The ruine of Rome: or An exposition vpon the whole Reuelation Wherein is plainly shewed and proued, that the popish religion, together with all the power and authoritie of Rome, shall ebbe and decay still more and more throughout all the churches of Europe, and come to an vtter ouerthrow euen in this life before the end of the world. Written especially for the comfort of Protestants, and the daunting of papists, seminary priests, Iesuites, and all that cursed rabble. Published by Arthur Dent, preacher of the word of God at South-Shoobery in Essex.

CHAP. V.

AFter this Vision containing the glory of the di∣uine maiestie was shewed vnto Iohn, that hee might knowe from what fountaine this Prophesie was deriued, now in this fift chapter is taught and shewed by what meanes, and by whose mediation, the knowledge of such hidden mysteries were re∣uealed vnto the church; namely, by the meanes and mediation of Iesus Christ, in whom only the coun∣sels and secrets of God the Father are opened, and made knowne vnto men. For hee is the great Pro∣phet & Doctor of the church, which is come downe from the bosome of his Father, and hath made knowne vnto vs whatsoeuer he hath receiued of his Father, as hee himselfe testifieth. And the church is commaunded by a voice from heauen to heare him, and him alone.

[ver. 1.2.3.4.] This fift Chapter containeth three things gene∣rally. First a description of the booke, which was in the right hand of God.

[ver. 5.6.7.] Secondly, a description of Iesus Christ, which receiueth it at the hande of his Father, and ope∣neth it.

Thirdly, a description of those most glorious praises which are giuen to Christ by the Angels, [vers. 8.9.10.11.12.13.14.] Saints, and all the creatures in heauen and earth.

I sawe in the right hand of him that sate vpon the throne, [vers. 1] a booke written within, and on the backe side sealed with seuen seales.

By this booke here mentioned, is meant this pre∣sent booke of the Apocalyps, or Reuelatiō, as it shall plainely appeare in the next chapter, when wee come to the opening of the seuen seales thereof. For the things which fall out vpon the opening of the seuerall seales, do plainely declare, that all is meant of the particular matters contained in this present booke.

This booke is said to be in the right hand of him that sitteth vpon the throne, because all the secrets reuealed in it, come from the counsell and decree of the most high God, and are ordered by his meere di∣rection and prouidence.

It is called a written booke, to shewe that the things contained in it, are so firmely decreed in the counsell of God, that none of them shall faile, but come to passe, and bee fulfilled in their season. They are such as wee may write of, as wee vse to say: and therefore for the certaintie of them, they are here said to be written in a booke.

This booke is said to bee written within and without, for the multitude and varietie of matters contained in it. For there were both many and great things which should fall out in the world from the

time that Iohn receiued this Prophesie, vnto the end of the world.

This booke is sealed with seuen seales, that is to say, perfectly sealed, because the things contained herein, are counsels and secrets, onely knowne to God, til it pleased him to reueale them to his church by his sonne. The elect Angels knew nothing of the things written in this booke, before the seales were opened.

[vers. 2] And I sawe a strong Angell, which proclaimed with a loude voice; Who is worthy to open the booke, and to loose the seales thereof?

Here is proclamation made to all creatures, that if there were any manner of persons in heauen or earth, among men or Angels, that would take vp∣on them to open and expound this booke, that they should come forth and shewe themselues, and bee very willingly and gladly heard. But alas, the next verse doth shewe, [vers. 3] that none in heauen or earth was able to open the booke and expound it, wherevpon Iohn wept very much, [vers. 4] because no man was found worthy to open and interpret this booke.

The cause of Iohns weeping and lamenting, was for feare the Church should bee depriued of such profitable and excellent things as hee knew were contained in this booke. Such was his loue to the Church: such was his zeale and care for the people of God. An example worthy of all imitation, to mourne and weepe for the concealing of the booke of God, and to reioyce in the opening of it. But Pa∣pists

and Atheists are of a contrary minde, for they reioyce in the concealing and keeping close of the scriptures, and are much grieued with the opening and reuealing thereof; because thereby their hypo∣crisie and villany is detected and discarded.

Vpon this, one of the Elders said vnto Iohn: Weepe not, [vers. 5] Beholde, the Lion which is of the Tribe of Iudah, the roote of Dauid, hath obtained to open the booke, and to lose the seales thereof.

Here we see how Iohn is comforted and cheared vp by one of the Elders, being now very pensiue and sad, and is willed to plucke vp a good heart, and to bee of good cheare, for hee could tell him good newes; to wit, of one that could open and expound this booke, and all the secrets in it, and that is Iesus Christ, the great reuealer of secrets, and onely ex∣pounder of all riddles, and hidden mysteries, as be∣fore hath bene spoken.

Iesus Christ is here said to be of the Tribe of Iudah, because he is lineally discended of that Tribe, accor∣ding to the flesh, and his humane nature.

He is compared to a Lyon, by allusion vnto Iacobs words in his last will and testament concerning Iu∣dah, namely, that hee should couch as a Lyon, and as a Lionesse, & none should stirre him. He is fitly compared to a lion, for his great & admitable power & strēgth, for he raigneth and must raigne ouer al his enemies, and in the middest of all his enemies, yea, till he hath troade all his enemies vnder his feete.

He is called the roote of Dauid, both here, and also

in the 22. chapter of this booke, verse 16. because he sprung out of Dauid the sonne of Ishai, as a braunch out of his roote, as the Prophet did foretell, that A rod should come forth of the stocke of Ishai, and a graft should growe out of his rootes. And the Apostle saith, that Christ was made of the seede of Dauid, according to the flesh.

[vers. 6] Then saith Iohn, I beheld, and loe, in the middest of the throne, and of the foure beastes, and of the Elders, stood a Lambe, as though he had bene killed, which had seuen hornes, and seuen eies, which are the seuen spirits of God sent into all the world.

Here Iohn taketh a view and sight of Iesus Christ, from the verie middest of the throne, & of the foure beastes and the Elders. Christ doth not appeare about the throne, as do the Saints and Angels, which are but ministers and ministring spirits: but in the verie middest of the throne, and the foure beastes, &c. because hee is God euerlasting, coequall and coeternall with the Father, in whom (as the Apo∣stle saith) dwelleth all the fulnesse of the Godhead, bodi∣ly or essentially. And here afterward the same wor∣ship and honour is ascribed vnto him both by the Saints and Angels, which before is ascribed vnto God the Father.

Christ is here compared to a Lambe, for his inno∣cencie; for the scripture saith: He was as a sheepe, dumbe before his shearer. Hee is the Lambe of God that taketh a∣way the sinnes of the world. He is the Lambe slain from the beginning of the world. Hee is compared to a Lyon,

for his great & incomparable strength in cōquering hell, death, and damnation, and all infernall power. And to a lambe, because he hath dispatched all this vpon the Crosse, by the sacrifice of himselfe once offered: for hee neuer did more liuely shewe forth his Lyon-like power, then when hee was as a lambe slaine and sacrificed vpon the Crosse.

This Lambe Christ, is here said to haue seuen hornes, which signifie his manifolde power, or ful∣nesse of power, or perfect power, according as this metaphor or borrowed speech of horne is vsually so taken in all the scriptures. This Lambe also is said to haue seuen eies, which are interpreted to be the seuen spirits of God: that is, the manifolde graces and gifts of the Spirit, which hee giueth vnto his Church. Now then to conclude this point, for as much as the number of seuen in this booke is a number of perfection, and alwaies noteth perfection, therefore by Christs seuen hornes, and seuen eies, wee may, and that soundly, vnderstand his perfect power, and his perfect sight and knowledge in all things. For his seuen eies are so taken in the third chapter of the Prophesie of Zacharie, where it is said: Vpon one stone shall be seuen eies. Meaning, that Iesus Christ, the corner stone of the Church, should be full of eies, to looke out for the good of his Church, and to giue light to all others: for hee is the life and light of the world.

And he came and tooke the booke out of the right hand of him that sate vpon the throne. [vers. 7]

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Here Iesus Christ taketh the booke out of his Fa∣thers hand, purposing both to open it, and expound it: For he is the onely expounder of the law, and the best interpreter of his Fathers will.

[vers. 8] Herevpon it is said, that the foure beastes, and 24. El∣ders fell downe before the Lambe, to testifie their thank∣fulnesse and inward ioy and reioycing that the Son of God would take vpō him this office, which none other would or could performe.

Moreouer, by their falling downe and worship∣ping him, they doo plainely testifie, that hee is God ouer all, to be blessed for euer. For otherwise the Angels of heauen, both Cherubins and Seraphins, would not thus fall downe, and worshippe him, ascribing vnto him, both deitie and diuine honour. Consider then how great hee is, of whom it is said: Let all the Angels of God worship him.

Moreouer, these Angels and Saints are said to haue euery one harpes and golden viols, full of odours, which are the praiers of the Saints. [vers. 8]

These harpes doo signifie the sweete concent and harmony both of men and Angels, in sounding forth the praises of the Lambe. For herein the whole Church, both militant and triumphant doo accord and tune together, as many harpers harping with their harpes; as it is written also in an other place.

Hereby also they do plainely testifie that inward peace and spirituall ioy, which all the faithfull haue through Christe, which is more sweete and de∣lightsome to the soule, then any musicke is vnto the eares.

The viols full of odours, are expounded to bee the praiers of the Saints, which are therefore compared to odours, because they smell sweete in the nosthrils of God, and are more fragrant then any nosegay or perfume whatsoeuer: for hee taketh great pleasure in the praiers of his people; especially when they come out of golden viols, that is, sanctified hearts and consciences: for euerie sanctified heart is a gol∣den heart in the sight of God; and euerie regenerate conscience is a iewell of price, guilt with golde, and enameled with pearle. For this cause the holy man Dauid wisheth earnestly that his heart might bee so renewed and cleansed inwardely, that his prayer might bee directed as incense in Gods sight, and the listing vp of his handes as a sweete smelling sacri∣fice.

Furthermore, [vers. 9] these Saints and Angels doo sing a new song. That is, they do sing to the praises of the Lambe with renued affections, & vnwearied desires: Their inward ioy continueth alwaies fresh and greene, as the Bay-tree: They neuer wither or waxe wea∣rie of the seruice of God: Their song is euermore new, and therefore euermore delightsome. For the more new any thing is, the more pleasant and delec∣table: for men are not affected with olde, but altoge∣ther with new things.

Now then, Iesus Christ hauing taken this booke into his hande to open and expounde, is applauded vnto by the general consent and voices of the whole church: For say they, Thou art worthy to take the booke, [vers. 9] and to open the seales thereof. Wherein they doo all with cōmon consent, giue their voices vnto Christ,

acknowledging him to be the only fit persō in hea∣uē or earth, to take vpō him this functiō of opening a booke so closed, so clasped, so shut, so sealed, and they do yeeld a reason of their proceedings, because (say they) thou wast killed, and hast redeemed vs vnto God by thy blood, out of euery kindred and tongue, and people, and nation. Meaning hereby, that he was put to death to pay the price of our redemptiō, in whom all the beleeuers, both of the Iewes and Gentiles, are saued. Their reason then is this: he that hath died, and risen againe, and is now exalted farre aboue all principalities and powers, &c. is the most fit In∣strument to open and interpret this booke. But thou ô Christ the Lambe of God, art such a one, therefore thou of all others, art most meete to take this matter vpon thee, and to enter into this busi∣nesse. Further, they amplifie their reason thus: that hee hath made vs of slaues and seruants, [vers. 10] Kings; and of prophane persons, Priests vnto the most high God. And last of all, that we shall raigne vpon the earth. Not meaning heereby, that we shall raigne as earthly kings, or only enioy an earthly kingdome. For out of all doubt, the Saints shall raigne with Christ in the heauens for euermore. But heere is mention made of raigning in the earth, because after this life, Gods children shall haue the fruition and inheri∣tance both of heauen and earth: that is to say, that new heauen and new earth wherein dwelleth righteous∣nesse: for the heauens and the earth being redinte∣grated, and purged from corruption, shall be the portion of the Saintes, and the habitation of the elect, for euermore.

After all this, [vers. 11] Iohn heareth the voice of innumerable Angels, beside the foure beastes. That is, the Cherubins and Seraphins, or chief Angels; that is, Angels depu∣ted to chiefe offices, round about the throne, which all with a loud voice do acknowledge the Lambe which was killed, to be worthy of all honor, glory, & praise, &c. [vers. 12] And not onely these innumerable Angels, being twentie thousād times ten thousand, but also all other creatures both in heauē and earth: as the Sun, Moone, & Starres, the fishes in the Sea, and the beastes in the earth, do all in their kinde sing the same song, [vers. 13] acknowledging all honour and glory, praise and power, to belong vnto him that sitteth vpon the throne, and vnto the Lambe, for euer∣more. For although the creature is as yet subiect to the bondage of corruption, and therefore groneth and trauelleth in paine, waiting when the sonnes of God shalbe reuealed, yet it stādeth in assured expec∣tation of restitution to libertie & incorruption; and therefore here all the creatures do praise the Lambe for that restauration which they doo so longly and wishly looke for. And the foure beasts said Amen. That is, they do subscribe to those praises which the crea∣ture yeeldeth to their Creator. And not onely the Angels do subscribe and consent vnto it, but the 24. Elders also, who fall downe, & worship him that liueth for euermore. So that the Lambe is praised and worship∣ped of all hands, both of men and Angels, and all o∣ther creatures, as God euerlasting, and blessed for euermore.

Notes

• Ioh 15.15. Math. 3. Math. 17.5.
• Gen. 49.9.
• Esay. 11.1.
• Rom. 1.3.
• Esa. 53.7. Iohn. 1.29.
• Apoc. 13.8.
• Zach. 3.9.
• Psal. 97.7. Heb. 1.6.
• Apoc. 14.2.
• Psal. 14 1.2.
• Pet. 3.12.