rather thinks, that the vice as of many waters, fignifies no more
than a great multitude, and indeed it is ſo expounded, Chap.
| 19, 6. |
| *Chap.s.9. 3 And * they ſung as it were a new ſong before
the throne f, and betore the four beaſts and the el-
ders g : and no man could learn that ſong, but the
hundred and forty ard four thouſand which were re-
j deemed from the earth h\. | ſ f By the Throne here is meant the Throne of God in Glory. 1 The new Song here ſpoken of, is probably the ſame with that we ! met.with before, Chap. 5.11, 12. ſang by the voice of many Angels | round about the Throne, and the BeaSits and the Elders: called new, either for the excellency of it; or, becauſe ſung unto God after Chriſt was manifeſted in the Fleſh; the defign of 1t was to declare "19 the worthineſs of Chriſt, to recerve Power, and Riches and Wiſdom, (hay and Strength, and Henour, and Glory, and Bleſſing; ſee chap. 5. 12. x Mr. Mede ſaith thus of it =— If God ſhall at any time make me ful- ly to underſtand it, I will happily more largely explain it, for it is deep- | ly ſettled in my mind, that the whole myſtery of Evangelical Worſhip is in it contained, And quite through the Scripture generally, a new Song tignifies a Song which praiſeth God;for ſome new benefits re- ceived from him. g The Throne, Beaſts, and Elders, deſcribed be- fore Chap. 4. h During the Reign of Antichriſt, none could learn this new Song, viz To give Glory to Jeſus Chrift alone, aſcribing to him Power, Riches, Wiſdom, Strength, Honour, Glory, and Bleſ- ſing ; but a ſmall number redeemed through the Bl-od of Chriſt, from that vain converſation received by Tradition from their Fathers, 1 Pet. 1. 18. All the other part of the World gave Chriſt's Honour and Glory to the Virgin Mary, Angels and Saints, Sc. 4 Theſe are they which were not defiled with wo- men *; for they are virgins 7; Theſe are they || which ae follow the Lamb whitherſoever he goeth & - Theſe trght. Were + redeemed from among men /, * being the firſt Chap. 5. 9. fruits unto God, and to the Lamb 7. _ * Jam. xt. _ 7 Thatis, that would not comply with Antichrifftan Iaolatry and 18, Superſtition ; for [delatry is all along in Holy-Writ, compared to Whoredome and Fornication. & That follow the Lord Chriſt fully, in l all things keeping cloſe to the rules of Worſhip and Life which he hath given. ! That ſhew themſelyes to be redeemed by the | Blood of Chriſt from the vain converſation of Men, whether to- wards God, in matters of Worſhip, or towards Men. m That are conſecrated to, and accepted of God, as the Firſt-fruits were, being the only part of the World that are not profane.
epſal.32.2. 5 And * in their mouth was found no guile : + Eph. 5s. for + they are without fault before the throne of
27: God 7. : n Not that any liveth, and ſinneth not againſt God, but it is to : be underſtood comparatively; they are without Fault, in compariſon | of the reſt of the World; they have not in them the Guile of Hy- _- pocriſie; they are ſincere. Or, poſſibly by Guile, is here underſtood, | 2 Lie, All Tdolators are Liers, Rom. 1. 25. and Idols are called | Lies, Fer. 16. 19. Amos 2. 4. Mr. Mede expoundeth this Text by Zeph. 3. 13- The words may either more generally ſignifie the Holineſs of theſe Perſons, in oppoſition to Profaneneſs and Hypocri- fie : Or more particularly their Freedom and Purity from Antichri-
ſian Superſtitions, and Idolatry.
6 And I ſaw another angel flie o in the midſt of heaven, having the everlaſting goſpel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation,
and kindred, and tongue, and people p.
o God having in a Viſion ſhewed unto his Servant Fohn the Reign and Rage of Antichriſt, chap. 13. and in this Chapter the care he would extend towards his Church for the Preſervation of a godly Seed during his Reign, he now cometh by further Viſions to in-
f ſtru& him in what ſhould be done during Antichriſt's Reign of 42
Months. 1. The Goſpel ſhould be preached: This I take to be the
1 Subſtance of this Verſe. This Angel ſeems to me to repreſent faith-
ful Miniſters, Speed and Diligence to preach the Goſpel p in all
parts of the World, It is called the everlaſting Goſpel, either with
Reference to the time paſt, as much as to ſay, the old Goſpel ; or
to the time ft come, it being that Dofrine of Salvation, beſides
which, there acither 1s, nor ever ſhall be revealed any other while
the World endureth, Ads 4. 12. |
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear Ged, and give
glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come :
* Plal.145. * worſhip him that made heaven and earth, and the wk ſea, and the fountains of waters 9.
AR.14i5 9g Theſe Angels, or Miniſters of God, whether Civil or Ecclefiaſti-
& 17. 24+ cal Witneſſes, cried aloud againſt the Papal Idolatry, in Worſhip-
ping Saints and Images, 2dmoniſhing all Men to give divine Ado-
ration only to the true and living God, who was the Creator of al]
things, The worſhipping of Images began ſoon after Antichriſt
bezan to Reign, We nnd it decreed in a Synod held at London
Y2Cor. 11s
2 '!Chap.3.4-
In 723. 1t was again eſtabliſhed by a Synod at Mentz. By a Sy- nod” in Syria it was defended, Anno 525, and the Emperor L0 Taurus was excommmunicated for oppoſing it, but in 730, a Synod at Conſtantinople decreed for Leo againſt it : another Synod held there 755, under the Emperor ConStantinus Copronymus decreed avainſ} it: but two other Synods held in Bavaria, 765, 766, again decreed for it. In 786, the ſecond Synod of Nice eſtabliſhed it ; fince which time 1t hath conſtantly obtained amongſt the Papiſts : but as from the firſt broaching of this Idolatry, it was oppoſed by five Empe= rors of Conſtantinople, ſo it hath all along been declaimed againſt , by the faithful Miniſters of Chriſt, preaching the everlaſting Goſpel ; and calling upon Men to perform Divine Adoration only to him who made Heaven and Earth.
$ And there followed another angel, ſaying », * *chap. 12 Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city /; becauſe 2. wo ſhe made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication 7.
7 The Apoſtle is ſhewn, that other Meſſengers of God ſhould come forth, during the Reign of Antichriſt, that ſhould declare
his ruin as certainly as if it were already effeted. / Theſe words a . re taken from J/a. 21. 9. Babylon is fallen, Babylon is fallen, and all
the graven Images of her Gods he hath brohen unte the ground, So