CHAP. X.

1. ANd I saw another mighty Angel, come down from Heaven, cloth∣ed 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.

1. The circumstances describe the Glory of this An∣gel, which some take for Christ, and some for a pro∣per Angel.

2. And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth.

2. The plain sense is, that he shewed the universality of his commissioned power (sea and land comprehend∣ing the world below;) and that-the Book was the De∣cree of God committed to him to execute. But the conjectured sense is manifold: Some say it was Gods Decree to destroy Jerusalem, and that Sea and Land was Galilee and Judea: And others that it was Gods De∣cree to destroy the Roman heathen power, and deliver his Servants: And others that it was his Decree to de∣stroy the Papacy, and reform and deliver the Church: And others that it was his Decree to destroy all oppressing powers, and set up Christs thousand years reign in Right∣eousness: And others that it was his Decree to end the World, and come in judgment.

3. And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

Page  [unnumbered]3. His terrible Aspect and Cry, was to prepare for a progressive Increase of the Plagues, signified by seven Thunders, which are louder than Trumpets.

4. And when the seven thunders had ut∣tered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

4. Say some, Because the Plagues are so grievous, that (on Jerusalem, say some; on the Empire, say others; on the Papacy, say others) they shall be known by ex∣perience, and not by words. Therefore write them not (at all, say some; or not yet, say others.)

5. And the angel which I saw stand up∣on the sea, and upon the earth, lifted up his hand to heaven, 6. And sware by him that liveth for 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 that are there∣in, that there should be time no longer. 7. But in the days of the voice of the se∣venth angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the pro∣phets.

5, 6, 7. He sware by God, that there should be no longer delay; that is, say some, of the Destruction of the Jews, but till Adrian's time; or, as others, of the Ruin of the Roman Empire; or, as others, of the Churches Deliverance from Popery and Persecution; or, as others, that there shall be no longer Duration of this World: But that, at the seventh Trumpet, God's decreed Judg∣ments shall be accomplished. Or, as Lira, that the Ar∣rian Heresie should no longer prosper.

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.

8, 9. The Voice bid me take the Book, &c. And I asked the Angel for it; who bid me eat it, &c. It shall be pleasant to thee, to know what will be as News; but bitter to know such heavy things: or, it will be sweet to thee, to sore-know the Churches Deliverance; but bit∣ter, to know the dreadful Judgments that effect it, (a∣gainst the Jews, say some; the Roman Empire, say others; the Papal Church, say others, &c.)

10. And I took the little book out of the angel's 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 bit∣ter.

10. The Mercy revealed in it, was sweet; but the dreadful Judgments of Bloodshed, bitter.

11. And he said unto me, Thou must prophesie again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

11. Say some, When Titus hath destroyed Jerusalem, there is more for thee to prophesie of, which many fol∣lowing Emperors, and their Armies, will do against them, especially Adrian, to finish their Destruction. Or, as others, There are yet greater, and more dreadful things to be told thee, against many Nations and King∣doms. Or, as others. The Work of Prophesie, or preaching the Gospel, suppressed by the Pope, and his Prelates, shall be revived again, and prosper, before the end.