The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

REVEL. CHAP. VIII.

THE opening of the seventh Seal lands us upon a new scene: as a new world began when Jerusalem was destroyed and the Jews cast off. The six Seals in the two for∣mer Chapters, have shewed their ruine, and the appearing of the Church of the Gen∣tiles, and now the seven Trumpets under the seventh Seal give us a prospect in general of the times thence forward to the end of all things. I say in general, for from the be∣ginning of the twelfth Chapter and forward to the end of the nineteenth they are handled more particularly.

Silence in Heaven for a while, and seven Angels with seven Trumpets may call our thoughts to Joshua 6. 4, 10. and intimate that the Prophetick story is now entred upon a new Canaan, or a new stage of the Church, as that business at Jericho was at Israels first entring on the old: Or it may very properly be looked upon as referring and alluding to the carriage of things at the Temple, since this Book doth represent things so much accor∣ding to the scheme and scene of the Temple all along.

And in this very place there is mention of the Altar and Incense and Trumpets, which were all Temple appurtenances. It was therefore the custom at the Temple that when the Priest went in to the Holy place, the people drew downward from the Porch of the Temple, and there was a silence whilest he was there, [yea though the people were then praying] incomparably beyond what there was at other times of the service, for the Priests were blowing with Trumpets or the Levites singing: The allusion then here is plain. When the sacrifice was laid on the Altar, a Priest took coals from the Altar, went in to the Holy place, and offered incense upon the Golden Altar that stood before the vail, that was before the Ark, and this being done, the Trumpets sounded over the sa∣crifice. Here then is first intimation of Christs being offered upon the Altar; then his going into the Holy place as Mediator for his people: and then the Trumpets sounding and declaring his disposals in the world. His taking fire off the Altar and casting it upon the Earth, ver. 5. is a thing not used at the Temple, but spoken from Ezek. 10. 2. which betokeneth the sending of judgment, which the Trumpets speak out.

These seven Trumpets, and the seven Vials in Chap. 16. in many things run very parallel, how far they Synchronize, will be best considered when we come there.

The first Trumpet sounding, brings hail and fire and blood upon the Earth, and de∣stroys grass and trees a third part of them. Fire and hail was the plague of Egypt, Exod. 9. 23. but fire and blood, with hail, is a new plague. By these seemeth to be intimated what plagues should be brought upon the world, by fire, sword, dreadful tempest, un∣natural seasons and the like.

The second Trumpet sounds, and a great burning mountain is cast into the Sea, and the third part of it becomes blood. The Sea in the Prophetick language, doth signifie multi∣tudes of people: as Jerem. 51. 36. 42. And Babylon that was Monarch was a burning mountain in the same Chapter, ver. 35. So that the Imperial power seemeth to be the mountain here; which made bloody and mischievous work, not only by the persecution of Christians, but even among their own people. As Nero at present, Vitellius instantly after, Domitian, Commodus, and indeed generally all of them either bloodily destroy

their own people, or at least for their covetousness, ambition, revenge or humour, bring disquietness, oppression, misery, Wars and Blood, upon all the World, in one place or other.

The third Trumpet, brings the Star Wormwood upon the Rivers and Fountains of wa∣ters, which seemeth to denote the grievous Heresies that should be in the Church, which should corrupt and imbitter the pure springs of the Scripture and fountains of Truth. A Star in the language of this Book is a Church-man, Chap. 1. 20. [Ben Cochab was such a Wormwood Star among the Jews, called most properly Ben cozba the lier.] And the phrase, A Star falling from Heaven, alludes to Isa. 14. 12. How art thou fallen from Heaven O Lu∣cifer! &c.

The fourth Trumpet shews the darkning of the Sun and Moon and Stars for a third part.

By which seems to be understood the wane and decay, both in the glory of the Church, by superstition, and of the Empire, by its divisions within, and enemies from without, and this before the rising of the Papacy, which appears under the next Trumpet: and these things were great advantages to its rising. The darkning of the heavenly luminaries in the Prophets language signifieth the eclipsing of the glory and prosperity of a Kingdom or People, Isa. 13. 9, 10. Joel 2. 10. How it was with the Church and Empire in these re∣spects, before that time that the Papacy appeared, he is a stranger to History, both Ec∣clesiastical and Civil, that remembreth not upon this very hint.

The three Trumpets coming are the Trumpets of Wo, wo, wo: though these things past were very woful; but those much more that are to come.