The book of the Revelation paraphrased; with annotations on each chapter. Whereby it is made plain to the meanest capacity:

Annotations on CHAP. IV.

* The foregoing Vision contained in the Second and Third Chapters, may be called, The Church-Prophecy, because that in it the several successive States and Periods of the Church, from the beginning of it, at Christ's Resurrection, until the Kingdom of Christ, and the End of all things, are represent∣ed under the Types of Churches, the most proper Emblem of them: and that the following Vision (which may be called the Book-Prophecy, from its Events being repre∣sented in a Book with Seals), to which this, and the next Chapter are a Preface, is of the same signification and extent, shall be argued hereafter, as occasion shall require; and may at present be gathered from some Congruities observable in the Prefaces to each of them; as that John is spoken to here by a Trumpet, as he was in the former Preface in the first Chap∣ter; and is in the like Spiritual Extasie as he was then in;

which being Circumstances peculiar to these Two Visions, may argue them to be of the like Nature and Import. And here it is not improper to observe, that in this, and the following Chapter is chiefly contained,

(1.) A Representation of the Throne, Divine Consistory, or Court of Judicature of Almighty God, which is to pass Judg∣ment upon the State of things throughout the whole Pro∣phecy.

(2.) The setling and appointing of Christ, the Lamb, new∣ly risen from the Dead, to be the Supreme Governour, and Director of all the Events which were to come to pass, by giving him power to open the Book, and loose the Seals of it.

(3.) We have here a Pre-representation (as there is upon all suitable occasions) of the Thousand Years Kingdom of Christ, the chief End of all the Visions, given us in Two Doxologies; sung by Angels, and the Representatives of the Christian and Jewish Church; who are, as it were, a Chorus to this Divine Drama; as the Virgins, Companions, Watchmen, and Shepherds are in the Book of Canticles; which is a Sacred Dramatick Poem, relating to Christ's Kingdom. See Dr. Patrick's Pre∣face on the Song of Solomon, and Dr. Beverley's Exposition of it.

¹ From whence Prophecies are called Visions, and Prophets Seers in Scripture. Hammond.

² 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is put for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 here, and in other places of Scripture; as John 1, 15.15, 18. 1 John 4.19. and this is the same with the first Voice of a Trumpet, cap. 1.10.

2 And immediately I was in the Spirit [Chap. 1.10.] and behold, a Throne was set in Heaven [i. e. God appeared as King and Judg, Isa. 6.1. Ezek. 1.26. Dan. 7.9.] and one [i. e. God the Father, Chap. 5.7.] sat on the Throne [i. e. appeared in Majesty, and as in Judgment.]

3 And he that sat, was, to look upon [or was in appearance ³ and resemblance,] like a Jasper [i. e. Glorious, Rev. 20.11.] and

a Sardine ⁴ stone [i. e. Glorious but Terrible, Exod. 24.10. Ezek. 1.27] and there was a Rain-bow [i. e. his covenant of mercy and peace, and his mindfulness of it, Gen. 9.11-16. Isa. 54.8-10. Ezek. 1.28.] round about the Throne [so that it might always be in his remembrance,] in sight like unto an Emerald ⁵ [denoting the never failing mercies of his Covenant; and the most pleasant, and precious promises of it, and of his Kingdom.]

³ For he saw not God, but only his Glory; a••d such Ap∣pearances as denote his Attributes and Perfections, Ezekiel 1.28.

⁴ It is a Blood-coloured, or Red Stone, like Fire; and there∣fore fit to denote the Justice, and fiery Indignation of God, Heb. 10.27.

⁵ A Smaragd, or Emerauld, is a most precious Stone, of a very pleasant, and never fading Greenness; the chief Colour in the Rainbow.

4 And ⁶ round about the Throne, were four and twenty Seats [or, Thrones] and upon the Seats I saw [the] four and twenty ⁷ Elders [i. e. the representatives of the Jewish Church, 1 Chron. 24. Isa. 24.23.] sitting [on Thrones; as participating in Judgment and Government, Dan. 7.9, 22, 26, 27. Rev. 20.4.] cloathed in white ⁸ raiment [i. e. Priest's Vestments,] and they had on their Heads ⁸ Crowns of Gold [i. e. Regal Ornaments, Chap. 1, 6.5, 10.20, 6.]

⁶ They encompass the Throne, as faithful Ministers and Ser∣vants, to receive God's Commands; and to shew their Near∣ness and Access unto him, who was in the midst of them, to protect, assist, and give his Commands unto them, Matth. 18.20.

⁷ The Church of Israel, as it shall be advanced by Christ in his Kingdom, being plainly called, God's Antients, or Elders, by Isaiah, Chap. 24.23. it seems evident to me, that the four and Twenty Elders are here put for the Representatives of it, in allusion to the Four and Twenty Heads of the Courses of the Priests,

instituted by David, 1 Chron. 24. Elder, in its General Noti∣on, signifying a Head, or Governour amongst the Jews, as ap∣pears from Gen. 50.7.

And this Word Elder, being by this time become familiar in the Church, to signifie the Pastors or Governours of it; why may not a Title used in the Christian Church, be put to denote the Governours of the Jewish; as on the contrary, the Jewish Types are all along in this Prophecy, put to denote the Christian Antitypes?

^{8 8} The Jewish Church seems here to be represented, (1.) by their white Vestments, which was the Habit of the Jewish Priests, Exod. 28.39, 40.39, 27. and (2.) by their Crowns; where∣by is denoted, that they were a Royal Priesthood, as they are called, Exod. 19.6. and that they, together with the Christi∣an Church, should reign with Christ.

5 And out of the Throne [of God the Father.] proceeded ⁹ light∣nings, and thunderings, and voices [denoting the Majesty of God, and the Terror of his Laws and Judgments, and of the appear∣ance of his Kingdom;] and there were seven Lamps of Fire burning before the Throne which are [the Symbols, or Hieroglyphicks of] the seven Spirits of God [i. e. of the perfect, warming and enlight∣ning influences and operations of the Holy Ghost towards the Church, Exod. 37.23. Ezek. 4.2. See the Notes on Rev. 1.4, 12, 20.]

⁹ These Words are taken from the Dreadful Appearance of God upon Mount Sinai, at the Delivery of the Law, Exod. 19. and 20.18, 20. and signifie God's Judgments, in behalf of, and upon his Church; and especially the extraordinary breakings forth, and signal comings of Christ's Kingdom, where∣by he shakes not the Earth only, but the Heaven; as they are set forth in Scripture by Metaphors, primarily taken (ac∣cording to the Opinion of the Learned Theorist of the Earth) from the last general Conflagration. See, and diligently com-

Haggai 2.6-9. Malach. 3.1. Psalm 18.13. Jerem. 25.30. Ezek. 1.13. Heb. 10.27-31. Heb. 12.18-29.

6 And before the Throne there was a ¹⁰ Sea [i. e. a large Vessel or receptacle, 1 Kings 7.23.] of Glass like unto Christal [i. e. pure and transparent, as that of the Tabernacle was, Exod. 38.8. denoting Baptism and the purity it requires; and the Blood of Christ by which we are washed and cleansed from our sins, Rev. 7.14] and in the midst ¹¹ of the Throne [or, just before it, Ezek. 1.5.] and round ¹¹ about the Throne [Numb. 2.2.] were four Beasts [or living ¹² Creatures, representing the pure Apostolical Church of Christ in all parts of the World;] full of Eyes before and behind [i. e. very circumspect and vigilant; and skilled in the past and future state of Christ's Kingdom.]

¹⁰ The Laver, or Brazen Vessel in the Temple, for the Priests to wash in, is called a Sea in Scripture; as all Receptacles of Waters are: of which see Exod. 30, 18.38, 8. by which is aptly represented the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Baptismal Lavers of the Antients, which were very large.

^{11 11} One of the Beasts might be probably placed before the Throne, or in the midst of it; and the other Three in just distances round about it; probably one behind, and two on each side of it; in correspondence to the Description of So∣lomon's Throne, 1 Kings 10.19. or according to the pitch∣ing of the Tents of the Israelites, which are described, Numb. 2.2. as being over against, and round about the Tabernacle; that is, encompassing it in a Square Figure, (as the Learned generally agree) each of the Four Divisions being placed at the Four Points of it, looking towards the Four Cardinal Points of Heaven.

¹² For so the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ought to be translated, as it is, Ezek. 1.5. that so they may be the better distinguished from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or the Antichristian Beast. These Four living Crea∣tures are called Cherubims, Ezek. 10.2; By which is meant Active Beings of an Angelical Nature, employed in the

Ministration of God's Providence, as appears from their De∣scription given by Ezekiel. Now the Representations here gi∣ven, figuring something analogous to them in the Church; they cannot be supposed to signifie any thing more proper∣ly than the pure Christian Church, represented by the Apo∣stles; who were so extraordinarily active in the propagating of the Gospel into the Four Quarters of the World; and were Twelve, making up Four Ternaries of Living Creatures, or Zealous Active Ministers of Christ; according to the Num∣ber of the Four Ternaries of the Twelve Tribes, under the Four Standards in the Wilderness. For we are to take no∣tice, that this Representation of the Throne of the Majesty of God; or this Theatre, or Stage of the Apocalyptick Visions (as Mr. Mede calls it,) exactly answers the Encampments of the Israelites; God's Throne being here placed in the middle, as the Tabernacle was there; the Four and Twenty Elders next, to answer the Station of the Priests and Levites; and the Four Beasts at each Angle, Diametrically opposite to each o∣ther, against the Four Cardinal Points of the Wind, represent∣ing Christians in the Four Quarters of the World, in analogy to the Four Standards of the Camp of the Israelites, having in them Figures of these Four Living Creatures, taken from the Cherubims of the Chariot, or Glorious Throne of Almigh∣ty God, 1 Chron. 28.18. For which, see Mr. Mede, Dr. Hammond on the Place, Grotius on Numb. 10.15. and Mr. Ainsworth on Numb. 2. where he has given us the Figure of the Encampments, and has discoursed largely on them; and Dr.‖ Spencer.

7 And the first Beast [or living creature.] was like a Lion ¹³ [de∣noteing the Power and strength of the Gospel and Apostolical Mi∣nistry, Gen. 49.9. Psal. 103.24.] and the second Beast like a Calf ¹⁴

[or Ox; denoting their Laboriousness and Usefulness, Prov. 14.4.] and the third Beast had the face of a Man ¹⁵ [signifying Reason and Prudence;] and the fourth Beast was like a flying Eagle ¹⁶ [note∣ing their activity, and quick-sightedness into the Mysteries of the Gospel.]

¹³ This was the Standard of Judah, on the East side, com∣pared to a Lyon, Gen. 49.9. And the Qualities of these Living Creatures, do denote the like Gifts and Graces, requi∣red in the Ministry, which were after an extraordinary man∣ner eminent in the Apostles, the Representatives of the Christi∣an Church, and of its State in the Kingdom of Christ; to which this appearance relates.

¹⁴ The Standard of Ephraim, on the West side of the Camp; who is resembled to an Ox, Deut. 33.17.

¹⁵ Reuben's Standard on the South side.

¹⁶ The Standard of Dan on the North side.

8 And the four Beasts had each of them six ¹⁷ Wings, [noteing their speed, their Reverence in God s Presence, and their humble sense of themselves, Isa. 6.2] about ¹⁸ him; and they were full of Eyes within ¹⁹ [to observe themselves as well as to be vigilant over others;] and they ²⁰ rest not day and night [but are constant and incessant in the Worship and Service of God, Isa. 60, 11.62, 6. [saying, Holy, ²¹ Holy, Holy, [i. e. infinitely and superlatively Holy, Isa. 6.3.] Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come [Rev. 1.4.]

¹⁷ With Two they covered their Faces, out of Reverence; with Two their Feet, or Nakedness, out of a sense of their own shame and impurity; and with Two they flew, to execute God's Commands, Isa. 6.2.

¹⁸ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, round about them; that is, perhaps at several Distances on each side; as the Israelites are said to encamp 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or round about the Tabernacle; that is, at distant Points of the several sides of the Square, encompassing it. So here each of the Living Creatures is said to have Six Wings, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; that is, on each side Three, one against another;

one pair on their Shoulders, with which they flew; another on each of their Breasts, stretched upwards, to cover their Faces; and the Third about their Hips, to cover their less honourable parts, or appearances. Andreas Caesariensis, reads, as our common Copies do; but if 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 be to be joyned to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as Grotius, and Dr. Hammond think; then their Expo∣sition may be consulted, as more commmodious.

¹⁹ The inward Eyes of these Creatures were represented unto John; the Figure, or Appearance (which was perhaps diaphanous) being contrived accordingly.

²⁰ This was the Practice of the Apostolical Church; as ap∣pears from Acts 2.42, 46.20, 31. Luke 2.37. 2 Tim. 4.2.

²¹ Here it is acknowledged by the Apostolical Church, with the Joynt Consent of the Israelitish Church; that God is a Supereminent Being; and that he is to be worshipped incom∣municably, according to his most eminent and unparallell'd Holiness; and perhaps the Divine Being, in Father, Word, and Spirit, may be intimated in the Threefold Repetition of the Word Holy. But howsoever, in this First Doxology, the Lord God Almighty (who is, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, God blessed for ever,) is only mentioned, and not the Lamb; to shew, that the Belief of One God, who created all things, is the First Fundamental Principle of Religion; Christ, as Redeemer, the Lamb slain, being not acknowledged and wor∣shipped, until the Second Doxology, after he had appeared before the Throne of the Father, and had received his King∣dom; acccording to the Original Model of these Visions, in the Book of Daniel; where (Chap. 7.) the Son of Man is brought near to the Father, and then had Dominion and Glo∣ry given him.

9 And when [soever] these Beasts ²² [or, representatives of the A∣postolical pure Church,] give [or shall, and are wont to give] glory [i. e. acknowledgment of God's glorious Majesty, and Excellency;] and Honour [to God's Authority and Preheminence;] and thanks

[for his bounty, and gracious gifts to his Church;] to him that sat on the Throne, who liveth for ever and ever [i. e. to the Eternal and Liv∣ing God, not a dead Idol; who will open his Kingdom of Eter∣nal Life to all true Christians.]

²² At the fourth Verse, the Twenty four Elders are placed be∣fore the Living Creatures, to signifie the Primogeniture of the Jewish Church; Here they are placed after them, to signifie that the Truths here acknowledged, were first clearly made known to the Christian Church; and shall be at last commu∣nicated by them to the Jewish; which shall be excited, and provoked to Jealousie by them; and shall at their Conversion joyn with them, in an acknowledgment of these, and all other Truths of Christianity.

10 The four and twenty Elders [or Heads of the pure Jewish Church testifying their agreement with the Christian Church, do] fall down [in great humility and submission,] before him that sat on the Throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever; and cast their Crowns before the Throne [in token of Subjection and Homage,] saying,

11 Thou art worthy [and thou only,] O Lord, to receive [the Ac∣knowledgement of] Glory, and Honour, and Power; for thou hast cre∣ated all things [by thy Power,] and for thy pleasure [or Will, the on∣ly Motive to it,] they are [preserved in their Being,] and were [at first] created [Nehem. 9.6.]

Notes

• Pag. 437, 594, 917.
• ‖

  De legibus Hebraeorum, lib. 3. Dissertat. 5.