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ness and glory wherewith they were invested, were clothed in white raiment, and had crowns of gold upon their heads.

IV. 5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

And God declared his power from that his glorious throne, by thundering, and lightning, and dreadful voices: and, to shew the excellent variety of the graces of his Spirit, which God hath to give and dispose for the good of his Church, before the throne there were seven lamps burning.

IV. 6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

And, to import how clear and transparent all things are before the face of God, there was before the throne a sea of glass, like unto crystal and round about and under the throne, as supporters of the frame thereof, were Angels of several ranks and employments; all of them, to signify their great knowledge and perspicacity, were full of eyes before and behind.

IV. 7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

And these Angels had forms answerable to those eminent graces that were in them; as those which were stout and majestical as lions, strong as bulls, wise as men, swift as eagles.

IV. 8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him ; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, &c.

And those Angels, to shew their agility and readiness to execute the will and pleasure of God, had each of them six wings; and, to express their exquisite knowledge, they were full of eyes within: and they never cease lauding and praising the Lord, with the joyful acclamations of Holy, &c.

IV. 10 And cast their crowns before the throne.

And, as ascribing all thanks and praise to God for his mercy in glorifying them, and in an humble acknowledgment of all power and majesty to be derived from him, they did cast their crowns before the throne.

V. 1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw, as it were a roll or book of the great mysteries of the decrces and counsels of God, in the hand of God the Father, who sat upon the throne; and it was written on both sides, both within and without, to shew that universal providence of God, which is in and over all events and actions: and, to signify the secresy and firmness of his said decrees, it was sealed on the backside with seven seals.

V. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof ?

And, as the angels of God are desirous to look into those great mysteries of God's will which concern the good of his Church, I saw a mighty and glorious angel, proclaiming with a loud voice, in implication of the difficulty and merit of that wonderful action, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

V. 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

And there was no finite creature, either in heaven or earth, that was able to unfold those great and wonderful mysteries, which were contained in that roll of God's eternal decree.

V. 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

And one of those glorious persons, which represented the Patri archs and Prophets, &c. before the throne, said unto me, Be not discomforted, for that thou hearest not of any angel or man, that is able to unfold and disclose these mysteries; for, behold, He, that is God and Man, Christ Jesus, who is the King and powerful Ruler of his Church, of the tribe of Juda, of the seed of David according to the flesh, hath prevailed to reveal and manifest these great secrets, which have been hitherto close sealed up, in the counsel of God.

V. 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth,

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne of God, and amidst his Angels and Saints, stood the Son of God, Christ Jesus : who, as he is a Lion, for his courage and power; so is he also a Lamb, for his meekness and innocence, as also in respect of that his sacrifice for man's redemption, being for that cause represented in the blood which was shed by him; and this holy and glorious Lamb, in signification of all power and might put upon him by his Father, had seven horns, importing his forcible means to be revenged of his enemies; and, to imply his most perfect and absolute knowledge, had seven eyes, which are the infinite graces of that Spirit, which was given him, not by measure, and by him communicated to his Church upon earth.

V. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

And he, as Mediator betwixt God and man, came and received the full notice of the great and secret counsels of God concerning his Church.

V. 8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

And when he had taken that roll or book, wherein those counsels were set down and sealed up, the holy Angels and Saints, which were before the throne, fell down before the Son of God, in way

of adoration of him; having every one of them melodious instru. ments for the celebration of the praise, and golden vials full of sweet incense; representing, both their acceptable thanksgivings, and their general appreciations of peace and welfare to the Church of God upon the earth.

V. 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

See 1 Peter ii. 9. And we shall reign and triumph over our enemies, which are on the earth.

V. 11 And the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.

And there was an innumerable number of Angels and Saints, which joined together, in magnifying the praise of Christ their Saviour.

VI. 1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

And I saw when Christ, the Son of God, opened the First of those seven Seals; and I heard a mighty voice, as if it had been of thunder, from one of those four glorious Angels, which were next to the throne, saying, Come and see.

VI. 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse; and he that sat on him had a bow and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

And I saw, and, behold, a notable representation of the happy success and victory of the Gospel; set forth by the appearance of a white horse, whose rider had a bow in his hand, to signify the wound that he had given to his enemies: and a crown was given to him, in sign of triumph and honour; and he went forth to all the ends of the earth, conquering and bringing in subjection, every power that exalted itself against him.

VI. 4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

And, upon the opening of the Second Seal, I saw a representation of that bloody tyranny and persecution, which should follow upon the preaching of the Gospel, set forth by the appearance of a red horse; and power was given to Satan, which was the mover and stirrer up of these cruel persecutors, the Tyrants of Rome, to take peace from the earth, and to incite them to a mutual slaughter of each other; and, for that purpose, there was a great sword, by the just permission of God, given into his hand.

VI. 5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

And when he had opened the Third Seal, I heard the third Angel, say, Come and see. And I beheld, and, lo, there was made to me a representation of an extreme dearth and famine, which

should follow upon the earth, by the appearance of a black horse, whose rider had a pair of scales in his hand; to signify, that they shall be forced to measure out, by drams and ounces, that corn, which they shall be allowed to eat.

VI. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the wine and the oil.

And I heard a voice from among the four Angels, saying, All grain, which is for the food of man, shall be at a high rate; and, as for wine and oil, which are for his pleasure, let spare be made of them for they shall be rare, and hard to come by.

VI. 8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, &c.

And, upon the opening of that Fourth Seal, I looked, and, behold, a representation was made of a great and general mortality, which should be all the world over; set forth by the appearance of a pale horse, the name of whose rider was Death: and the grave, or state of corruption, followed after him; and power was given him, to sweep away the fourth part of the inhabitants of the earth, by the sword, and by famine, and sickness, and wild beasts, and all other ordinary ways of destruction.

VI. 9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, &c. And when he had opened the Fifth Seal, I saw the souls of all those faithful martyrs, whose lives had been sacrificed for the profession of the truth of God, and for the testimony, which they gave thereunto, even from the first martyr Abel to this present day:

VI. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

And they cried with a loud voice, out of a holy desire of the vindication of God's honour, and redress of the proud and lawless impiety of men on earth, How long, O Lord God, who art most holy in all thy ways and just and true in all thy performances, will it be, ere thou take just vengeance on thy bloody and insolent enemies upon earth; who, for thy sake, have spilt our blood, and exercised all manner of cruelty upon thy Saints?

VI. 11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

And there was given unto every one of them a great measure of celestial glory; and it was said unto them, that, for the full consummation of that blessedness of theirs, they should comfortably wait yet a while longer, until the number of the rest of their holy brethren, the Martyrs of Christ which should be killed for his sake, were fully accomplished.

VI. 12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sack cloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

And I beheld when he had opened the Sixth Seal, and I saw a representation of wonderful great and terrible alterations, which should be in the world; both in the Temporal and Spiritual state: so as the powers thereof were shaken; and those, that were went to be the commanders and lights of the world, were utterly ob scured, and deprived of their wonted glory;

VI. 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

And those, that were wont to give subordinate light, both in their great authority and doctrine, to the world, were now cast down; and, by the force of persecution, fell away from the Church, as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken by a mighty wind. So also verse 14.

VI. 14 And the heaven departed as a scrowl when it is rolled toge ther; and every mountain and land were moved out of their places. And no man shall be exempted from the fearful revenges of God; which shall be so intolerable, as that all estates and degrees, even the great Potentates of the earth, &c. shall wish they could be buried quick under the mountains, to avoid the dreadfulness of God's judgments, which shall seize upon them.

VI. 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.

Neither shall those several plagues and vengeances be more terri ble unto them, than the very presence of that awful God, who sitteth upon the throne; and the wrath of that Lamb of God, who, being of himself meek, patient, gracious, is now so irritated by their sins, that his very countenance is worse than death to all his guilty enemies.

VII. 1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

Now, lest I should doubt what, in the midst and issue of these persecutions, might become of God's Church, I saw the powerful executioners of God's wrath, standing on the four coasts of the earth; even those mighty spirits, which, by the appointment of God, have power over the four winds that blow upon the earth, to raise or restrain them: I saw them, by the command of the Almighty, staying and withholding those stormy blasts from blustering upon the earth, or upon the sea, or upon the trees which lie most open to their violence; in short, I saw God's merciful restraint, for the time, of any damage that might come to his

Church.

VII. 2, 3 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, hav

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