this ſide of Euphrates. This leaves this applicable to none but Papiſts ; for there are none elſe but them who worſhip Demons, Gr. azz, or Idols of Gold and Silver. ft By Devils are meant Demons, that 1s, perſons that are Dead, whom the Heathens made their Petty Gods, and worſhipped as middle Beings betwixt them and the Supreme Gods (according to their Notion ) which is the ſame thing the Papiſts are guilty of, with this only - difference ( as Mr, Mede excellently obſerveth ) that the Heathens made many Su- preme Gods, and theſe Modern Idolaters own -but one in that No- tion ; but as many Deaſtri or Demons, as they did, which are all thoſe Saints to whom they pay an Adoration, as to thoſe who ſhould preſent their deſires to God, which, as Mr. Mede ſufficient- ly proves from Writers, was the very work the Pagans alotted for thoſe whom they Canoniz'd after Death. From whence came the Names of Baal and Bell, &c. but from Belus, who is faid to have been the firſt Prince, whom being dead, they made a God, and adored ? which Demons God in Scripture calleth Devils : Nor do any but they, now worſhip Images, the works of Men's hands, made of Gold, Silver, Braſs and Wood, who are here deſcribed in the ſame words as by the Pſalmif, Pſal. 115.4. & 135. 15. Not- withſtanding God's great Judgment executed upon the Grecian Churches, yet they repented not of their Idolatry and Superſtition; ſo as God hath brought them wholly under the power of thoſe Barbarous Enemies ; and though the Romiſh party ſeeth this, yet neither do they repent, which may give them cauſe to fear that God ſhould make uſe of the ſame Adverſary to deſtroy them like. wiſe; eſpecially confidering that neither to this day do they re- nt
21 Neither repented they of their murders w,nor of their ſorceries, nor of their fornications, nor of their thefts.
w Of their murdering of the Sains of God, but go on in that pra- Rice; nor of their Fornications, which are publickly allowed amongſt them; nor of their Theft and Sacriledge, and other Wickednelſs ; but are as infamous for their Debaucheries as for their Superſtition and Idolatry. How long this great Judgment of the Turk ſhall con- tinue upon Chriſtians, we cannot tell ; it is Mr. Brightman's Opinion that it ſhall determine 1696 ; but of that the Scripture hath not in- formed us, and gueſſing is a Vanity, where we have no ſure Founda- . tion, and ſo many have appeared to have been miſtaken in ſuch par- ticular Determinations, that he lightly expoſeth his Reputation that willadventure further upon ſuch Rocks.
CHAP, X
A mighty ſtrong Angel ſent from Heaven in great glory with a little Book. opened, x, 2. This Angel crieth, and ſeven Thunder follow, 3. What the ſeven Thunders uttered is (ealed up, 4. He ſweareth by him that liveth for ever, that - time ſhall be no more, 6, 7. ” ary commanded to eat the little Book, 8. He doth ſo, and findeth it ſweet in his mouth, but bitter in his belly, 9, 10. Me muſt propheſie again, II.
We have had in the former Chapters Chriſt's Revelation to St. John of what ſhould happen in the Roman Empire #nder the fix firſt Seals, that 7s, during their Pagan State, ( which determined in Conſtantine's zime, Anno 310, or 325.) Under the ſeventh Seal ( that 1s from chap. 8. ver. 1. ) he hath revealed to him what ſhould happen after that time to the Roman Empire by tne Goths and Vandals wnder the four jirſt Trumpets,and by the Saracens under the fifth Trumpet, and the Turks under the ſixth Trumpet, who are yet rampant and going on in their Outrages, The ſeventh Trumpet #72 courſe ſhould ſound next hut we come not to that ill chap. 11. 15. In this Chapter, and to the
157th
Chap. X.
of one Pl195.37.
third part deftroyed ; and this alſo muſt be underſtood of Men ' Cor. 10, awelling in Countries ſubje& formerly to the Reman Empire on ©®-
Cha
* Ch.1.15.
*Dan.8.26 & 12. 4,9.
n, X.
15th ver/e of the next Chapter, ſeems ant interruption of the Hiſtory that Chriſt might reveal to his Prophet the main things that ſhould concern his Church. About the ſenſe of this Interpreters are divided; ſome think- ing this'a diitinct Prophecy re/ating to the affairs of the Church, yet not in a continued ſtory, but made up of ſeveral Viſions, ſome contemporary with the times before mentioned, ſome continuing to the time afier rhe ſixth Trumpet, which Prophecy as they judge be- ginneth at the eleventh Chapter, io which what we have in this Chapter 7s IntroduCtive. Of this mind are our Dr. More, Mr. Mede, and other very valu- able Interpreters, whoſe Reaſons may be read in Mr. Pool's Latin Synoplis por this Chapter, and ſome of them may be noted by 1s as we go through this Chap- ter. Others think 1t 1s no diſtinft Prophecy.
Nd 1 ſaw another mighty angel « come down from heaven b, cloathed with a cloud c, and a rainbow was upon his head d, and his face was as it
were the ſun e, and * his feet as pillars of fire f ,
a The moſt and beſt Interpreters underitand by this Angel, ChriF, formerly repreſented to us as a Lamb, here as an Angel; none but he could call the two Witneſſes, chap. 11. 3. his Witneſſes ; beſides the glorious appearance of this Angel, ſpeaketh him no ordinary Angel. 6 God being about to do or ſpeak ſome great thing, is oft thus ſet out as coming down from Heaven. c Chriſt is deſcribed as coming with Clouds,Rev.1.7. The Lord hatb ſaid he will dwell in thick darkneſs, 2 Chron. 6. 1. d Anda Rainbow upon his head, which was the fign of 'the Covenant made with Noah, Gen. 9. 16. and fitted Chriſt's head, as he that brought Peace to the World, and to his Church in ſpecial. See Matth. 17. 2. f Signifying the fteadineſs and efficacy of his ations.
,2 And he had in his hand a little book open g : And he ſer his right foot upon the ſea, and hzs left foot
on the earth h,
g The ſame Book with that mentioned, chap. 5. 1. (though ſome by it underſtand the Scriptures) . There-it was repreſented to John FE; ſealed with ſeven Seals ; here open, to let us know that all the Counſels of God, however ſcaled as to us, are open to Chriſt, and that he would open to John what ſhould come to paſs in his Church to the end of the World. h To let us xnow the Dominion he had over the whole World, as well the more unquiet as quieter parts of it. | | 3 And cried with a loud voice, as whez a lion roar- eth 7 ; and when he had cried, ſeven thunders uttered
their voices. &. :