : If any man hear my voice, and open the door^ I 7vill come in to him, and sup with him and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in hia throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
This church appears to have been in the worst state of any of the seven. Sardis, though it had nothing to commend, had a few excellent names; but Laodicea is censured without distinction. Yet even this church is not given up, but rebuked in love.
Tlie character under which the Laodiceans are addressed is that of " the Amen, the faithful and true witness." Being lifted up with their riches, they might be tempted to refuse this faithful wilnesj* that was borne against them : but however disagreeable, it was " true.'' Ciirist is here called, " The beginning of the creation of God." It is true that as to his human nature he was himself created : the name here assumed, however, does not refer to this ; but to his being the head (apjf'*)) and first cause of crea- tion. Thus in Col. i. 15. he is called " the first-born of every creature ;'' not as being himself a creature, but the first cause of creation: "For (it is added,) by him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers : all things were created by him and for him. And he is before all things, and b)' him all things consist."* A message from such a charac- ter deserved their serious attention.
*Col. i. 15—17. . '
Chapter III.] LAODICEA. 51
Christ knew their works, but couhl not approve of them : for they were " neither cold nor hot." They may be said to be cold who have no religion, and pretend to none ; and they to be hot, who are zealously engaged in Christ's work : but this people were neither this nor that. They were not decidedly religious, and yet would not let religion alone.
This state of mind is represented as being peculiarly oflfensive to Christ. To halt between truth and error, God and the world, is worse in many respects than to be openly irreligious. Corrupt Christianity is more offensive to God than open infidelity. No man thinks the worse of religion for what he sees in the openly profane; but it is otherwise in respect of religious professors. If he that nameth the name of Christ depart not from iniquity, the honour of Christ is affected by his misconduct.
These people appear to have been very proud, and withal very ignorant of themselves. Their opulence seems to have lifted them up. Religion seldom thrives with much worldly prosperity. Men covet such things, and value themselves upon them ; but they are commonly snares to their souls. It is a hard thing for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. If these were the " riches" of which they boasted, it shows that the estimate of worldly greatness^ formed by the faithful and true witness, is very different from that of the generality of men. Of what account is it in his sight to be rich and increased in goods, while as to our spiritual concerns we are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked?
Being charged with blindness, and counselled to use means to remove it, it would seem however that the riches of vrhich they boasted included those of the mind : and that they were proud of their knowledge and gifts, as well as of their wealth. Like the Corinthians, " they were full, they were rich, they reigned m kings without the apostles." There is much of this still among professing Christians. One party looks down apon another, and values itself for its superior light ; one declaims against pharisaism in the true spirit of a pharisee ; another is busy about the mote in his brother's eye, regardless of the beam in his own. The sen- tence of the faithful and true witness concerning all that are wise
52 LAODICEA. [Discourse III.
and righteous in their own eyes is, Thou art wretched, and mise- rable, and poor, and blind, and naked, and knowestit not !
In respect of the counsel offered them, they are addressed like sinners in common, who knew not the Saviour. This was proba- bly the case with many of them ; and if some had known him, yet being in a backsliding state, the best counsel that could be given them was, that they should come as sinners immediately to the Saviour. They are directed to seek the true riches, the true righteousness and the true wisdom, and to deal with Christ for them ; not as giving him any valuable consideration for them, (for this as being poor they could not,) but as parting with all for them. This is "buying without money and without price." This is the way in which sinners come to Christ at first, and this is the way for backsliders to be restored. The child that has been ill taught must begin anew and go over every rule again.
To reconcile them to this sharp and humbling reproof they are assured that these were not the words of an enemy, but of one that bare them good will. It shows the great forbearance and long-suffering goodness of our Lord, even towards them that have greatly dishonoured him. It also teaches us to put a right con- struction on divine rebukes, receiving them as the rod of correc- tion to bring us to repentance.
To counsel is added a word of encouragement and of warn- ing.— "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear ray voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Here again they seem to be treated rather as sinners, than as Christians. If the common invitations of the gospel be acceptable, they are welcome to them. Jesus stands at their door, and knocks for admission. Do they bear him ? and will they open the door and welcome him ? If so, he will come in, and be their guest. But if they are so taken up with their present company as not to hear him, or at least not to open to him, he will go away, as he did from the Jewish temple — "Behold your house is left unto you des- olate."
If this serious and tender address did not reclaim them as a body, yet the promise to them that should overcome, that tbey
Chapter III.J LAODICEA. 53
should " sit down with him in his throne, as he also had over- come, and was set down with his Father in his throne," might encourage individuals to return and hold out to the end.
Let these censures, warnings, and encouragements, addressed to the seven churches in Asia, as a specimen of the whole, be heard and regarded by the churches of Christ, and by every indi- vidual member of them, to the end of time.
DISCOURSE IV.
THE VISION PRECEDING THE BOOK WITH SEVEN SEAL?.
Chap. iv.
After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven ; and (he first voice which I heard, was as it were of a trumpet talk- ing with me ; which said. Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must he hereafter. 2 And immediately/ I was in the spirit : and, behold, a throne was set in heaven^ and one sat on the throne. 3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone : and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats : and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment ; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 5 And out of the throne proceeded light- nings, and thunderings, and voices : And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. 6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes before and he- hind. 7 And the first living creature was like a lion, and the second living creature like a calf, and the third living creature had a face as a man, and the fourth living creature was like ct flying eagle. 8 And the four living creatures had each of them six wings about him ; and they were full of eyes within : and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty,
56 THE SEALED BOOK [Discourse IV.
which was, and is, and is to come. 9 And when those living creo turesgive glory, and honour, and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who livethfor ever and ever, 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 1 1 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and hon- our, and power : for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleas- ure they are and were created.
The whole of this chapter is introductory to what follows. The scene of the vision is the heavenly world. Nowhere else could it have been with equal propriety. Where, but at the fountain of intelligence and influence, should a creature learn the secrets of futurity ? When Ahab's destiny was revealed to Micaiab, the scene of the vision was laid in heaven.*
A door being opened, the apostle is invited to enter in. Hav- ing entered, he immediately finds himself under prophetic inspira- tion. He was not removed from earth as to his body: but, as Ezekiel was carried by the Spirit to Jerusalem, and saw what was transacting there, while his body was still in Chaldea, so it was with him j he was still in the Isle of Patmos, while wrapt up by divine inspiration, and introduced into the immediate presence of God.
In this supernatural state of mind he beheld a "throne," and one "sitting upon it," who was the Supreme Disposer of all the concerns of creatures. Such a sight would impress him with the conviction that whatever should befall the church, or the world, it was all according to his will who ruled in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth. Ver. 1, 2.
No description is given of the ever blessed God, only that his glory seemed to resemble the lustre of certain precious stones; and this may allude to the visible glory of the God of Israel as displayed in the temple. A rainbow was also round about the throne, in appearance like an emerald. We know that this from of old was a sign of peace and good will to nr»en. It may here denote that the glorious majesty of God, which in itself were too
* 1 Kings xsii. 19—22.
Chaptkh IV.] THE SEALED BOOK. 57
much to be endured, would be displayed towards bis church in connexion with covenant mercy. Ver. 3.
Having spoken of the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, sit- ting on his throne, he next describes his retinue. Here are twen- ty-four seats, or subordinate thrones, on which sat twenty-four elders, clothed in white, and with crowns of gold upon their heads. The ''lightnings, and thunderings, and voices," may denote not only the awful majesty of God, as when he appeared at Sinai, but that from him proceeded all the terrible judgments which would short- ly afflict the earth. Besides these there were " seven lamps of fire before the throne," which are said to be "the seven spirits of God;" answering, it may be, to the sevn candlesticks, and being as it were a lamp to each candlestick. The light imparted by the churches is all derived from the Holy Spirit. These seven lamps enlighten the world. Ver. 4, 5.
" Before the throne was a sea of glass like unto crystal." This crystal sea, as it was in appearance, but which was so solid that the harpers are afterwards described as standing upon it, may be opposed to the troubled tumultuous sea out of which the beast would vise, and may denote the grandeur and immutability of the divine throne as opposed to the turbulence and uncertainty of earthly thrones. The four living creatures seem to be the same as those described by Ezekiel, and to allude, as they did, to the cherubim in the holy of holies. That which the wheels were to the one, the elders are to the other; connected with them like horses in a chariot, in all their movements. Of the former it is said, •' When the living creatures went, the wheels went by them ; when those stood, these stood ; and when those were lifted up from the earth, these were lifted up over against them : for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels"* Of the latier it is said, " When those living creatures give glory and honour and thanks to him that sitteth on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before him, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to
*£zek. i. 21. Vet. VI. 8 ' ^
58 THH VISION, &c. [Discourse IV.
receive glory, and honour, and power, for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."
The living creatures cannot be angels, for both they and the elders are distinguished from them in Chap. vii. 11., where all the angels are said to " stand round about the throne, and about the elders and the four living creatures." Besides this, the living creatures and the elders speak of themselves as " redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." Chap. v. 9. Those who led the worship under the Old Testa- ment might be meant by the living creatures of Ezekiel ; and those who lead the worship under the New Testament may be signified by those of John. They and the elders, like the stars and the candlesticks, appear to be the representatives of Christ's ministers and churches in the heavenly assembly. They are not described as being themselves on earth, or in a state of affliction, but as before the throne of God : as though a number of the spirits of just men made perfect had been chosen of God, to represent in his immediate presence their brethren upon earth, and who, as things should be described which concerned the church, would express the interest they felt in them.
The description of the living creatures as bearing a resemblance to certain animals, and as having each six wings, which wings were "full of eyes within," would naturally express their useful prop- erties, particularly the union of zeal and knowledge ; and their unceasing ascriptions of glory to God may denote the tendency of their ministerial labours. The elders were crowned, but they cast their crowns before the throne. Such appear to be the scene jftid the scenery of this preparatory vision. Ver. 6 — 11.
DISCOURSE V.
THE BOOK WITH SEVEN SEAJiS.
Chap. V.
And I saio in the right hand of him that sat on the throne, a book "written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I sato a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4 And I wept much because no man was found worthy to open, and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5 And one of the elders saith unto me. Weep not : be- hold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the root of David, hath prevail- ed to open the bonk, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 6 And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne, and of the four living creatures, and in the 7nidst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into mil (he earth. 7 And he came and took the book out (f the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8 And when he had taken the book, the four living creatures, and four and twenty elders, fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for th'.u wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kin- dred, aJid tongue, and people, arid nation; 10 And hast made us
60 THE SEALED BOOK. [Discourse V.
unto our God Icings and priests : and ice shall reign on the earth. 1 1 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the living creatures, and the elders : and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thou- sands; 12 Saying with a loud voice. Worth// is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth, and under the earth, and suc!i as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I, saying. Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him, that silteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14 And the four living creatures said. Amen. And th£ four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that livethfor ever and ever.
That \»hich is here called " a book," must not be supposed to resemble our books, which since the invention of printing have been ve?y different from those of the ancients. Conceive of seven skins of parchment, written upon one on side,* and rolled up, suppose on wood. At the end of every skin a seal is affixed on the backside, so that the contents of it cannot be read till the seal is opened. This book, or roll, or volume, being "• in the right hand of him that sat on the throne," denotes that futurity is known only to God. The proclamation made for one that should be worthy to open the book, shows how desirable it was that the mind of God in regard of futurity, should be revealed, for strength- ening the faith and supporting the hope of his church upon earth; and as John had been invited for the very purpose of learning " the things that should be hereafter," things which related to the church of Christ which he had been employed in raising, it must be peculiarly interestir.g to him. He must needs be anxious to know the things that should befall these his people in the latter days. To see a book therefore which contained them, and yet
* By the punctuation in our traaslation, it would seeai as if lliey were written upon on both siJes ; but this would not comport with the contents being secret, whiuh they were till tlie seals were unloosed. It seenas, there- fore, that a comma is necessary after the word "within," io verse 1. Sev- eral other versions, and some editions of our own, read it, .4 book wrillen ivilkin, and on the backtide sealed with seven seals.
Chapter V.] THE SEALED BOOK. 61
none in heaven or earth is found worthy to open it, might well make bira weep. Ver. 1 — 4.
This want of a suitable person to open the book is introduced for the purpose of doing honour to the Lamb, whose success gives universal joy and satisfaction. The work of making known the mind of God was an honour too high for any mere creature in heaven or on earth : it was given to Christ as the reward of his obedience unto death. Ver. 9. The honour of preaching the gospel is represented as being of grace : " Unto me, (said Paul,) who am less than the least of all saints is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." That which Christ received as the reward of his death, we receive incur measure, of grace, and for his sake ; and a great favour it is to be bearers of such good tidings.
One of the elders perceiving the apostle to weep under an ap- prehension that all must remain unknown, saith unto him, " Weep not: behold the Lion of the tribe of Juda. the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." John was not so unacquainted with the scriptures as to be at any loss who this could mean. Probably however he expected to behold bis Lord in some majestic form corresponding to the im^ agery : but lo, instead of a Lion, he saw a Lamb, a Lamb as it had been slain ! yet invested with pert'ect authority, and possessing perfect knowledge, so as to qualify him for tlie work : for he had ■' seven horns, and seven eyes.*' Ver. 5, 6.
This glorious personage, in whom are united the majesty of the Lion and the gentleness of the Lamb, approaches him that sat upon the throne, and takes the book out of his right hand ; de- noting on his own part the undertaking of the work, and on that of God his perfect approbation. Ver. 7.
And now the whole church of God by their representatives are described as falling down before the Lamb, and joining in a chorus of praise. The " golden vials lull of odours," doubtless allude to those of the priests who oft'ered incense, and denote that the cliurci) on earth is ever employed in presenting its petitions before the throne. They had al^o " harps" as well ns vials, and '' sung a new song," denoting the great occasion there now was for joy and
62 THE SEALED BOOK. [Discourse V-
praise. A new song is suited to a new manifestation of mercy. The Lamb is found worthy to lake the book, and to open the seals ; and they perceive the ground of it to lie in his having redeemed them at the expense of his blood. For this they bless his name, as also for his having made them kings and priests unto God, and given them to expect that however they were at present oppressed on earth, they should even there be finally victorious. Ver. 8—10.
Nor could the angels on such an occasion be silent, but must join in the choir. Myriads of myriads, a number that no man could number, unite in ascribing worthiness to the Lamb, and that on the same ground as redeemed men had done, namely, his having been " slain :" a proof this of disinterested affection, both to the Redeemer and the redeemed. He took not on him the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham : yet angels unite in praising him for his love to men.
In enumerating the things which he was worthy to receive, it is remarkable how they keep their eye on those perfections of which he had eni/i/tec? himself in his humiliation. He did not lay aside any thing pertaining to his goodness^, but merely what be- longed to his greatness. He was no less holy, just, faithful, and merciful when on earth, than he is now in heaven : but he emptied himself of '' power," as laying aside his authority, and taking upon him tbe form of a servant ; of " riches," as becoming poor, that we through his poverty might be made rich : of " wisdom,^ as making himself of no reputation ; of "strength," as becoming weak and subject to death like other men j of •' honour," as not appearing in his native divinity, but as a man, and a man of ob- scure birth, despised of the people ; of " glory" as subjecting himself to shame and disgrace ; and of " blessing," as receiving not the benedictions so much as the execrations of those among whom he sojourned. The purport of tlie song is, By how much he hath emptied himself on earth, by so much let him be magnified and exalted in heaven ! Ver. 11, 12.
Nor is the song confined to angels ; the whole creation joins in praising him that sitteth on the throne, and the Lamb, for ever ; while at every pause the representatives of the redeemed add
qnAPTER v.] THE SEALED BOOK. 63
their emphatic " Amen,'' adoring in humble prostration him that liveth for ever and ever. Ver. 13.
Such an august and affecting representation expresses the sen- timents which become the friends of Christ while contemplating that great cause which is carrying on in the world, and which the world in a manner overlooks. To this may be added, If such be the glory ascribed to the Saviour whilst events are merely fore- told, what will it be when they are actually accomplished, and when they shall be reviewed in the heaven of heavenis to all eternity !
DISCOURSE VI.
THE SEALS OPKNF.D.
Chap.vi.
Before we enter on the opening of the seals, the sounding of the trumpets, or the pouring out of the vials, it will be proper to make a few general remarks.
First, The whole series of events here revealed is included in the sealed book. We are not to conceive of the seals as contain- ing one series of events, the trumpets another, and the vials another ; but as all being included in the seals : for the seven trumpets are only subdivisions of the seventh seal, and the seven vials of the seventh trumpet.
Secondly, This division into seals, and subdivision into trumpets and vials, appears to be the only one which the prophecy requires, or even admits. Not to mention its division into chapters, which are sometimes made in the midst of a subject, the scheme of divi- ding it into periods, which Mr. Lowman and many others have favoured, seems to be merely a work of the imagination. There are doubtless some remarkable periods in the prophecy, such as that of the 1 260 years, tc; but to make them seren in number, and for this purpose to reckon the day of judgment, and the heavenly state, as periods, is fanciful. It is by the division of the prophecy itself into seals, and the subdivision of the seventh seal into trum- pets, and of the seventh trumpet into vials, that we must steer our course.
Thirdly, In tracing the events symbolized by the seals, trumpets, and vials, there is no necessity for supposing that every preceding
Vol. VI. 9
gg GENERAL REMARKS. [Discocrse VI.
one must be finished before that which follows it can have begun, It is enough if they succeed each other in the manner of the four monarchies predicted in the seventh chapter of Daniel. The Babj'lonish empire was not extinct before that of Persia began ; nor that of Persia before that of Macedonia began ; nor that of Macedonia before that of Rome began. The latter end of each would be cotemporary with the beginning of that which followed : yet upon the whole the}' succeeded each other iti the empire of the world: and this was sufficient to justify their being represented in succession. Thus the wars of the red horse in this chapter might commence before the conquests of the white horse were ended, and continue in part while the events signified by the black horse occurred. The beginnings and endings of each might run into the other, while yet upon the whole they were successive. It is on this account that I am not solicitous to determine the year when each begins or ends.
Fourthly, So far as the seals, trumpets, or vials respect the world, it is as connected with the church. The plan of this proph- ecy is much the same as that of the Old Testament : it follows religion, and what concerns religion only. Why is there so much said in the scriptures oi Nineveh and Babylon, rather than of other heathen cities in those times, but because these powers had to do with the people of God ? Why are the ravages of the four beasts predicted by Daniel, but for the same reason ? Had it not been for this, they might have risen and fallen unnoticed by the scrip- tures, as much as Carthage, Palmyra, or Pekin. It is this that accounts for so much being said by Daniel of Antiochus Epiphanes. It is this that accounts for so much being said by John of the Roman empire, rather than of the other great empires of the earth ; for it was here that Christianity would be principally embraced. And as the Roman empire and the profession of Chris- tianity would in the latter ages be in a manner confined to Europe, so the greater part of what respects the world in the latter part of these prophecies is in a manner confined to that quarter of the earth. The scriptures, foreseeing that Europe would be the seat of both the Christian church, and the antichrisfian beast and
Chapter VI.] GENERAL REMARKS. 67
harlot, predicts events concerning this part of the world, while they overlook the other parts.
Nor must we expect to find all the great events even of those parts of the world which are connected with the church. As the Old Testament history in respect of the nations connected with Is- rael, is select, so we may expect to find the New Testament proph- ecy. If some of the mightiest changes in Europe have no place in this prophecy, we are not to consider the omission of them as a defect, but rather take it for granted that God did not judge the in- troduction of them necessary for his purpose.
Fifthly, The commencement of the prophecy is, I apprehend, to be reckoned from the ascension of Christ. It has been common, I am aware, to reckon it from the time of the vision, which is sup- posed to have been under the reign of Domitian, about the year 95. On this principle Mr. Lowman proceeds. Hence he con- fines the opening of the first seal, on which it is said " there ap- peared a u'hite horse, and he that sat on him had a bow, and a crown, and went forth conquering and to conquer," to the success of the gospel after the year 95, leaving out the lohole of that which accoinpanied the labours of the apostles. In like manner the open- ing of the second seal, on which there went forth " a red horse, and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another," is confined to those wars between the Jews and Romans which occurred between the years 100 and 138, leaving out the whole of those lohich issued in the destruction of Jerusalem* But surely it must appear singular that in a prophetic description of the success of the gospel in the early ages the most glorious part of it should be left out; and that in a like desciiption of the wars between the Jews and Romans the most terrible part should be omitted. The reason given by Mr. Low- man for its being so, is, " The destruction of Jerusalem being past, can hardly be supposed to be denoted by a prediction of a judgment to come." Doubtless it is in general true that prophecies are pre- dictions of things to 'Come: in some instances, however, they may refer to events, the beginnings of which are already accomplished.
* See Lowman's History of the First aad Second Seals, pp. 40—42.
ea 'JfHE FIRST SEAL. [Discourse VI.
There is a remarkable instance of this in the prophecies of Daniel concerning tiie four monarchies. He speaks of his seeing them all rise up out of the sea ; * yet at the time of the vision the first of them, namely Babylon, had risen, and reigned, and was near its end ; for it was in the first year of Belshazzar, who was its last king. And why should not the apostle in like manner commence the prophecy with the commencement of the Christian dispensa- tion, though he wrote above sixty years after it ? This makes the sealed book to contain a perfect system of New Testament prophe- cy, from the ascension of Christ to the end of all things. By this we include the success of the apostles in the conquests of the man on the white horse under the first seal, and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in those of the red horse under the ?econd seal. By this too we are furnished with an easy interpretation of the division of the book into "things which the writer had seen, things which icere^ and things which should be hereafter.^'' He had actually seen the great progress of the gos- pel from the time of Christ's ascension, and the destruction of Je- rusalem by the Romans ; he then saw the church struggling under a cruel persecution ; and that \vhich should be revealed to him would carry on those struggles till she should rise triumphant over all opposition in her New Jerusalem glory.
1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, OS it were the noise of thunder, one of the four living creatures^ saying. Come, and see. 2 And I sara, and behold, a white horse : and he that sat on htm had a bow, and a crown was given unto him : and he wentforih conquering and to conquer.
There is no doubt of this being meant of the glorious success of the gospel in the early ages of the church, even when it had to encounter the most bloody persecutions. Of this the white horse is the appropriate symbol. t " Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty : with thy glory and thy majesty. And in thy majesty ride prosperously, because of truth, and meekness, and righteous- ness : and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things." | 1
* Chap. vii. 1—3. t Chap, six, 11. 12.
X?iA. xlv. 3. 4. . ., ■
Chapter VI. 1 THE SECOiND SEAL. 69
need not show how truly this accoids with historic fact. Suffice it to say, that from the beginning, as tlie Jews alleged against the apostles, "Jerusalem was J?/fc</ with their doctrine." It was fore- told that before the destruction of that city, the gospel should be preached in all the world.* Paul himself preached it, and that fully, " from Jerusalem round about unto lllyricum :" and, as he says in behalf of him?elf and his fellow-labourers, " God always caused them to triumph in every place." The Caesars set them- selves against it; yet iu spite of all their efforts, there were, even in Paul's time, saints in Caesar's household.
The epistles of Pliny and Tiberianus, Governors of Asia Minor and Syria, to Trajan the Emperor, within ten or twelve years after the banishment of John to the Isle ofPatmos, furnish a striking and unexceptionable proof of the progress of the gospel in those times. By the amazing number of persons who avowed themselves Chris- tians, and so exposed themselves to death, they were moved with compassion and wrote to know what they were to do with them. " The number is so great, (says Pliny,) as to call for the most seri- ous deliberation. laforniations are pouring in against multitudes, of every age, of all orders, and of both sexes : and more will be impeached ; for the contagion of this superstition hath spread, not only through cities, but villages, and hath even reached the farm- houses." He also speaks of the temples as having been almost desolate, the sacred solemnities [of idolatry] as having been inter- mitted, and the sacrificial victims as fiiKling but few purchasers. " I am quite wearied, (says Tiberianus,) with punishing and destroying the Galileans."
3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say. Come and see. 4 Ami there jcent out another horse that was red : and power tras git^en to him that sat thereon to take -peace from the earth, and that iheij shoidd kill one another : and there was given unto him a great sword.
This and the two following seals relate to the judgments of God upon the churches' enemies. Great and terrible wars are as naturally suggested by the symbol of a red horse, as a success of
* Matt. xxiv. 14.
70 THE SECOND SEAL. [Discowrse VL
the gospel was by a white one. The wars particularly alluded to, appear to be those between the Jews and Romans, who having united in persecuting the church, as well as in crucifying its head, were now permitted to " kill one another." It is well known that in the reign of Vespasian, the Jews having rebelled against the Romans, Jerusalem was taken and destroyed, the temple re- duced to ashes, and an immense number slain.* Forty or fifty years after this, in the reign of Trajan, the Jews in Egypt and in Cyprus rebelled, and are said to have slain with great marks of cruelty, four hundred and sixty thousand men ; yet the Jews were every where subdued : a far greater number, therefore, must have been slain amongst themselves. Soon after this, in the reign of Hadrian, the Jews who were left in Palestine after the destruction of their metropolis, were drawn into a new rebellion, by adhering to a pretended Messiah, whosie name was Barchocab. In these wars, besides what were lost on the side of the Romans, the Jews are said to have had a thousand cities and fortresses destroyed, with the slaughter of above^i'e Jiundred and eighty thnusandmen. The Jews having emplojed the Roman power to crucify the Lord of Glory, God employed it to destroy them and their city. Their carnal policy told them that if they let him alone, all men would believe on him, and the Romans would come and take away both their place and nation. Whether guilty or not guilty, it was judged expedient that he should die, and that the whole nation should not perish. The whole nation however did perish, and that by means of the Romans. Such was the result of that policy which was employed against the Lord, and against his Christ: and thus was fulfilled the prophecy of Daniel, — " And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut ofl', but not for himself : and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary, and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are deter- mined." Chap. ix. 26.
* Mr. LowMAN, from Usher''s Annals, s^ljs, " A million and a half accord- ing to some, according to others two millions, besides whnt were slain on the side of the Romans."
DISCOURSE VII.
THE OPENING OF THR SEALS, CONTINUED.
Chap. vi.
And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say. Come, and see. And I beheld, and lo, a black horse ; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny ; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
A black horse is the symbol for famine, or of a scarcity ap- proaching to famine, by which the necessaries of life required to be dealt out by weight and measure, and special orders to be given that nothing should be wasted.* Such appears to have been the state of things in the Roman empire for a long time, during the reigns of the Antonines. It was in reference to these, among other calamities, that TurfnlUan speaks, representing the Hea- thens as ascribing them to the Christians, because they taught men to despise the gods-t
The " measure'' here referred to is the choenix, which con- tained the ordinary allowance of corn to a man for a day ; and as the price of a measure of wheat in those times was a Roman " penny," which was the amount of a day's wages, it follows that
t Apology, Chap. XL. Lowman's History of the Third Seal, p, 46. * See Lam. v. 10. Lev. xxvi. 26.
72 fHE THIRD SEAL. [Discodrse VIl-
for a poor man to have lived on wheaten bread would Jiave re- quired all his labour, without any thing for other necessaries, or even bread for his famil)' !
7 Jind token he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say. Come and see. 8 And I looked, and beholdf a pale horse : and his name that sat on him "raas Death, and hell followed icith him. And power was given unto them, over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and rcith the beasts of the earth.
The paie horse was the symbol of great mortality, by various means : particularly by the sword, by hunger, by pestilence, and by the beasts of the earth. The facts were, that between the years 193 and 270, that is, in less than eighty years, there were more than twenty emperors, and at one time thirty pretenders to the throne. It is said also there were thirty usurpers, who raised wars for themselves in different parts of the empire. Such a state of things is sufficient to account for all that is here predicted : for intestine wars must needs produce famine and pestilence, and by destroying men, give an ascendency to the beasts of prey. In this manner the enemies of the gospel were visited, who contin- ued, with but little intermission, to persecute the church of God.
In understanding the symbols of the white, the red, the black, and the pale horses, of the success of the gospel, and the judg- ments of God on its enemies, there is sufficient unity of design. They all bear a relation to the church, and to the Jews and Ro- mans only as persecuting it.
9 And when he had opened the fifih seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying. How long, 0 Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dvell on the earth ? 1 1 And white ¥obes uere given unto every one of them ; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also, and their brethren that should be killed as they were, shoidd be fulfilled.
A view of an altar, and the sacrifices that had been made upon it, fitly represents tlie numerous martyrdoms which had been
Chapter VI.] THE FIFTH SEAL. 73
made at the time under the Heathen emperors. The " souls un- der the altar," are the departed spirits of those Christians who had fallen in the arduous contest, which are supposed to cry aloud for retribution. The " white robes" denote the heavenly honours conferred upon thera. The answer to their appeal, in which they »re encouraged to expect a retribution " alter a little season and when the number of their fellow-servants and brethren, who should be killed as they were, [by the hand of Paganism,] should be fulfilled," determines the period to which the vision refers. It is supposed that they bad suffered under m«e of the ten persecu- tions, and had only to wait for the completion of their number under ihe tenth, which being accomplished, God would take ven- geance on their persecutors. The opening of this seal therefore would refer to about the year 270, when the ninth persecvttion was past, and the tenth under Dioclesian and Maximian was ap- proaching; and which is said to have been more extensive and bloody than any which had gone before it. Its professed object was nothing less than the utter extirpation of Christianity. The places for Christian worship were everywhere demolished. Bibles destroyed, and an immense number of Christians put to death. " It were endless and almost incredible, (says Echard,) to etnime- rate (he variety of sufferers and torments they were scourged to death, had their flesh torn off with pincers, and mangled with broken pots ; were cast to lions, tigers, and other wild beasts ; were burnt, beheaded, crucified, thrown into the sea, to;n in pieces by the distorted bou!i;hs of trees, roasted by gentle fires, and holes made in their bodies for melted lend to b*^ prmred into their bowels. This persecution lasted ten years under Dioclesian and some of his successors ; and the number of Christians who suffered death and [uinishment mitde them conclude that they had completed their work : and in an ancient inscription they tell the world thai they have effaced tht nan'e and superstition of the Christians, and had restored and propcgated the worship of the gods. But they were so much deceived, that this hastened the destruction of Paganism.* : ■;; :
* Roman History, Vol. II. p. 550. Eusebius, in the Vlllth book of his Ecclesiastical History, gives a particular account of this persecution, of which htt was an eye-witne«?. i Vol. VI. 10 ' *
74 THE SIXTH SEAL. [Discourse VII.
This was tli6 first persectition that reached Britain, then a Ro- man colony, in which Alban suffered, and great numbers after him. '• Our stories record, (says Fox the martyrologist,) that all Chris- tianity almost in the whole Island was destroyed, the churches subverted, all books of scripture burned, and many of the faithful, both men and women, slain."
12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and Jo, there was a great earthquake ; and the sun became block as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood ; 1 3 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 1 4 And the heavens departed a a scroll when it is rolled together ; and every mountain and island ware moved out of their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bond-man, and eiiery free-man, hid themselves in the dens, and in the rocks of the mountains ; 1 6 And said to the mountains and rocks. Fall on ?is, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the tcrath of the Lamb : 17 For the great day of his wrath is come ; and who shall be able to stand?
An " earthqujike" is the appropriate symbol of a revolution ; and an earthquake accompanied with an eclipse of the sun and moon, and what was more than an eclipse the " falling of the stars to the eart\»," as though nature herself were dissolved, denotes, 1 conceive, the overthrow of the Pagan empire by the arms f>f Con- stantine. The ruling powers of the world are that to the common people which the sun and moon and stars are to the earth : hence great changes in nations are expressed by God's " shaking the heavens and the e.irth ;" and sometimes by the very imagery here used. " All the host of the heavens shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll : and all their hosts shall fall down as the leatfalleth off from the vine, and as the fall- ing fig from the fig-tree. For my sword shall be bathed in hea- ven r behold, it shall come down upon Iilumea, and upon the peo- ple of my curse, to judgment." Isa. xxxiv. 4, 5. The revolu- tion that took place in the time of Constantine was not of a civil, ?o much as of a religious character. The government was still irrujjRrial, and the difference between one emperor and another
CHAfTKR VI.] THE SIXTH SEAL. 75
would be of little or no account. But it was an eclipse of those powers which had so long endeavoured to crush the cause of Christ. It is language applicable to the last judgment : and was to them actually a day of judgment in miniature. The bloody enemies of Christ must now have felt, whether they would or not, that they had incurred the wrath of the Lamb. Now the number of the martyrs under the Pagan persecutions is completed, and the prayers of the souls under the altar are answered.
DISCOURSE VIII.
THE SEALING OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD.
Chap. vii.
Jnrf after these things, I saw four angels standing on the fmr corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the mnds should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God • and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Say- ing, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have tealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hun- dred and forty and four thousand, of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 5 Of the tribe of Jud a were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. 6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephfhalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 7 Of the tribe ef Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. 8 Of the tribe Zabulon were sealed twelve thou- sand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
This chapter is a continuntion of the sixth seal ; and bears a relation to the great revolution which had taken place by the accession of a Christian Emperor. Considering what the church had had to encounter under a succession of Heathens, this event
>78 THE SEALING OF [^Discourse VHI.
would appear to be most auspicious. Christians would now look forward to times of peace, happiness, and prosperity. And true it is, that during the life of this Emperor, there was not only a season of peace, but considerable accessions to the Christian pro- fession. On this account, it seems, Mr. Lowman and others have been led to interpret this sealing of the servants of God in their foreheads, of the numerous conversions made in those times to the Christian faith. But sealing denotes, not conversion, but the pre- servation of those who are converted. Those who were sealed did not by this become the servants of God, but are supposed to be such already, instead of signifying the enlargement of the church, the object is to prevent it from being utterly swept away. It por- tends danger no less than the striking of the door-posts of the Israelites when the destroying angel should pass through the land; or than the marking of those who " sighed and cried" when Jeru- salem was to be destroyed by the Chaldeans. It was for the preservation of a seed for God amidst a flood of corruption. Hence when these evils had actually deluged the church, we find the sealed servants of God standing in triumpli upon Mount Sion.* God seeth not as man seeth : that which man is apt to think a great acquisition, God often knows to be a great temptation.
It is remarkable, that instead of a congratulation of the church on its recent victory, by the striking up of the heavenly choir, (as is usual in the prophecy when new and glorious events occur,) the choir on this occasion is mute. It is described, indeed, as a day of judgment to the persecuting Heathens, and in itself doubtless afiforded matter of thankfulness to Christians; but had they known what would arise out of it, the joy of that day would have been turned into mourning.
From this time men were ripe for such speculations as those of Arius^ who argued, that if Christ was begotten of the Father^ there must have been a time when he teas not ; and for all the intrigues, wars, and persecutions, which on both sides by turns were practised. From this time our Lord's doctrine of the new birth seems in a manner to have been laid aside, and conversion to
* Ghap. xiv. 1.
Chapter VII.] GOD'S SERVANTS. 79
Christianity was little more than being baptized, or consenting to wear the Christian badge. From this time conversions were mostly produced by authority, or by the hope of worldly advan- tage, or by exhortations addressed to kings that they should con- vert their subjects. From this time the glory of the church seems to have been placed more in splendid edifices and pompous cere- monies, than in conformity to its head. In short, from this time she became a courtier, and laying aside her own simple garb, appeared in a dress more befitting the mother of harlots than the bride of Christ. " What she gained in outward splendour and prosperity, (says Mr. Faber,) she lost in purity of manners and doctrine. The holy simplicity of primitive Christianity was no more; and the heresy of Arius introduced a succession of crimes disgraceful alike to humanity and religion."*
Doubtless there were hypocrites, and merely nominal Christians in all ages of the church ; but they were never before so desig- nated as they now are. " The servants of God" are from this time distinguished from " the men who had not the seal of God in their foreheads." This distinction might not take place immediately after the accession of Constantine, but from that time the seeds of it were sown. The alliance between the civil and ecclesiastical authorities described in the xiiith and xviith chap- ters by a woman riding on a beast, originated here. Here there- fore we must look for the grand origin of that apostasy which the apostle Paul foretold, and which succeeding ages witnessed. If the account given of the state of things by Mosheim be just, it requires a great stretch of charity to believe that what was called the catholic church even in the fourth century was the church of Christ. Christ certainly had a people at that time, but they seem to have consisted of individuals rather than of that visible commu- nity which called itself the church. They were " the servants of God whom he sealed in their foreheads."
These ideas will be confirmed by attending to the manner in which the sealing of the servants of God is introduced. Four angels are seen "standing on the four corners of the earth."
* See Mosheim's Account of the Fourth Centnrv.
80 THE COMPANY WHO [Discourse VIU.
Aniiels are the executioners of the Divine Providence. Their number answering to the four quarters of the earth may express its extending over the whole world. Their "holding the winda" would denote that they were commissioned of God to afflict the earth with evils, or to withhold them, according to his will. The short period in which they held back the winds seems to refer to that season of tranquility which the church enjoyed on the government's becoming Christian, and before the temptations of its new situation had bad time to operate. Ver. 1, 2. But as the principal part of the commission of the four angels was to "hurt the earth and the sea," they stand ready, only waiting till the greater angel has sealed the servants of God, ere they exe- cute it.
The " winds" which were to be let loose upon the earth and the sea, were spiritual, rather than temporal judgments, and would principally grow out of the new order of things : namely, errors, superstitions, corruptions, divisions, and a conformity to the manners and habits of the world. These were the winds which in the end swept away the great body of nominal Christians into the gulfs of Poper}' and Mahoinetanism. Ver. 3.
And as many of the symbols in the prophecy are taken from the Jewish temple, so the servants of God are symbo!iz?d by a certain numlter for an uncertain, taken from the twelve tribes of Israel. The Christian church being now the true '' Israel of God," were to the apostate Christians what Israel was to an aposlate world; namely, God's witnesses. Ver. 4 — 8.
9 jifter this I beheld, and lo, a great laullitude, which no man could number, nf all nations, and kindredx, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands ; 10 Jlnd cried with a loud voice, saying. Salvation to our God which sifteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders, and the four living creatures, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen : Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiv- ing, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever
Chapter Vir.] HAD OVERCOME. 81
and ever. Amen. 13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me. What are these which are arrayed in tthite robes ? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said unto me, These are they which came out of great trihidation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 1 4 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple : and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them l6 They shall hunger no more., neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them^ nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters : and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
After the sealing of God's servants is accomplished, the saintd and martyrs of Jesus, who during the preceding persecutions had overcome, and been received into glory, joining with the whole heavenly chorus, engage in a triumphant song of praise to God and to the Lamb. The reason of their being here introduced seems to be that the sealed servants of God, who were yet on earth, and bad to pass through a series of trials, might by a view of their happy end be strengthened to follow their example. As great Tmmbers would be against them in this world, they are directed to view the numbers of friends which they have in heaven ; who not only look back to their own deliverance, and ascribe it to God, but seem to look down to their brethren upon earth, and to say, '* Hold fast the profession of your faith without wavering !"
The view of such a holy and happy assembly is supposed to excite in the apostle emotions of admiration and joy. On this one of the elders asks him what he conceives them to be ; and when«e they could come. It would seem as if they must be pure celes- tial beings, whose whole existence had been filled up with right- eousness and blessedness. He does not presume however to say what he thought they were, whether men or angels, nor to offer any opinion as to whence they came ; but modestly refers it to his instructor to inform him. The answer is, in effect, tliat they are men, men who were lately upon earth, exposed to great tribula» tions, but who had come out of them. And as to their " white rgbes," they had been once impure, but were washed and made Vol. VI. 11
^g THE COMPANY, &c. [DrecotrnsE VIU.
white, not in their own blood, though that in innumerable instances had been shed, but *' in the blood of the Larab," It was as believ- ing in bis death that they were justified and sanctified ; and having lived by faith on him, they were without fault " before the throne of God."
Still more to stimulate the servants of God in this world to per- severe, he adds. " And he that sitteth upon the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more ; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the L»mb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and' db.ill lead them unto living fountains of water : and God shall wipe aT9ay all tears from their eyes !"
DISCOURSE IX.
THE SUBDIVISION OP THE SEVENTH SEAL INTO SBVEM TAUMPETS.
Chap. viii.
And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. 2 And I saza the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, hav- ing a golden censer ; and there was given unto him much incenst that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar, which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God, put of the angeVs hand. 5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth : and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. 6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets, prepared themselves to sound.
We are now come to the opening of the last of the se.ven seals, and which is longer, and includes far more than the preceding six. They have reached but little beyond three hundred years ; whereas this will reach from thence to the end of all things.
." Silence in heaven about the space of half an hour" seems to denote a solemn pause preparatory to other events. It is like say- ing, " And now prepare thee for another scene !" This scene i4
94 I'HE INTRODUCTION TO {Discoimss IX.
•* the appearence of seven angels standing before God, to whom were given seven trumpets." As nothing is said on the opening of the seventh seal but what follows under the trumpets, the latter must be considered as a subdivision of the former.
But prior to the sounding of the trumpets, " another angel" Gomes forward, and stands at the altar, " having a golden censer, to whom much incense is given, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar before the throne.'* There were two altars belonging to the temple-worship ; one for sacrifice, called " the altar of burnt-offering," and the other for burning incense, called " the golden altar before the throne." The allusion here is to the last. Our great High Priest, having offered himself without spot to God, passed into the heavens^ where he ever liveth to make intercession for us. Through him our prayers ascend with acceptance before God.
The '* prayers" here referred to appear to have a special rela- tion to the events about to be predicted by the sotinding of the trumpets. The events would occur in answer to those prayers ; which might be so many interceS'-ions for the success of Christ's cause, and against that of its adversaries. Heathen Rome was overthrown in answer to the prayers of the souls under the altar, and Christian Rome may fall in the same manner. Should it be objected that in the latter there would be less to pray against, it may be answered, tliat those who, under the name of Christians, corrupted aa^l debased Christianity, modelling it to tlieir fleshly miiids, and converting it into an engine of state policy, might incur more of the divine displeasure than those who, under the name of Heathens, openly opposed it. For the persecutions of Pagan Rome the persecutors only were punished, having their power taken from them, and given to the Christians ; but for the corruptions of Christian Rome we shall see the empire itself dis- solved, and divided amongst the barbarians.
The symbolical language under which these events are repre- sented is that of the angel taking the censer, filling it with fire of the altar, and casting it into the earth ; on which follow voices, juad thunderings, and lightnings, and an earth(juake. " Fire" cast
Chapter VIII.] THE SEVEN TRUMPETS. 8.5
into the earth by an angel would be the precursor of dreadful wars ; and an " earthquake'^ is the well-known symbol of a revolution, or such an overturning in matters of government as should intro- duce a new order of things. Such were the events which distin- guished the times between Constantine and Augustulus, especially those between the years 400 and 476. Whatever virtues attached to Constantine, or his successors, and whatever obligations the Christians were under for the protection afforded them by their government, yet the system which from those times was adopted, proved ruinous both to the church and to the empire. The cor- ruptions of the former, as we have seen already, required the servants of God to be sealed in their foreheads ; and the calam- ities of the latter we shall see described under the sounding of the first four trumpets.
7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire, min- gled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth ; and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. 8 And the second angel sounded, and as it icere a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea ; and the third part of the sea became blood; 9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died ; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. 10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers., and upon the fountains of waters ; 11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood; and the third part of the waters became wormwood ; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. 12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun teas smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars ; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
The fulfilment of these predictions must, according to the chro- nological series of the prophecy, be looked for in the fourth or fifth centuries. They are the same things, particularly described, as those which followed the fire cast by the angel into the earth. Moreover, as the seais went to destroy the empire as Pagan, the
gg FIRtST FOUR TRUMffcTS. fDrecoiriUK IX.
trumpets will go to overturn it as Christian. Both issae in an •' earthquake,"* the ordinary symbol of a revolution.
The Romah empire, as being now the scat of Christianity, is here considered as a world of itself; having not only i{\ earth, its sea, and its rivers, but its sun, and moon, and stars. By the earth we may understand those parts of the empire which were continental, as Gaul and the southern parts of Ger- many. On these fell the effects of the ^rst trumpet, burning up the trees and the grass, or destroying great numbers among the middle and lower orders of men. By the sea we may under- stand those parts of the empire which were maritime, such as Spain, Portugal, and the lower parts of Italy. On these fell the effects of the second trumpet, turning the t\'aters into blood, and destroying whatever was in them. By the rivers andfouvlains of wafers may be understood the mountainous parts of the empire, as Upper Italy, and the countries about the Alps ; at no great distance from which rise the Loire, the Po, the Rhine, the Rhone, and the Danube. On these fell the effects of the third trumpet, impart- ing to their stre ims a mortal bitterness. By the sun, moon, and starSf we may understand the governing powers, supreme and sub- ordinate. On these fell the fourth trumpet, smiting them with darkness, or with a general eclipse. Finally, By a third part only being affected at once, may be meant, not only that the events should take place by several successive calamities ; but that the effect of the whole would not be to destroy the western empire, but merely to subvert it. The empire was to continue, though under another form, namely, as composed of the ten king- doms. Mr. CuNMNGHAME Very properly remarks the difference between the effects of the trumpets which refer to the subversion of the empire, and those of the vials, which refer to iis fnal dis- solution. The first are partial, the last total. t
Whether the events pertaining to each trumpet can be exactly ascertained, or not, thus much is certain, thM the ravages of the Goths, the Vandals, and the Huns, were that to the empire which
*Chap. vi. 12. with riii. 5. t Disiertation, pp.- 80, 81.
Chapter VIII.] FIRST FOUR TRUMPETS. 87
a terrible hail-storm, accompanied with thundeP and lightning, is to the *' trees and the fields j" which a burning mountain, thrOTVa into the sea, would be to the waters ; and which a blazing meteor that should fall upon the rivers and fountains of waters, and embit- ter them, would be to a country ; while the effects of these suc- cessive ravages on the government would resemble a great though n ot a total eclipse of the heavenly bodies.
^v
APPENDIX TO DISCOURSE IX.
CONTAINING
A SKETCH OF THE HISTORY
op THE
FIRST FOUR TRUMPETS.
In the Northern and North-eastern parts of Europe, borderiog on the Baltic and the Euxine Seas, there were many barbaroua nations which were never subdued by the Roman arms : such were the Saxons, the Visigoths, the Ostrogoths, the Vandals, the Burgundians, the Huns, the Alans, &c. and who were often asso- ciated in their enterprises. About the year 3^6, during the reign of the Eastern Emperor Valens, the Goths having been driven from their own country by the Huns and Alans a body of not less than 200,000 of them, besides women and children, under Jllavi- vus and Fritigern, two of their chiefs, obtained permission to settle in Thrace, a province of the Roman empire. To the imprudence of admitting such a body of hostile emigrants, were added several instances of injurious treatment after their arrival. These first produced resistance, and that a battle, in which the Romans were defeated, and the emperor lost his life. By the prudent and ener- getic measures of Theodosius the great, who succeeded Valens, the Gothic emigrants were so far subjugated, as to be rendered serviceable to the empire. But after his death, the jealousies between Rufinus and Stilicho, ministers of state at Constantinople and Rome, under Arcadius and Honorius the emperors, afforded them opportunity to renew their hostilities, roi. VI. 12
QQ HISTORY OF THE
Alaric, an Arian Christian, the successor of Fritigern, had been in the Roman service for several years, having commanded a body of his countrymen in the wars of Theodosius : but thinking him- self not sufficiently rewarded by that prince, and perceiving as he thought a fair opportunity, he was disposed to carve for himself. To this he is said to have been encouraged by Rufinus, principal ruler under Arcadius at Constantinople, whose duty it was to oppose him. Marching his army into Macedonia and Thessaly, he laid waste the country as he went. Through the treachery of Rufinus the straits of Thermopylae were left unguarded, and so opened a free passage for him into Greece ; where the villages were plundered and burnt, the males who were capable of bear- ing arras massacred, and the females led captive. His successes obtained for him a command in the eastern empire, which having improved to the strengthening of his own army, he resolved to invade that of the west. Having laid waste Epirus and Pannonia, he in 402 entered Italy. Italy however was for this time deliv- ered from his depredations. The Romans under Stilicho, after twice defeating him, suffered him to quit the country, with the remnant of his army.
In 406 another vast army, composed of Goths, Huns, Vandals, Suevi, Burgundians, Alani, S:c. under Radagaisus, a heathen, at- tempted the invasion of Italy. The number of fighting men is said to have been 200,000, besides slaves, women, and children, who are reckoned to have amounted to as many more. But nei- ther were they successful. Radagaisus was defeated and slain, and a great part of his army either perished, or were sold for slaves.
But though the capital of the western^ empire was by these events once more saved, yet its provinces were reduced to deso- lation. Gaul was at this time invaded by the Vandals, the Suevi, the Alani, and the Burgundians, who, with the remains of Rada- gaisus's army, destroyed all before them. " On the last day of the year, (says Gibbon,) when the waters of the Rhine were probably frozen, they entered without opposition the defenceless provinces of Gaul. This memorable passage of the Suevi, the Vandals, the Alani, and the Burgundians, who never afterwards retreated^ may
FIRST FOUR TRUMPETS. 91
be considered as the fall of the Roman empire in the countries beyond the Alps ; and the barriers which had so long separated the savage and the civilized nations of the earth, were from tha fatal moment levelled with the ground. — The banks of the Rhine were crowned, like those of the Tyber, with elegant houses, and well cultivated farms. This scene of peace and plenty was sud- denly changed into a desert ; and the prospect of the smoaking ruins could alone distinguish the solitude of nature from the deso- lation of man. The flourishing city of Mentz was surprised and destroyed ; and many thousand Christians were inhumanly massa- cred in the church. Worms perished after a long and obstinate siege ; Strasburgh, Spires, Rheims, Tournay, Arras, and Amiens, experienced the cruel oppression of the German yoke ; and the consuming flames of war spread from the banks of the Rhine over the seventeen provinces of Gaul. That rich and extensive country, as far as the ocean, the Alps, and the Pyrennees, was delivered to the barbarians, who drove before them in a promis- cuous crowd, the bishop, the senator, and the virgin, laden with the spoils of their houses and altars."*
Thus far events appear to answer to the " hail and fire mingled with blood" under the ^rsZ trumpet, which, as they are said to be on the earth, correspond with the calamities which in those times were brought upon the continental parts of the empire.
Alaric, the king of the Visigoths, had made peace with the emperor Honorius, and been made Master General of the Roman armies in lllyricum. In the invasion of Radagaisus he took no part but Wiis attentive to the recruiting of his own army. In 408 he made large demands on the Roman Government, accompanied with intimations of what would follow if they were not complied with, Stilicho persuaded the senate to comply with them, and four thou- sand pounds of gold were promised him under the name of a sub- sidy. But before the promise was fulfilled, Stilicho was disgraced and slain. Of the measures of his successors, Alaric is said to have had just cause of complaint. The result was, he determined
* Decline of Pvolnan Empire, Chap. XXX.
92 HISTORY OF THE
again to invade Italy. Passing over the Alps he pillaged the cities of Aquileia, Altinum, Concordia, and Cremona, which yielded to his arms ; increased his forces by the accession of 30,000 auxilia- ries ; and without opposition marched to the gates of Rome. Here, encompassing the city, he reduced it to a state of famine, of which many thousands died. To this succeeded a destructive pes- tilence. At length the siege was raised on a large sum of money being paid him : but his terms of peace being rejectfed by Honorius, who had «but himself up in Ravenna, Rome was a second time be- sieged, lifter this it was taken, and for three days given up to the plunder of the besiegers. Vast numbers of the Romans were slain, not only by the Goths, but by their own slaves, 40.000 of whom being liberated, fell upon their masters.
About ten months before this terrible calamity on Rome and the lower p»rt« of Italy, by the Goths, Spain and Portugal were inva- ded by the Vandah, the Suevi, and the Alani. These nations had already desolated Gaul, from whence passing over the Pyrennees they conquered the peninsula Hchard snys, " The Vandals took Galici*, where they settled ; the Suevi pushed their conquests farther ; and the Alani fixed themselves in Portugal and Andalusia From these barbarians, (he adds,) descended the ancient kings o.' Spain."
The calamities of this invasion are thus decribed by Gibboi from a Spanish Historian. " The barbarians exercised their indis- criminate cruelty on the fortunes of the Romans and Spaniards, and ravaged with equal fury the cities and the open country. The progress of famine reduced the miserable inhabitants to feed on the flesh of their fellow-creatures : and even the wild beasts that multiplied without control in the desert were exasperated, by the taste of blood and the impatience of hunger, boldly to attack and devour their human prey. Pestilence soon appeared, the insep- arable companion of famine ; a large proportion of the people was swept away ; and the groans of the dying excited only the envy of their surviving friends. At length, the barbarians, satiated with carnage and rapine, and afflicted by the contagious evils which
FIRST FOUR TRUMPETS. 93
they themselves had introduced, fixed their permanent seats in the depopulated country "*
These events seem to answer to the " burning mountain cast into the sea," causing a third part of it to become blood, tud de- stroying a third part of all which were in it, as described under the second trumpet. If iEtna or Vesuvius had literally been thrown into the ocean, it could hardly have produced a greater effervescence among the waters than these things produced among the nations. The sea would also have a special reference to these calamities being brought upon the maritime parts of the empire.
After this the empire received another mighty shock from the Scythians, or Huns, a heathen nation, more barbarous and cruel than either the Goths or Vandals, Attila, their king and com- mander, was distinguished by his ferocity ; affecting to be called " the scourge of God," and declaring that '* the grass would never grow upon those places where his horse had trodden !" About 441, he fell upon the eastern empire, where, bearing down all before him, the country was in a manner destroyed by fire and sword. Gibbon says, " The whole breadth of Europe, as it ex- tends above five hundred miles, from the Euxine to the Adriatic, was .it once invaded and occupied, and desolated by him." The government at Constantinople, after seventy cities had been rased to the ground, was compelled ignominiously to purchase hie retreat.
In the year 450 Attila again deckred war against both the east- ern and western empires. He was defeated in Gaul with a loss (says Echard) of 170,000 men ; yet in the following year he in- vaded Italy with a larger army than that with which he had enter- ed Gaul. Aquihia, after a seige of three months, was taken, and so effectually destroyed that the succeeding generation could scarcely discover its ruins. After this Verona^ Mantua, Padua. and many other cities, shared the same fate ; the men were slain, the women ravished, and the places reduced to ashes. These devastations, however, were confined to those parts of Italy which border on the Alps. Attila threatened Rome, but was induced.
* Gibbon's Roman History, Chap. XXXI.
94 HISTORY OF THE
partly by fear of the Roman army, partly by the remonstances of his own, and partly by the embassy of Leo the Roman Pontiff, to forego the attempt, and returning into bis own country, he shortly after ended his days.
This surely must be the " great star burning as it were a lamp;" which followed the sounding of the third trumpet and which shoot- ing like a fiery meteor from east to west, and falling upon the riv- ers and fountains of waters, impregnated the streams with a mor- tal bitterness. If the rivers and fountains denote, as has been supposed, the mountainous parts of the empire, whence they have their origin, the facts have a remarkable coincidence with the pre- diction.
As to the remainder of the history, every thing from this time went to edipse the imperial government. Africa, Spain, Britain, the greatest part of Gaul, Germany, and Illyricum, are said to have been dismembered from the empire ; the court was full of intrigues and murders ; Valentinian the emperor ravished the wife of Max- imus, one of his senators j Maximus in return got Valentinian murdered, usurped his throne, and compelled Eudoxiathe Empress to marry him ; Eudoxia in hatred to the usurper invited Genseric the Vandal to come over from Africa and revenge the death of Valentinian ; Genseric prepared to invade Italy ; Maximus on tearing it, instead of taking measures for repelling him, sunk into despondency ; the senators stoned him to death, and threw his body into the Tiber; Genseric entered Rome without opposition, and gave it up to be sacked and plundered by the soldiers for fourteen days. From hence, as Bishop Newton observes, " the western empire struggled hard, and gasped as it were for breatb through eight short and turbulent reigns, for the space of twenty years, and at length expired in the year 476 under Momyllus, or Angustulus, as he was named in derision, being a diminutive of Augustus."
After this Odoacer, king of the Ostrogoths, invaded the country, and siezed the government, which he held however, not as head of the western empire, but merely as King of Italy. There were indeed a senate and a council after this, but they had only the shadow of authority.
FIRST FOUR TRUMPETS. 95
Thus it was, I conceive, that the eclipse of the sun, moon, and stars, as described under the fourth trumpet, was accomplished. It may be thought that these events had too slight a relation to t he church of Christ to become the subject of prophecy : two things, however, may be alleged in answer. First, They were necessary for the accomplishment of other prophecies, particularly Dan vii.7, 8. 2 Thes. ii. 7. Hereby a way was made for the beast to have " ten horns," as after the overthrow of the empire it was divided into so many independent kingdoms, which with little variation continue to this day. Hereby also a way was made for the " little horn" of Daniel's fourth beast, or the papal antichrist to come amongst them ; or, as the apostle expresses it, for the man of sin to be re- vealed. " The mystery of iniquity hath already begun to work, (saith he,) only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way : and then shall that wicked (one) be revealed." While the imperial authority continued, there was not sufficient scope for ecclesiastical ambition ; but when this was removed, the other soon appeared in its true character. The Goths, embracing the religion of the conquered Romans, the clergy became objects of superstitious veneration amongst a barbarous people, and of which they availed themselves to the establishing of their spiritual au- thority. From hence the See of Rome made no scruple of setting up for supremacy.
Secondly, In these judgments upon the empire we perceive the Divine displeasure for its having corrupted the Christian religion, and transformed it into an engine of state. The wars of the Assy rians and Babylonians were the scourges of God on those who had corrupted the true religion ; and such were those of the Goths, the Vandals, and the Huns, on the Christian governments of the fourth and fifth centuries.-
DISCOURSE X.
THE FIRST WOE-TRUMPET J OR THE SMOKE AND LOCUSTS
Chap. viii. 13. ix. 1—12.
As the first four trumpets were connected in their objects, so are the last three. The last verse of the eighth chapter is introductory to them.
13 And I beheld, and heard an angel Jlying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels which are yet to sound.
" This solemn denunciation seems to be introduced for the pur- pose of drawing our attention to the great importance of the events which were to happen under the last three trumpets. It serves also as a chronological mark to show that these three trumpets are all posterior to the first four, not only in order, but in time ; and that they belong to a new series of evetits."* The most distin- guished plagues which were to befall the church and the world are designated by them. The first two seem to refer to the prevalence of Popery and Mahometanism, and the last to those vials of wrath which should effect their overthrow.
1 Jlnd the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth : and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. 2 Ajid he opened the bottomless pit, and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace ; and the sun and the air
••* Cunninghame's Dissertation, p. 84. \'ot. VI, 13 '
98 THE SMOKE AND LOCUSTS. [Discourse X.
were darkened hy reason of the smoke of the pit. 3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth ; and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 And if was commanded that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree ; hut only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. 5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that thpy should be tor- mented Jive months ; and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion when he striketh a man. 6 .ind in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it ; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. 7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle ; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. 8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. 9 And they had breast-plates as it icere breast-plates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. 10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men Jive months. 11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. 12. Ouff woe is past ; and behold there come two woes more hereafter.
The fifth or first woe-trumpet is short but awfully impressive. Looking at this dreadful irruption of darkness and desolation, we perceive the necessity there was for "sealing the servants of God in their foreheads," that they might be preserved amidst these trying times. These are the " winds," which those ministers of vengeance to whom it was given to hurt the earth, (Chap. vii. 1 . 2.) at length let loose upon it. The professing Christian world being exceedingly corrupt, it became necessary to try them. The " sealed" servants of God would endure the trial ; but " those men who had not the seal of God in their foreheads" would bn carried away and perish.
That the locusts refer to the ravaging hordes of Saracens, whoji, with Mahomet at their head, subdued and destroyed the eastern part of Christendom, seems to be generally admitted ; and some ^ave considered th« " smoke*' as denoting his fsilse doctrine, an4^
Chapter IX.J THE SMOKE AND LOCUSTS. 99
the " star" which fell from heaven to the earth as meaning him- self. But on the most mature consideration, I concur with those expositors, who, while admitting the locusts to be Mahomet's de- structive hordes of Saracens, yet understand the smoke of popish darkness, which was preparatory to the other, atid the fallen star of the fallen Bishop of Rome.* If the fourth trumpet refer to the subversion of the imperial government tn*ler Augustulus, it may be presumed that the fifth would refer to things not very distant from it, and probably rising out of it ; but the appearance of Ma^ homet was 130 years after this event, and seems to have no imme* diate connexion with it. On the other hand, there is a connexion between the subversion of the imperial government and " the rev- elation of the man of sin." It was the imperial authority which '^et" or hindered bim, and vvhich when " taken out of the way," made room for his appearing.! Thus the eclipse under the fourth trumpet prepared the way for the irruption of darkness under the fifth. The mystery of iniquity had long been at work ; but now it burst forth as the smoke of a great furnace, impeding the light of the gospel, and darkening the moral atmosphere of the Christian world.
With this also agrees the application of " the fallen star^' to the Pope or Bishop of Rome. It comports with the symbolical style of the book that a prophetical person should denote not an indi- vidual, but a succession of individuals in an official character. The Bishop of Rome was once a star in the Christian firmament j but abandoning the doctrine and spirit of a Christian minister, and setting up for worldly domination, he " fell from heaven unto the earth," and thus became a fit agent for " opening the bottomless pit." The Bishop of Meaux acknowledges that " Hell does not i^pen of itself : it is always some false doctor that opens it."
*It is true, that that part of the prophecy which treats direc/Zj/ of the great papal community is yet in reserve : but as in a history of any nation frequeat mention requires to be made of other nations; so in a prophecy of the rav- a»es of Mahometanism, mention may require to be made of Pop^ryjagprtpar- iog its way.
t2 Thes. ii. 4-8.
0 ? f O '■■■
jOO THE SMOKE AND LOOOSTS. [Discodrse X.
The darkness of Popery is not only of infernal origin, butbrings with it a state of mind prepared for the grossest delusions. Inter- cepting the light of truth, it darkened the world with its doctrines. It changed the truth of God into a lie, and, like an old Heathen- ism, " worshipped and served the creature more than the Crea- tor, who is blessed for ever. Amen !" Wherefore God gave them up to Mahometan imposture, depredation, and ruin. As the smoke brought forth the locusts, (though both proceeded from the pit,) so Popery brought forth Mahometanism.* But for the one, the other could not have prevailed as it did where the light of the gospel had once appeared. The Roman Catholics have made great noise about the keys ; and truly a key has been given them, " the key of the bottomless pit !"
As to the locusts they are described chiefly by their depreda" tions. The wrath of God is less directed against them than against that out of which they came. They were indeed from beneath, and so was the conquering system of Assyria and Babylon ; but as these powers were the rod of God's anger against a nation which had corrupted the true religion, it is not till they in their turn are punished that much is said of their crimes. And thus the destruc- tive hordes of Saracens that laid waste a great part of the eastern world are described as executing a commission, not against " grass or green things, or trees," like ordinary locusts; but, "against the men who had not the seal of God in their foreheads" — that is, against the corrupters of Christianity. Ver. 4. There was a direction given to their successes very much like that which has of late years been given to those on the continent of Europe against the papal countries. The Christianity of the Greek church, whose patriarch resided at Constantinople, was in a great degree absorbed by them.
It is observable, however, that the men against whom their com- mission was directed were not to be killed, but tormented for a :ertain tim6. They doubtless did kill great numbers individ' ually considered ; but with all their ravages they only harrassed those countries where corrupted Christianity prevailed. They were not fible to destroy either the Greek or the Latin churches.
* See Mr. Cunninghame's Dissertation on the Trumpets, Chap. VI.
Chapter IX.] THE SMOKE AND LOCUSTS 101
The time in which they should harrass them is hmited to " five months," which probably alludes to the usual season for the rav- ages of the natural locusts. It has been thought to intend so many prophetical days, or years. Five months, reckoning thirty days to a month, and each day a year, would be 150 years ; and this was the period in which the Saracen arms are said to have pre- vailed. They began about 612. After the death of Mahomet, they continued, though with some interruptions, to carry on their conquests. In 713 they entered Spain, which in a few years was subjugated to them; and passing the Pyrenees, they entered France, which was then said to be the only rampart of Christian- ity. They advanced as to a certain victory, whereupon ensued one of the bloodiest battles that the world had ever seen. Of the Saracens there were 400,000 men, besides women and children who came with them, designing to settle in France, and no doubt to extirpate Christianity from Europe. Three hundred and seventy thousand of them are said to have been slain, including their Gen- eral. This battle was fought by Charles Martel, the grandfiither of Charlemagne, in 734, and put a stop to the progress of the Saracen arms in Europe. About 762, after the " five months" of years which were given them to continue had elapsed, they ceased to extend their conquests by settling peaceably in the countries which they had conquered, and so ceased to ravage as locusts.
The description given of these locusts (ver. 7 — 10.) answers to most of the peculiarities of the Saracen armies ; as their use of cavalry ; their turbans, resembling crowns, in which they gloried ; the union of fierceness and effeminacy in their character ; the impenetrability of their forces ; the rapidity of their conquests ; and their carrying with them the sting of a deadly imposture.
Finally, This fearful army is described as having " a king over them, even the angel of the bottomless pit," from whence they came, and " whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek, ApoUy on." This would seem to be Mahomet and his successors, or Satan as working by them. The genius of Mahom- etanism is to destroy the lives as well as the souls of men.
After this we are told, '• One woe is past : and behold there come two woes more hereafter." By the term " hereafter,"
JQ2 THE SMOKE AND LOCUSTS. [Discourse X.
seems to be intimated that the second woe would not follow very soon after the first, but that a considerable lapse of time would intervene betwixt them. In this respect the language diflfers from the introduction of the third woe, in Chap. xi. 14. where it is said, " The second woe is past, and behold the third woe cometh quickly.''^
DISCOURSE XL
T/IE SECOND M'OE-TRUMPET ; OK TnR ARMY OF HORSEMEN,
Chap.ix. 13— 21.
And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voiee from thefom horns of the golden altar, which is before God, 14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels xi^hich are bound in the great river Euphrates. 15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a mouthy and a year, for to slay the third part of men. 16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were tico hundred thousand thousand . and I heard the number of them. 17 'ind thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates off re., and of jacinth,, and brimstone : and the heads of the horses mere a.? the heads of lions ; and out of their mouths issued fire^ arid smoke^ and brimstone. IQ By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fre, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, ivhich issued out of their mouths. 19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails : for their tails tvcre like unto serpents, and had heads, and ■with them they do hurt. 20 And the rest of the men which xcere not killed by these plagues, yet repetited not of the -works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, arid of wood : which neither can see.^ nor hear, nor walk. 21 Neither repented they of their murders, vor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts
104 THE ARMY ©F HORSEMEN. [Discoursje XI.
We here enter on the sixth, or second woe-trumpet, which, embracing different cotemporary events, may be expected to re- quire several discourses. That part of it which we are now upon contains a description of the revival of the Mahometan desolations by the Turks, in the thirteenth and following centuries. It will be recollected that the second woe was not to come quickly, but " hereafter." Such was the fact. Several centuries elapsed be- tween the ravages of the Saracens and those of the Turks. But as the desolations wrought by the followers of Mahomet, whether Saracens or Turks, would be less injurious to the cause of Christ than the abomination of Popery, there is not only much less said of them than of the other, but what is said is finished before the other is particularly begun, that the thread of the principal sub% ject might not be broken. There is no reason to think that the Turkish wars would have occupied a place in scripture prophecy, but for their being the appointed means of crushing a corrupt part of the Christian church. For these reasons I question the pro« priety of calling the Mahometan power the eastern antichrist. There is no doubt of its being opposed to Christ, and the same may be said of Heathenism : but nothing is called antichrist in the scriptures which makes no profession of being on the side of Christ. If there were an eastern antichrist, it was that community which the Mahometans destroyed, namely, " the men who had tiot the seal of God in their foreheads."
The lending facts corresponding with this part of the prophecy were as follows. — The Turks, a people who in the ninth century had migrated from the neighbourhood of Mount Caucasus, and settled in Armenia Major, by the eleventh century became formi- dable to their neighbours. They consisted of four Sultanies, the seats of which were at Bagdad, Damascus, Jlleppo, and Iconium ■ all in the neighbourhood of the Euphrates. Their principal strug- gles were with the eastern Roman empire, or the Christians of the Greek church. For about two centuries their ambition was re- strained, partly it may be by the European'crusades, or what were called the holy tears, for the recovery of Jerusalem : but the <lis- asters which attended these undertakings induced the European princes at length to relinquish them ; they were then at liberty to
Chapter IX.] THE ARMY OF HOUSEMEN. 105
pursue their objects. In 1281 they obtained a decided victory over the eastern Christians ; and in 1299 a new empire was founded by Othman, composed of the four Turkish Sultanies, which still subsists, and is called after his name, the Ottoman em- pire. During the fourteenth century their successes continued. In the middle of the fifteenth, (1453,) Constantinople was taken^ the eastern Roman empire fell, and with it the Greek church, neither of which, except in the religion of the latter being em- braced by the Russians, has since lifted up its head.
The *' four angels" then denote the four Turkish governments near the Euphrates. These are called angels, as being messengers of wrath, commissioned to destroy the corrupt Christians of the East. The " loosing of them refers to the removal of those obstructions which for a time impeded their progress. The " voice" which ordered them to be loosed proceeding from the " four horns of the golden altar," signifies that these judgments, like those in Chap. viii. 3 — 5., would be in answer to the prayers of the saints : or, perhaps, as Bp. Neulon s^tys, " intimating that the sins of men must have been very great, when the allar, whjch was their sanctuary and protection, called aloud for vengeance.'* Their continuance " for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year," reckoning by prophetic time, includes 391 years ; which beginning from 1281, the year of their first victory over the east- ern Roman empire, extends to 1672, the year of their last victory over the Poles ; from which period they have been sinking into such disorder and imbecility as to forebode their ruin. Their ar- mies being described as " horsemen," answers to the numerous cavalry of the Turks. The number of them, consisting of" myr- iads of myriads," shows the vast armies which they brought into the field. " Breastplates of fire, of jacinth, and of brimstone," may denote the glittering harne.*s with which the horses were caparisoned. Their " heads being as the heads of lions," is ex- pressive of their strength and fierceness. " Fire, and smoke, and brimstone, issuing out of their mouths," seems to allude to the use of gunpowder in war, which began about this period. Great guns were used in the taking of Constantinople in 1463. The symbol is expressive of what a body of horsemen, figl^ting Vol. VI. 14
106 THE ARMY OF HORSEMEN. [Discourse XI ,
with fire-arms, would appear to a distant spectator, who had never before seen or heard of any thing of the kind.
There is one remarkable difference between the locusts and the horsemen : the former were not commissioned to kill, but merely to torment ; whereas of the latter it is said, " By these were the third part of men killed, even by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone which issued out of their mouths." They both, doubtless, killed men as individuals ; but the latter only were permitted to kill those political bodies to which the prophecy refers. The eastern Roman empire, and the Greek church as connected with it, fell not by the Saracens of the eighth^ but by the Turks of the fifteenth century. Finally, Their " power was in their mouth, and in their tails." Now as the fire, and smoke, and brimstone, are said to issue from the former, they would seem to denote their artillery ; and as in respect of the latter they resemble the locusts, these are the destructive principles which they propagate by the sword in common with the Saracens. Mahometanism was that (o the Christian church in the east, which Assyria and Babylon were to Samaria and Jerusalem. Its first appearance in the seventh and eighth centuries was a judgment ujion them for having corrupted the Christian doctrine and wor- ship ; but as a body it went only to " torment" them, not to " kiU'* them. It said, Repent, or I mil remove thy candlestick out of his place ! But they repented not. Its last appearance, therefore, in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, carried the threatening into execution. The candlestick of the eastern church was re- moved, and her children were killed with death !
But that which is the most remarkable is the effect, or rather, the want of effect which these terrible judgments had on those, who survived them. " The rest of the men, (that is of the men who had not the seal of God in their foreheads,) who were not killed by these plagues, repented not." As those that were killed were the eastern Roman empire, with the Greek church as con- nected with it ; so those that were not killed were the western Roman empire, with the Latin church. These two churches were as Aholnh and Aholihnh. The fall of the one ought to have been H wi.rning to the other: but it was not. They persisted in their
Chapter IX.] THE ARMY OF HORSEMEISk IO7
image-worship, which was only the old idolatry of the Pagans un- der a new form : ijor were they behind them in their murderous persecutions, their foul impostures, their filthy intrigues, and their fraudulent impositions. And though soon after the overthrow of the Greek church, the Reformation began, yet they reformed not. The Council of Trent, which was called on this occasion, sat eigh- teen years, and at last left things as they found them. BabyloR was not to be healed !
DISCOURSE XII.
ynTROvvcrioti to the western ok papal apostasy.
Chap. X.
The eastern church, as connected with the Roman empire, be- ing slain, the remainder of the prophecy may be expected to concern the western, or, " the rest of the men, who were not killed by these plagues." This it does ; so much of it however, as brings us to the taking of the beasts and of the false prophet, and so to the commencement of the Millennium, The corruptions of the western church have been intimated before ; as by the seal- ing of the servants of God in their foreheads, Chap. vii. ; by the judgments inflicted on the western empire under the first four trumpets. Chap. viii. ; and by the cloud of smoke from the bot*^ tomlesspit: but now the prophecy treats directly and exclusive of them. Nor is it surprising that the apostasy of this church should occupy so large a part of the prophecy,* insomuch as both for its duration and mischievous effects, there is nothing equal to it under the gospel dispensation. The period^allotted for its dura- tion is no less than 1260 years ; during which the holy city is trodden under foot, the witnesses prophesy in sackcloth, the true church fleeth into the wilderness, and the saints of the Most High are persecuted to death by a ferocious and cruel beast. This apostate church was, no doubt, the man of sin foretold by Paul ; and notwithstanding what has been advanced against it by a late re-
* From the begiuning of Chap. x. to the end of Chap. xix.
1 10 INTRODUCTION TO THE [Discoomb X»
spectable writer, 1 have no doubt of its being the antichrist which the Christians in John's time had heard should come.*
Before we enter upon this subject it will be proper to give the outlinesof the ten chapters in which it is contained. Chap, x I consider as mere introductory. Chap. xi. gives a general repre- sentation of this corrupt and persecuting power, with the state of iA\e church of Christ under it. during the 1260 years. Chap. xii. gives a second, and Chap. xiii. and xiv. a third general representa- tion of it during the same period. Chap. xv. and xvi. give a more particular account of that part of the subject which commences at the sounding of the seventh trumpet, and contains a subdivision of that trumpet into seven vials, the pouring out of which brings us down to the Millennium. The xviith, xviiith, and xixth Chapters contain what in modern publications we should call notet of illus' tration, giving particular accounts of things which before bad only been generally intimated.
We are not to expect the events relating to the western church to follow the conclusion of those of the eastern, in order of time. In tracing the issue of the one, we were led almost down to the times of the Reformation ; but in taking up the other we must expect to go many centuries back again. It is in prophecy as it is in history, when describing cotemporary events : the writer having gone through one series, returns and takes up the other. It is thus in
* This appears to be evidently made out by Mr. Seotty in his notes on 2 Thfis. ii. 3 — 12. and 1 John ii. 18. As to its being a character of antichrist that he "denieth the Father and the Son," (ver. 22.) it is of the antichrists already iOme that this is spoken, who had professed Christianity, and whose apostasy consisted not in a disavowal of the name of Christ, but of certain Christian doctrines, which included a virtual denial of Jesus being the Christ, as that also was a virtual denial of the Father. Had these "forerunners of anti' christ," as Mr. Scott very properly calls them, been avowed infidels, they eould not have been seducers to the churches of Christ (ver. 26.) ; a name given to false teachers. Such were those deceivers in 2 John 7. who, by de- nying the real humanity of Christ, denied his being come in the flesh. But if a virtual denial of the Father and the Son rendered th oae who were already come antichrists, there is no reason why it should not do the same of him that should come. It is not probable that John would have allowed " the man of sin" to acknowledge either the Father or the Soo, while b« usurped theplacp 9f both.
Chaptbr X.] J WESTERN APOSTASY. ] 1 {
the history of Judah and Israel in the Second Book of Kings ; with this difference, that in carrying on those histories together, the writer went through only a single reign of one of them ere he returned to the other ; whereas in this the overthrow of the east- ern church is completed before the account of the western is begun. The former brought us down to the fifteenth century ; the latter, when tracing the origin of things, may glance at events <i9 early as the fourth.
1 And I saw another mighty angel come dorvn from heaven, clothed with a cloud : and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire. 2 And he had in his hand a little hook open, and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left font on the earth, 3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth : and when he had cried, seven thun- ders uttered their voices. 4 And when the seven thunders had utter- ed their voices, I was about to write ; and I heard a voice from hehveti, saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thun- ders uttered, and write them not. 5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea, and upon the earth, lifted up his hand to heaven , 6 And sware by him that livethfor ever and ever, who created heaven and the things that therein are, and the earth and the things that therein are, and the sea and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer : 7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. 8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go, and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea, and upon the earth. 9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him. Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up : and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. 10 And I took the little book out of the angeVs hand, and ate it up ; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey : and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. 1 1 And he said unto me, Thou must pro- phesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
112 INTRODUCTION to THE (DisconaaB XII.
The " mighty angel" appears by his description tq be the Son of God himself, and this may indicate the importance of the vision. His being " clothed with a cloud" may express the concealment of his designs, and the hiding of his power. He could have crush- ed this great conspiracy at the outset, but he did not. The " raia- bow on his head" is the sign of peace, or of covenant mercy, and may here denote that whatever evils might be permitted in order to try the church, yet there should not be such a deluge as to destroy it. His countenance being compared to " the sun." and his feet to " pillars of fire," may intimate, that neither is his glory tarnished, nor his majesty diminished, by all the corruptions which are introduced under his name. Finally, His '' coming down from heaven" seems to denote a change of scene. The Lamb's company stand upon Mount Sion ; but the harlot sitteth upon the waters, and the beast riseth out of the sea. Thus as the subject respects the same apostate community, the scene is the earth, and the angel descends from heaven to disclose it.
The '* little book" which the angel held open in his hand relates doubtless to the western apostasy. It has been thought to be a kind of Appendix, or Codicil to the sealed book, and a part of what follows to be chapters of it. But this seems too much : for if so, it would not properly belong to the sealed book, whereas all that pertains to the apostasy, and to the state of the church to the end of the world, belongs to the trumpets, which trumpets are a subdivision of the seventh seal. It is not therefore, any thing added to the sealed book but a marked division of it, a book as it were within a book. — The Angel's setting " his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth," would express his absolute dominion over both. His " crying with a loud voice as when a lion roareth," was awfully preparatory to the seven thun- ders which immediately uttered their voices. On hearing them, John was about to write, but is told by a voice from heaven to *'seal up the things which the thunders uttered, and write them not." The thunders then were not mere sounds but certain " things," which though they were not at present to be disclosed, yet in due time should be fulfilled. Their fulfilment too, was an obfect of such importance, and lay so near the angel's heart, that
Chapter X.] WESTERN APOSTASY. H3
with the utmost indignation he sware by Him that liveth for evej: and ever, that there should be no delay ; but that in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he should begin to sound, they should be accomplished.*
From these considerations it appears plain that the seven thun^ ders relate to the same '• things" as those which are afterwards disclosed under the seven via!s. They both express the wrath of God against the papal antichrist ; the one describes it only in general, and that in the form of threatenings, the other descends to particulars, and describes it as actually/ executing. The thun- ders being introduced before the prophetic account of the apos- tasy, may denote the displeasure of God against it from its very beginning, and tend to support the faith and patience of the church under it.
The forbidding the apostle to write, and commanding him to eat the book seems like saying, — ' The apostasy is not yet ripe. The wrath of God against it will be deferred for the present. Under the sounding of the seventh angel he will pour fourth the vials of
* Whether on ;yovof cuk arta st/ be rendered, as in our version, that there (hould be time no longer ; or more literally, as by Mr. Daubuz and others, lliat tlie time shall not be yet ; or, as Dr. Gill says the words will bear to be rendered, that there should be delay no longer; the meaning cannot be that time itself should then be at an end. Nor does it seem to be an object of sufficient importance fof an oath, that the time for the seven thunders to be executed should not be yet. It is not their not being yet, but their being at the appointed time : not the protraction, but the acoomplishment notwith- standing the protraction, to which the angel swears. There is a manifest reference in the passage to Dan. xii. 7. " And I heard the man clothed in lineu, who was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and swear by him that liveth for ever, that it shall be for a time, times, and a half, and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these thiags shall be finished." It was of the papal antichrist, of whom Antiochus Epiphaaes was a type, that the man clothed in linen spake, and of him speaks the angel to John. As th* former predicts his fall, so does the latter ; and as Antiochus had been permit- ted to scatter the power of the holy people for a lime, times, and half a time, so should autichrist be permitted to scatter the church of Christ for the same prophetic period, reckoning a year for a day ; that is, for the ipace of 11^60 years. See Pridtaux^s Conntmin., Part II. BooJf Ili. «t tbft cleie, Vol. VL 16
114 INTRODUCTION, &c. [Discourse Xll.
bis indignation upon it. At present, therefore, write it not ; but receive a general impression of things by eating the book !' The allusion doubtless is to Ezek. iii. 1 — 3, and denotes that he must understand and digest its contents. The book, he was told, would be sweet in his mouth, but bitter in his belly. The same desire of understanding 'the future state of the church which made hira weep when no one was found worthy to open the sealed book, must make him rejoice when an open book was put into his hand, with a direction to eat it : but when he came to digest it, and to perceive the corruptions and persecutions that should prevail, and for so long a period retard the progress of the gospel, it would be grievous to him.
To teach him that what he had "now seen and done was de- signed only as a general impression, preparatory to what should follow, he is given to understand that he must go over the ground " again," writing prophecies which respect to many " peoples, ajod nations, and tongues, and kings."
DISCOURSE XIII.
THE FIRST GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PAPAL APOSTASY, AND OF THE STATE OF THE CHURCH UNDER IT.
Chap. xi. &c,
I CONCEIVE with Mr. Lowman, that the following chapters coa- tain three general descfiptions of the papal antichrist, and of the state of the church under it ; only he confines them to the xithj xiith, and xiiith Chapters, whereas it appears to me that thjS xiiith and xivlh should not be divided, but considered as containing be- tween them the third general description. The reasons for con- sidering these four chapters not as one continued prophecy, but as general representations of the events of the same period, are the following :
First, The events foretold by the slaughter and resurrection of the witnesses in Chap. xi. ; by the flight of the woman into the wilderness, and the victory over the dragon in Chap. xii. ; with the ravages of the beasts, and the triumph of the Lamb's company in Chapters xiii. and xiv. are the same. — Secondly, These repre- sentations are not confined to one or two trumpets, but compre- hend the times of the greater part of them. Some of the things represented, particularly those at the beginning of Chap. xii. in which the origin of the apostasy is traced, appear to go back to the times of the first four trumpets, namely, to the fourth and fiftlj centuries : others, particularly those at the close of Chapters xl
ilg GENERAL REMARkS. [Discourse Xt\.
and xiv., which describe the overthrow of the apostate church, go forward to the times of the last trumpet, and even of the last vials, into which that trumpet is subdivided. This will be evident by comparing Chapter xi. 19. with Chap. xvi. 18. In both mention is made of " lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earth- quake, and great hail ;" both therefore manifestly refer to the same events. — Thirdly, In each of these descriptions there is a reference to the 1260 years, the period which in prophecy marks the duration of the antichristian power. So long were the wit- nesses to prophecy insackloth, so long the woman to be in the wil- derness, and so long the beast to make war with the saints. It is therefore to the events of this period that these chapters relate ; containing an account of the rise, the reign, and the overthrow of the papal antichrist.
It could hardly be expected that so long a period, embracing such multifarious characters and events, events too which so deeply interest the church of God, should be passed over without particu- lar notice. The sacred writer is as it were made to pause, and to give us several distinct views of the subject according to the different lights in which he beheld it. 1 only add, if these chap- ters do really comprehend the events of the l260years, we might almost presume, in going over them, to meet with something under each description relating to so distinguished an event as the Refor- mation, and must certainly have thrice to cross the meridian of our own times,
The first of these general descriptions, which we now enter upon, does not appear to trace the origin of the apostasy, but to take it up from the time in which things were so matured, that in taking the measurement of God's temple, the papal community was ordered to be left out, as not belonging to it.
1 Atid there was given me a reed like unto a rod : and the angel stood, saying. Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not : for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy tity shall they tread under foot forty and two months:.
Chapter Xf.] FIRST GENERAL DESCRIPTION. li-^
The language no doubt is Jewish, but the doctrine, worship, and worshippers of the Christian church are intended. Christian- ity, having become the religion of the state, abounded with con- verts ; but such would be their character, and such the kind of religion they would introduce, that the extent of the church would require to be contracted. The outer court, containing the body of the worshippers must be left out. That which had been known by the name of the Catholic Church must be given up as idola- ters ; and thus the profanation of the temple by Antiochus would be acted over again.*
3 And I ■will give power vnto my Uco tvitnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are tlie two olive-trees^ and the two candle- sticks standing before the God of the earth. 6 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies : and if any man will hurt them, he must in this man- ner he killed. 6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy : arid have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
The import of these verses is, that during the long period of papal corruption and persecution, God would have his faithful witnesses who should bear testimony against it, though it were in sackcloth. As in the language of the prophecy a king denotes not an individual monarch, b^jt a succession of kings, or a kingdom,
* " Our Reformers, (says Mr. Faber,) never thought of unchurching the Church of Rome, though they freely declared il to hare erred. Hence, while they rejected its abominations, they did not scruple to derive from it their episcopal and sacredotal ordination." Vol. 11. p. 3. Note.
The English Reformers might allow the Church of Rome to be a true Church of Christ; but do the scriptures support them in this concession? The Church of Rome was once a part of God's temple ; but from hence it is left out of the measurement. Instead of being " the holy city," it is a body of idolaters who tread it under foot. It is not Zion, but Babylon. Some of" God's people might be found in her, but they are commanded to come out of her. She is not the bride, the Lamb's wife, but the mother of harlots. Finally, if the Church of Rome continued to be a Church of Christ, wba* must that Church be who fled from her persecutions into the wilderness '
118 THE FIRST [DiscorRSE XII.
so by " two witnesses" we are doubtless to anderstand not two individual witnesses, but a competent succession of them. This is manifest from their continuing through the long period of 1260 years, which can only be true of a succession of men. Some have supposed them to be the Old and New Testaments, others the Old and New Testament churches ; but I see no reason why they should not be understood of the faithful servants of Christ who during this period would bear witness for the truth. It is of the true church, as opposed to ihe false, that the other general de- scriptions speak ; namely, of the woman and her seed who fled into the wilderness, and of the Lamb's company as opposed to that of the beast : I conclude therefore that such are the two witnesses in this.
Moreover, The correspondence of 12(30 days, in which they should prophesy, with the " time, times, and the dividing of time," in Daniel, (Chap. vii. 25.) not only determines the general appli- cation of the prophecy, but the parties concerned in both to be the same. In the latter end of the fourth or Roman government, according to Daniel, a little horn should grow up among the ten horns, that shoTild " wear out the saints of the Most High, until a time, times, and the dividing of time." According to John, the witnesses during the same period should prophesy in sackcloth, and be persecuted and slain. The wittiesses of John, therefore, and the samis of Daniel, are the same.
These two witnesses are said to be •' the two olive-trees, and the two candlesticks, standing before the God of the earth." The olive-trees and the candlestick of Zechariah, to which there is a manifest reference, were not the same. The former supplied the latter, or the two sides of the bowl of it, with oil. The can- dlestick seems to have signified the church, and the olive-trees the prophets of God who were with the builders, helping them. Ezra V. 2. Corresponding with this, the olive-trees of John are faithful ministers, and the candlesticks Christian churches. The same prophesying which bears witness against the corruptions of antichrist, supplies the friends of Christ as with fresh oil, and jenables them to shine as lights in the world. Both the olive-
Chapter XIII.] GENERAL DESCRIPTION. jjg
trees and the candlesticks in diflferent ways are witnesses to the truth.
The " fire that proceedeth out of their mouth" denotes the divine threatenings to which those who reject their testimony are exposed. In this way all who have perseveringly set them- selves against the truth of God, have been slain by it ; not only as incurring the wrath to come, but spiritual judgments even in this life : such are blindness of mind and hardness of heart, the most awful and sure presages of eternal death.
Their having " power to shut heaven that it rain not in the days of their prophecy, to turn waters into blood, and to smite the earth with plagues as often as they will," denotes the influence of prayer when presented in faith and in conformity to the will of God. There is a reference, no doubt, to the prayer of Elijah against apostate Israel, which prayer was answered with a dearth • but without any thing properly miraculous, the prayers of God's suffering servants may draw down both temporal and spiritual judgments on persecuting nations. The terrible things which God is now in righteousness inflicting on the nations, may be in answer to the prayers of his servants of former ages, \vho century after century have been crying, " How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them dwell on the earth !" Such cries enter the ears of the Lord of Hosts, and wjust be answered
APPENDIX
DISCOURSE XIII.
The history of the witnesses prior to the eleventh and twelfth centuries is difficult to be traced, owing to the want of materials ; and during those centuries, almost all the accounts that we have of them are from the pens of their persecutor?, who have not failed to transmit their memory to posterity in the most odious colours. That some who in church history are deemed heretics were really such, need not be questioned ; but let any serious Christian read the church history of Mosheim ; and unless he can find a portion of true religion under the article of " heresies and heretics that disturbed the peace of the church during this cen- tury," it is difficult to say where he is to look for it. After the utmost search through other parts, he may ask, Where is wisdom^ and where is the place of understanding ?
There is little doubt but that all through these dark ages there were many thousands who stood aloof from the corruptions of the times, and bore practical testimony against them ; and who, not- withstanding some errors, were much nearer the truth and true religion than those who have reproached them as heretics.
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122 HISTORY OF THE WlTiNES^ES.
There is reason to believe that amongst the Novatians, the Faulicians, the Cathari, the Paterines, and others who separated fpom the Catholic Church, and were cruelly persecuted by it, there were a great number of faithful witnesses for the truth in those days.
We should not, like Bishop Newton, confine the witnesses to councils, princes, and eminent men, who in their day bore testi- mony against error and superstition. They will be found, I doubt not, in great numbers amongst those who were unknown, and con- sequently unnoticed, by historians. God hath chosen the things that are not to bring to nought the things that are. Let a church history of our own times be written on the principles of that of MosHEiM, and the great body of the most faithful witnesses would have no place in it.
The history of the witnesses will be principally found in that of th,e Waldensea and Albigenses, who for a succession of centuries spread themselves over almost every nation in Europe, and in in- Bumcrable instances bore testimony, at the expense of their lives, against the corruptions of the antichristian party.
John Paul Perrin, a French Protestant, of the city of Lyons, who early in the seventeenth century wrote the history of these churches, traces their origin to Peter Waldo, who was also a citi- zen of Lyons. Waldo, as we shall see presently, was not the father of the Waldenses ; 'but he was an excellent man. About the year 1160 he began to bear testimony against the papal cor- ruptions. The Archbishop of Lyons being informed of his pro- ceedings, sought to apprehend him ; but"^Valdo having many friends in the city, was conceided there for about three years. After this, he was driven from Lyons, and it is said that he retired into Dauphine in the South of France, and afterwards into Pi- cardy in the North ; and that his followers spread themselves, not only in Piedmont, Provence, Languedoc, tVc. but in almost all the nations of Europe.
Waldo translated, or procured to be translated, the Scriptures "lute the French language ; by means of which his followers dis- seminated fhe truth over a great part of Europe.
HISTORY OF THE WITNESSES. 433
'' In Piedmont, whither some of his followers were driven^ churches were planted, which, though exposed to innumerable oppressions and persecutions from their princes, who were stirred up by the priests, yet continued to bear witness to the truth, not only till the Reformation, but for a considerable time after it. In Ficardy, whither Waldo himself retired, the houses of three hundred gentlemen who adhered to him were razed to the ground and several walled towns were destroyed. Being driven from thence, he and his followers retired into Flanders, where great numbers of them were burnt to death. From thence many fled into Germany, particularly into Alsace, and the country along the Rhine, where the Bishop of Mayence caused to be burnt thirty- five burgesses in one fire, and eighteen in another, who with great constancy suffered death. At Strasburg eighty were burnt at the instance of the Bishop of the place. They were scattered through the whole kingdom of France. From the year 1206, when the inquisition was established, to 1228, such multitudes were seized, particularly in France, that even the Bishops declared to the monks inquisitors, that " the expense of supporting them would be more than could be defrayed, and that there would not be found lime and stone sufiicient to build prisons which should contain them !" A hundred and fourteen were burnt alive at one time in Paris. In 1223 they had goodly churches in Bulgaria, Croatia, Dalmatia, nivl Hungary ; and notwithstanding the persecutions in Germany, one of their martyrs assured his persecutors in the year ISl.*), that there were then 80,000 of the same mind in the country. In Bohemia, a colony of Waldenses settled and planted churches 240 years before the lime of Huss. Another colony went from Dauphine about 1370, and settled in Calabria, where they were defended by their landlords against the priests till 15S0, when they were exterminated by the papal soldiery. In England, during the reign of Henry II. namely, from 1\74 to 1 189, they were persecuted under the name of Publicans. About 1315, Lollard, who was seven years afterwaids burnt to death at Co- logne, came over to England, and taught many, who from thence »vere called Lollards, and were persecuted without mercy. Soon
124 HISTORY OF THE WITNESSES.
after the death of Lollard, the same doctrines were taught by Wickliff, whose followers also for a century and a half, down to the Reformation, were burnt in great numbers.
Perrin, as has been observed, traces the origin of the Walden- ses and Albigenses to Peter Waldo : yet there are several things even in his history which prove their existence long before the TIME OF Waldo. He quotes Reynerius the inquisitor, who wrote within sixty years after Waldo, as saying of the Waldenses that " they had resisted the church of Rome for a long fiane." He quotes a Waldensian poem, called The Noble Lesson, which poem appears by its contents to have been written about the year 1 100, that is, forty or fifty years at least before the appearance of Waldo. He quotes Claudius Rubis, who, in his History of Lyons, says of the Waldenses in a way of reproach, that " being retired unto the Alps, at their departure from Lyons, they became like the rest of the people of /Aa< coMMfr^, besom-riders," or sorcerers. There must then bate been a people among the Alps who were reproached as sor- cerers, before the disciples of Waldo went and joined them. Finally, In Perrin's History of the Albigenses, he says, They received the belief of the Waldenses