'The Conclusion' (section 7.2i)

The Conclusion.

The Apocalyps is a Prophesy of the same kind with those of Daniel & in the same language, & must be interpreted by comparing them.

The great red Dragon that old serpent called the Devil & Satan \who hath his seat in Pergamus/ signifies the same thing w^th He-Goat in the reign of his last horn: namely the heathen Roman Empire with respect to the Eastern nations of Greece Asia minor, Syria & Egypt represented by Daniels third Beast, & the Beast w^ch rose out of the sea or Abyss with ten & was like the Leopard & had feet as the feet of the Bear & a mouth like the mouth of the Lyon represents the same thing with his fourth Daniels fourth Beast. All Daniels four Beasts are named together in contrary order Apoc. 13. 2, & to signify that he is one of them \& he is put first to signify that he is the last./. {sic} The Dragon & this Beast have common heads & horns with crowns upon the heads of the Dragon & \upon the/ horns of the Beast to signify that that the Dragon reigns in the heads & the Beast in the horns. The Dragon includes the Beast during the reign of his first six heads & \then/ they separate & the Dragō reigns apart in his seventh head & the Beast reigns apart in \his/ horns. This separation is made by steps. First the Beast \revived/ after he had been wounded to death by the sword of Constantius, \revived at the division & this was of the Empire between Valentinian & Valens/ then he rose out of Sea or Islands of the sea at the division of the \Roman/ Empire between Valentinian & Valens Theodosius & Gratian & then he received the Dragons Throne & power & great authority at he {sic} division of the Empire between the sons of Theodosius the great. And at the same hour or time the ten horns received power as kings, the western Empire then becoming divided into ten kingdoms.

The Woman \in heaven/ cloathed with the Sun & of righteousness & the Moon of Iewish ceremonies under her feet & a crown of twelve starrs (the twelve Apostles) \on her head/ under he feet, is the primitive Church Catholick. In Dioclesians persecution she cried travailing in birth of a Christian Empire & pained to be delivered And in that persecution the Dragon's tail drew the third part of the starrs of heaven & cast them to the earth. And the woman brought forth a man child \was caught up to God/ who at length in the end of ages was to rule all nations with a rod of iron \who/ was caught up to & to his throne to return in the end of ages & rule all nations with a rod of iron. And there was war in heaven between And the woman fled into the wilderness. \where she hath a place prepared of God that they should nourish her the a thousand two hundred & sixty years./ And there was war in the the {sic} heaven between Michael & the Dragon.

And In Dioclesians persecution & the times next after \it/ there was war in heaven between Michael & the Dragon, \&/ that old serpent called the Devil & Satan (the heathen \dominion of Idolaters/ idolatry) w^ch deceiveth the whole world was cast out of the Roman heaven to the earth, \or common people/ & his Angels (or heathen Emperors & great men were cast out with him. And there was a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation & strength & the kingdom of our God & the power of his Christ. For the accuser of o^r brethren \is cast out/ who accused them before God is cast day & night. is cast out, A And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb & by the word of their testimony. And they loved not their lives unto the death. \But {illeg} be to y^e inhabitants of y^e earth/ And the Devil \& sea because the Devil/ of Idolatry is come down among the inhabitants of the earth & sea you having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. For by \dispersing the reliques of the saints/ dispersing crying up the miracles done by the reliques of the Martyrs & dispersing those reliques into all the Roman Empire he set up Idolatry among the Christians, the heathens now coming \who now came/ over to the Christians religion in great numbers & readily promoting these superstitions.

And when the Dragon saw that he was cast down he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the Woman by the division of the Roman Empire into the Greek & Latine Empires was given two wings of a great Eagle that she might fly into the wilderness unto her place of riches & honour in the great city Babylon seated on seven hills, & reign over the Latin & r ten kings as is represented by their giving their power & strength to the Beast on w^ch she setteth. And there she is nourished for a time times & half a time \the face of the serpent, or at a distance from him, she flying from him into the Empire/ or 42 months each month consisting of 30 prophetic days, w^ch are {years} & a prophetic day being put for a year. And when the Woman began to fly of the Latines & he remaining in the Emp Empire of the \Greeks. And by the same division of the/ Latines. And when she received the {two} <2r> Empire the Dragon cast out waters as a flood cause her to b after the Woman after the Woman to cause her to be carried away of the flood And the earth (or Greek Empire) opened her mouth & by the victory of Constantius over {illeg} Magnentius a heathen, swallowedd up the flood & wounded the Beast to death with a sword. And the Dragon was wroth with the woman in the reign of Iulian the Apostate, & by a new division of the Empire went from the Woman & her Beast to make war with the remnant of her seed w^ch keep the commandments of God & had the testimony of Iesus. And by consequence the Woman \before her flight/ was the true Church catholick before her flight, & by her flight separated from the true Church w^ch kept the Commandments of God, & after her flight repre was an \apostate/ hæretical Christian Church w^ch forsook the Commandments of God & flourished in the regions of the Beast & sat upon him as we find a little after. And at the next division of the Empire w^ch was between Gratian & Theodosius, the Beast whose deadly wound was newly healed rose \up/ out of the sea w^th seven heads & ten horns & ten crowns upon his horns. And another Beast rose up or And the Dragon by a final division of the Empire between the sons of Theodosius, gave the Beast his old power \& throne & great authority/ over the Latin w western nations. & his old throne in the in And the ten kings re the same hour the ten horns And the ten And the ten horns of the Beast w^ch had received no kingdoms as yet, received power as kings the same hour with the Beast or within a sho very short time as it were an hour after him. For within 12 or 15 years after \the death of/ Theodosius they were all arisen with crowns on their heads them.

And when the Dragon went to make war with the remnant of the womans seed a {illeg} another Beast came up out of the earth & had two horns like the Lamb being headed by two \principal/ Churches like the seven churches of Asia w^ch were the Lamb he seven horns of the Lamb. And he spoke as the Dragon This Beast was therefore an ecclesiastical body. And he spake as the Dragon being his Church, as the Woman is the Church of the Beast. And he causeth the first Beast & Earth (or nations of the Greek Empire) to worship the first Beast whose deadly wound was healed, that is to {sumit} venerate his authority in matters of religion, & doth great wonders so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, the fire of a lighted torch w^ch the Priest swings down from above his head in excommunicating those who will not worship the first Beast, & he causeth \said unto/ them that that {sic} dwell on the earth {illeg} \that they should/ make an image to that to the Beast that is that they should call a Council of those who are of the Beasts religion for selling up that religion in the Earth Dragon dominions. And he gave life to the Image of the Beast, th so that the Image should speak & cause that as many as would no worship the Image should be killed, that is that \all/ the churches of all should be dissolved who would not worship receive the religion of the first Beast set up by the authority of the Image. And he causeth all both small and great rich & poor, free & bond to receive a mark in their right hand or in their forehead, the signe of the cross & that no man might buy or sell save him that had the mark or name of the Beast or number of his name, all the rest being excommunicated. And his number is 666. And those that received not his name or number were 144000 standing on mount Sion with the Lamb, having the his fathers name on their forehead. These were the 144000 sealed out of all the twelve tribes of Israel with the seale of God in their foreheads, just before the Earth was hurt at the sounding of the first Trumpet & the sea at the sounding of the second. The earth & the Sea where they I take here \almost/ in the sense of the Iews who by the earth understood \As th/ the great continent of Egypt, Syria, & all Asia & by the Isles of the sea the regions of Europe. By the sea therefore I understand \in this Pro{illeg}phesy/ the nations of Europe under within the western Empire & by the se Earth the nations within the Eastern. And whe But when a third part of the Earth or Sea is mentioned I consider the whole scene of Daniels Prophesies as divided into three parts one of w^ch comprehends the nations represented beyond Euph represented by his two first Beasts beyond Euphrates, another those represented by his third Beast, & the third those represented by his fourth Beast. & by a third part of the earth or sea understand one of these three parts. And the so like of a third part of the \rivers or/ starrs or a third part of the Sun & Moon are a the \Rivers or/ Starrs of a third part or Sun & Moon of a third part.

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– & thereby becomes a horn of the Beast represented in Daniel by the eleventh horn of this fourth Beast, & with a look more stout then the rest reigns over them; & is therefore represented in Iohn as sitting upon the Beast, that is, reigning over him. And all the time of her reign, the two witnesses prophesy in sackcloth.

These witnesses are called two Olive trees & \an/ Olive trees are \is/ by the Apostle Paul put for \a/ Churches Rom. XI. In Zachary (ch. {illeg} IV) they are put for two Olive branches feed the Lamps with oyle. They are called also two Candlesticks that is two standing before God, that is two of the seven golden candlesticks w^ch had been placed in the first Temple. Five of those {illeg} seven Candlesticks were or Churches were found faulty & threatned if they did not repent. The other two, viz^t the churches of Smyrna & Philadelphia, were without fault. And They were in a state of & so were fit to be placed in the second temple They were in a state of tribulation & persecution & the only two of the seven in such a state & so were fit to represent the Churches in affliction during in the time of the second Temple.

The affairs of the Church begin to be considered at the opening of y^e 5^tS. as was said above. And then she is represented by a Woman in the Temple of heaven cloathed -

And at length the Woman arrived at her place of \riches honour & dominion/ dominion riches honour & domi- upon the back of the Beast, where she is nourished for a time time {sic} times & an half a time \or there y^e/ from the face of the Serpent, not in his kingdom but at a distance from him. She is nourished by the Merchants of the earth, three \times or/ years & an half or 42 months or 1260 days, \& in these prophsies {sic} a day/ that is so many \solar/ years & a day is put for a solar year. During all this time \{illeg} the Beast made war &/ she sat up on the Beast \him/, that is reigned over him & over the ten kings who gave their kingdom to him. And by all these circumstances she is the eleventh horn with of Daniels fourth Beast, who reigned with a look more stout then the other ten & was of a different kind from the rest \having eyes & a mouth like the woman & lo/ being both male & female \civil & Ecclesiastical/, & made war with the saints & prevailed against \them/ & wore them out & had times & laws given into his had untill a time times & half a time. The characters of the women & little horn agree perfectly. & In respect of her temporal dominion she was a horn of the Beast, in respect of \his/ spiritual dominion she was his Church & {illeg} rode upon him, & committed fornication w^th the ten kings.

And the \second/ Beast w^ch rose up out of the earth was the Church of the Greek Empire. For it had two horns like those of the Lamb & therefore was a Church & it spoke as the Dragon & therefore was of the Dragons religion. It is called also the fals Prophet that wrough {sic} miracles before the first Beast w^th w^ch he deceived them that received the mark of the Beast & worshipped his Image. When the Dragon went from the Woman to make war upon the remnant of her seed, this Beast rising out of the earth assisted the Dragon in that war, & caused the earth & them that dwell therein to worship the first authority of the first Beast & to make an Image to him \that is a convention like him in point her religion/, & gave life to the Image so that it could speak & cause all m (by excommunication) call cause all men to be (mystically \killed/ who would not worship it. And he causeth all men to receive a mark in their right hand or in their forehead & that no man might buy or sell save {illeg} he that had the mark or \the/ name of the Beast or the number of his name, all the rest being excommunicated. Thus \the Woman fled from the first Temple into the Wilderness of Arabia & towards Babylon &/ the Dragon by the assistance of the two horned Beast made war upon the remnant of the Womans seed & \& the first Temple being destroyed a new one was built/ the Gentiles took possession of the outward court of the Temple, \& trode the holy city under foot/ & out of all the twelve tribes of Israel [represented by that remnant] there were only 144000 sealed with the name of God in their foreheads, & these worshipped in the Inner court called the new Court & the Court & the Court of the weomen & appears to Iohn in this Court standing on Mount Sion with the Lamb & (as it were) on the sea of glass. These are the saints of the most high & the host of heaven & the holy people spoken \of/ by Daniel, \as oppressed worn out trampled under foot & destroyed in/ who were to be oppressed in the latter times by the little horns of Daniels fourth Beast & He-Goat.

And while the Gentiles tread the holy city under foot, God gives power to his two Witnesses & they tread the prophesy in sackcloth. They are called the two Olive trees with relation to the two Olive trees w^ch in Zecharies Visions (ch. 4) stand on either <1v> side of the golden Candlestick to supply the lamps with oyle, & Candlestic Olive trees according to the Apostle Paul represent Churches Rom. XI. They are also called two Candlesticks, & Candlesticks in this Prophesy signify Churches, the seven Candlesticks being put for the seven Churches of Asia. Five of those Churches were found faulty & \threatned if they did not/ commanded to Repent. The other two were blamebed viz^t the Churches of Smyrna & Philadelphia were blameless \without fault/ & in a state of Persecution \& so were fit to be placed in the second Temple/. & so Conceive therefore that the Candlesticks representing these two Churches, are placed in the second Temple to repr to represent all those that teach & testify the truth against the worshippers of the Beast and his Image. And that they are called to They are not new Churches but the posterity of the primitive Church. [All the seven Candlesticks \jointly & separately/ by their lamps illuminate the whole Temple with all that worship therein, & And all the lamps are dressed by sending \the/ seven Epistles that each of them may illuminate the Church whole Temple the better] & therefore are represented by two of the primitive Candlesticks. A The And as the primitive Church Catholick in the times of the first Temple was represented by the seven Churches of Asia without dividing it \the whole/ into seven Churches, so the true Church in \the/ times of the second Temple may be represented by two of the seven Churches without dividing the whole into two visible Churches. It

were without fault, & so \their Candlesticks/ were fit to be placed in the second Temple. They were in a state of tribulation & persecution & the only two of the seven in such a state & so were fit to represent the Churches in affliction in the times of the second Temple. The two witnesses are not new Churches: but \They are/ the posterity of the primitive Church, & so were fitly represented by two of the primitive Candlesticks. Conceive therefore that where the first Temple was destroyed \& a new one built/ {illeg} two of the seven Candlesticks were placed in the second.

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In explaining y^e Apocalyps: \next/ After the explanation of the prophetick figures {add an} & language add an explanation{illeg} of the allusions to history & types taken from thence. As of y^e {number} mark of y^e Beast & seale of God.

And first 5 of those taken from heathen customes as the mark of y^e Beast & seale of y^e servants of God from y^e {illeg} Romans marking their servants in their foreheads & soldiers for y^e most part in their hands. \This signifies that men serves that Beas fals God the Beast, that is worship his Gods 1/ The whores cup from y^e philtre's w^th w^ch leud weomen used to provoke their lovers. 2 The name written on her forehead from the custome of prostitute weomen of old to set up an inscription on their doors & some times to wear it on their heads. 3 The name of Babylon from the analogy of y^e great city where y^e whore reineth to y^e old Babylon, as being the seat of empire, captivating o oppressing & dispersing the people of God, & making their outward worship cease, but chiefly as Idolatrous, making all nations worship the kings Image Dan 3. 4 And hence \also & from the story of Darius. Dan: 6/ are taken y^e expressions of worshipping the Beast & his Image. 6 But the types are chiefly taken from the history & religion of the church of God Church of God before under the law. As the throne, the 24 Elders \on thrones/ w^th crowns of gold, the 4 beasts, candlesticks 7 lamps, & sea, to the encamping in y^e wilderness. The Angels about y^e throne cap: 5. 11, {illeg} to y^e cherbubins on curtains of the tabernacle Exod 26. 1 & 36. 8 These Angels signify the ministers of God in y^e church sent to preach y^e Gospel As the name Angels that is messengers denotes An This appears by the \Angels of Michael can 12 be the/ seven Angels of y^e seven Churches to w^ch y^e 7 epistles are written cap 1, 2, 3. By y^e 7 Angles sounding w^th Trump^ts y^e office of the Priests Num 10. By y^e other 7 angels coming out of y^e temple of y^e tabernacle (whether none but y^e priests might enter) {illeg} in which {illeg} (the preestly cloathing) girt w^th golden girdles (y^e priestly ornant {sic}.) By y^e angel offering at y^e Alter cap 8, the Angel preaching the Gospel cap 14. 6. The answer of y^e Angel cap 19. 10. Hence children of Israel & Iews put for Christians cap 7. & cap 11. 1 & 14. 1, 2 & 15. 2. \& 2. 9, 14./ Their worship typified by the worship of y^e Iews cap 8. 1, 3, 4, 5 cap 11. 1. cap 14. 2 & 15. 2, 3. The two tables of testimony for the witnesses cap 11. 1, 3 19 & 12. 17 & 15. 5. \The actions of the witnesses to y^e actions of Elijah./ The woman in travail, for the Dragon ready to devour her child, her child caught up to God's throne, \the Battel of Michael/ the Dragon overcame, the woman flying \from y^e Dragon/ into y^e wilderness & being fed there, is a parable taken from y^e affliction of the Iews, the King of Egypt watching to devour their children, Moses her child caught up to y^e throne of Israel as soon as he was born taken up into Pharaoh's court, & afterward to the throne of Israel, {illeg} the \hard/ conflict of Moses w^th Pharaoh, the Israelites flying \from Pharaoh/ into y^e wilderness & being long nourished there. Worshipping the Beast & his Image to y^e worshipping Darius & y^e Image of Nebuchadnezzar. Whence y^e name Babylon. Some allusions there are Iezabel & the time of y^e 2 witnesses hindring rain, bringing down fire & smitting {sic} the earth to the history of Ahab, Iezebel & Elijah. Some expressions there are taken from profane history as y^e mark of the Beast, the whores cup, the name in her forehead.

The Introduction.
2. This Prophesy \is of the highest authority, for it/ is entituled the Revelation of Iesus Christ which God gave unto him

For the Lamb alone was found worthy to receive it \of God/ And he sent his Angel, the spirit of truth the most worthy to receive it from him \the spirit when \of truth/ of Churches by whom Iohn was in the spirit & spoke to y^e Churches/, & shewed it to his servant Iohn the most worthy among men. \This Angel is no other then y^e spirit of truth. For Iohn tells us that immediately he was in the spirit & he that hath an ear let him hear what y^e spirit saith unto the Churches & y^e spirit & the Bride say come. Even Christ saith I Iesus have sent mine Angel to testify these things to you in the Churches - & the Spirit & the Bride say come. And God himself saith the Lord God of the holy Prophets hath sent his Angel to shew unto his servants things that must shortly be done. Even/ Christ himself & sometimes called an rep called an Angel: \For/ as in this So in Daniel he is as the Angel Micha called Michael the great Prince who alone holdeth in prophetic matters w^th the Angel who was sent to Daniel, & in this Prophesy he is y^e mighty Angel who appears \in a cloud/ w^th \a rainbow about his head &/ his face as y^e Sun & his feet as pillars of fire & a little book of prophesy in his hand Apoc 10, & in Daniel he is called Michael y^e great Prince \of Israel (or Messiah)/ who at alone holdeth in \all in y^e book at y^e resurrection of the resurrection of y^m {dead} y^e sleep in y^e dust standeth up & who/ prophetic matters w^th the Angel who was sent with a prophesy to Daniel. An Angel is a messenger & the son is sent by the father & the spirit of truth by the son, & all the Prophets \were sent/ by the spirit of truth \especially \Moses/ Daniel & Iohn/ For all Prophesy is given by inspiration of the Holy Ghost. This is that Angel w^ch spoke to Moses in Mount Sina Ac & the Law was given by the same Angel in Mount Sina Act 7. 38. This spirit \{are}/ appears in various \any various/ forms & when ever he appears in a human form he is called an Angel, & sometimes a man. This Angel is a seven fold form is the seven spirits before the Throne from whom Iohn wishes grace & peace to the Churches

[As all the two Prophesies of Daniels Beats & that those of Nebuchadnezzars dreams consist of t each of them of two parts, the first a prophetick vision, the second an interpretation of the vision; so this of Iohn consists also of two parts, a vision prophetic vision & an interpretation thereof. The Vision ends w^th the seventh Trumpet: the interpretation begins{illeg} immediately after in these words And the Temple of God was opened in heaven & {illeg} there was seen in the Temple the Ark of his testament &c The vision consists of two parts: the first part is the Prophesy \of the Revelation/ of the sealed Book & the scene of this prophesy \part/ in the first Temple or Temple of Solomon; the second part is the prophesy of the little open book & the scene of this Prophesy \part/ is the second Temple or Temple of Zerubbabel. The interpretation of the first part begins w^th the words above mentioned And the Temple of God was opened in heaven &c, The and ends with the vin harvest & vintage & the scene of this interpretation is the first Temple: the interpretation of the second part begins w^th the prophesy of seven last p words And I saw another great sign in heaven great & marvelous seven Angels having the seven last plagues & continues to y^e end of the Apocalyps \The whole Prophesy is the Revelation of a sealed Book & the/ & the vision is the Revelation of a sealed Book & the scene of The scene of the whole is the \first Temple or/ Temple of Solomon; excepting that between the sixt & seventh Trumpet is inserted a prophesy of an \little/ open book the second of w^ch is the second Temple, & the interpretation of w^ch is the {illeg} vision of the seven last plagues & the whole of Babylon in the same second Temple, & that of the whore in the Wilderness of Arabia.

The Visions in the first Temple

The Iewish service began every morning ---- 2 Iew Vpon 3. This Prophesy is of the highest \consequence/ not for foreknowing things to come, for but for satisfying them that study it \& compare it w^th things past/ that the world is governed by Providence \that Christ rose for/ that there is a revealed religion & what is that religion & who they are that profess it & who err from the truth \& in particular that Christ is the Messiah \&/ is risen from the dead./. {sic} Tis of so high consequence to salvation \in the last times/ that that Christ {illeg} Iohn tells us Blessed is he that readeth & they that hear the words of this prophesy that & keep those things that are written therein. And he that hath an ear let him hear what the spirit saith unto y^e Churches. And if any man shall add to these things God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: & if any man shall take from these things God words of this book God shall take away his part out of the book of life. There no book in all the scriptures so much recommended & guarded by providence as this.

It is said to be of things w^ch must shortly come to pass & that the time is at hand. Whence some have though For it began to be fulfilled from the time that it was written & a thousand years are with the Lord but as one day. It conteins one period of 1000 years, another of 1260 a time time times & half a time which is the main period of Daniels fourth Beast & therefore concerns a much longer time then a thousand years, & may extend to the second coming o{f} Christ as a & the day of judge^t as it realy doth.

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For the Apostles Peter & Paul studied this Prophesy & have many things in their Epistles relating to it, as in the Epistle to y^e Hebrews discourses upon the great High Priest & the frame of the Temple & sacrifices, & the Word of God w^ch is more powerfull \sharper/ then a two edged sword, & the heavenly city \Ierusalem/ & general assembly & cloud of witnesses: in y^e first Epistle to y^e of Peter, the inheritance incorruptible {illeg} \reseved {sic}/ in heaven ready to be revealed in the last time, redemption by the pretious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish, the royal priesthood & the Church w^ch at Babylon that is, at Rome. And in the second Epistle of Peter, the \&/ more sure word of Prophesy,, the false Prophets, the merchants, Sodom, blaspheming \of/ glories, Brute Beasts made to be taken & destroyed \rioting in the day time while they feast with you having/ eyes full of an adulteress & following the way of Balaam, scoffers in the last days walking after their own lusts, \the thousand years, the day of the Lord coming as a thief in w^ch the heavens pass away & we look for new/ the passing away of the heavens in y^e day of the Lord & a new heaven & new earth. And in the beginning of y^e Epistle there is this exhortation to study the Prophesy.

✝\For making known the power & coming of o^r Lord we did not only heard y^e voice from heaven when we were with him in y^e/ we have /also\ a more sure word of Prophesy whereunto y^e do well that y^e take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place untill [by the fulfilling thereof] the day dawn & the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first that [you are not to expect the interpretation from Iohn \the Prophet/ but to study it yours selves for] no prophesy of the Scriptures is of \the propthets {sic} own/ any private interpretation. For the prophesy came not of of old by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the {spirit} holy Ghost.

The Introduction.

When the Romans made war upon the Iews in Iudea Iohn \& Peter/ retired w^th many of the Christian Iews into Asia minor, \& Peter went on to Rome/ & the Romans looking upon all the Iews as enemies of the Empire secured the heads of them & banished Iohn into Patmos \&/ there he wrote his Apocalyps & {illeg} whence this book is fuller of a little before the end of Nero's reign, as Arethas the Syriac version, Arethas, Eusebius & Pseudo   testify. Whence this book is fuller of Hebraisms then the Gospel w^ch was written long after, & the style of his Gospel by y^e use of many Apocalyptic expressions is more lofty then that of the other Evangelists. Peter \stayed not in/ only touched upon Asia but went on to Rome where he wrote his two Epistles to the dispersed \Christian Iews in y^e/ Iews directing the first of them to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia & Bithynia, & calls their suffering a fiery trial. By these epistles & the Paul had was an Apostle of y^e uncircumcision as Peter of the circumcision & had planted the churches of Asia among the Gentiles but now by the Christian Iews being dispersed into those parts he wrote his Epistle to the Hebrews \that/ in a differing stile from that of {illeg}his other Epistles \exhorting them to endure chastening {that} at present it seemeth grievous & telling them that they had not yet resisted unto blood./. {sic} For this Epistle was written \not/ to y^e Hebrews in Iudea but to those in Asia as I gather by his telling them that the brother Timothy was set at liberty w^ch Timothy was Bishop of Ephesus & had nothing to do in Iudea. \& by Peters telling those to whom he wrote that Paul had written to them./ \& by Peters/ By these Epistles it seems to me that Peter & Paul had studied the Apocalyps, there being many things in these Epistles relating to it, As in the Epistle to the Hebrews, the sab σαββατισμος or {illeg} \or day of rest/ w^ch is the 1000 years, the word of God sharper then a two edged sword discourses on y^e great high Priest, \on/ the frame of the Temple & \on/ Sacrifices therein; the cloud of heavenly city which hath foundations whose builder is God, the \a/ cloud of witnesses \(a phrase peculiar to the Apocalyps)/; then the coming to mount Sion unto y^e city of the living God the heavenly Ierusalem & to an innumerable company of Angels & to the general assembly & to God the judge of all, \&/ the shaking of the heaven & earth & removing them that we may receive a kingdom [in a new heaven & earth] ^{wch cannot be moved.} In the firs Epistle to Peter the inheritance incorruptible reserved in the heavens ready to be revealed in the last time, redemption by the pretious blood of Christ as of a Lamb w^thout blemish, the royal Priesthood & the Church w^ch is at Babylon. Peter calls Rome Babylon because \it/ the seven hilled city, the great city w^ch reigned over the kings of the earth, the woman w^ch sat upon Daniels fourth Beast is called Babylon in y^e Apo & was then besieging & captivating the Iews as \old/ Babylon had done before. And further in the second epistle there is this exhortation to study the Apocalyps. For making known the power & coming of o^r Lord we heard the voice from heaven when we were with him in the holy mount saying this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased: We have also a more sure word of Prophesy whereunto y^e do well to take heed as unto a light {illeg} \that/ shineth in a dark place untill [by the \gradually/ fulfilling & understanding \interpreting/ thereof] the light day down in yo^r hearts & the day star arise in yo^r hearts: knowing this first that [you are not to expect the interpretation from Iohn the Prophet, but to study it yo^r selves, for] no prophesy of the scriptures is of the Prophets own interpretation: For the Prophesy came not of old by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy ghost. And the remainder of this Epistle seems to be a continual commentary on this prophesy, describing the \how/ fals Prophets & \fals/ teachers w^ch should arise & how their followers should blaspheme the truth & make merchandise of the Christians & should perish like Sodom, speaking evil of glor blaspheming glories, being as natural brute Beasts made to be taken & destroyed, counting it pleasure to riot & sport in feasting, having eyes full of an Adulteress, & following the way of Balaam. And that there shall come in the last days scoffers saying, where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from the creation beginning of the creation: But \where as with the Lord/ a thousand years \[mentions in y^e Apocalyps]/ is as one day & the day of the Lord will come as a thief in w^ch the heavens shall pass away, & we, according to his promise, expect look for new heavens & a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.

This Prophesy as it was studied by the Apostles, so it was \at first/ generally received in y^e Churches for the first 200 years, And as there were men commented upon by

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And as the true gospels gave occasion to many false gospels & the true Acts of y^e Apostles to many false Acts: so there were many false Apocalypses w^ch would never have been written had there not been a true one.

The first Christian the

Dionysius of Alexandria so far as I can find was the first that questioned it & he \did not/ question {illeg} its being being received by tradition, nor durst opposed it openly it being then generally received, but complemented it & tried to undermine it by pretending that it differed in style from Iohn's Gospel & therefore was writ by another Iohn. Which being a frivolous objection the followers of Dionysius \are not to be regarded/ who afterwards called it in question had no reason for why they did \calling it in question/. All the difference in style is that y^e Apocalyps has more hebraisms then y^e Gospel being writ when Iohn came newly out of Iudea & that y^e Apocalyps \it/ is a Prophesy writ in the \mystical/ style of the Prophets the of by an extraordinary impulse of y^e spirit, & the Gospel a plain h a plain history. In all the new Testament there is no book w^ch approaches the lofty style of the Apocalyps more nearly then the Gospel & Epistles of Iohn. To instance only in the beginning of y^e Gospel The Gospel begins thus: In the beginning was the word & the word was with God & y^e word was God. The same was in the begining w^th God. All things were made by him & without him was nothing made that was made In him he was life & the life is the light of the world men. And the light shineth in darkness & the darkness comprehendeth it not. There was a man sent from God whose name was Iohn The same came for a witness to bear witness of the light that all men through him might believe. He was not that light but was sent to bear witness of that light. That was the true light w^ch lightneth every man that cometh into y^e world. - Behold the # < insertion from higher up f 6r > # The only begotten son who is in the bosom of the father - the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world - He that came down from heaven - the bridegroom < text from lower down f 6r resumes > Lam Iohn seeth Iesus coming into him & saith Behold the Lamb of God w^ch taketh away y^e sins of the world. And what is not all this very style & language of the Apocalyps where Christ is called \the son of God/ the Word of God & \the faithful & true witness/ the beginning of the creation of God & the first & the last & he that is alive for evermore & the light of the new Ierusalem \his face being as the Sun/ & the Lamb slain who was slain & hath redeemed us \to God/ by his blood, & washed away o^r sins by us from our {illeg} sins in his own blood, And before whom the four people represented by the four Beasts & 24 Elders fall down & worship: \& whose Bride is the new Ierusalem: & who in form of a mighty Angel came/ All of all w^ch Iohn bare witness & Iesus sent his Angel to testify \down from heaven & enlightned the earth w^th his love/ these things in the churches & his people have y^e testimony of Iesus & are witnesses. [And as Iohns Gospel begins \entirely/ in this style of the Apocalyps so doth his first Epistle. That w^ch was from the beginning w^ch we have heard w^ch we have seen w^th o^r eyes w^ch we have looked us & o^r hands have handled of the word of life: for the life was manifested & we have seen it & bear witness & shew unto you that eternal life w^ch was with the father.] And as Iohn's Gospel begins entirely in the style of the Apocalyps so doth his first Epistle: That w^ch was from the beginning, w^ch we have heard, w^ch we have seen with o^r eyes, w^ch we have looked upon, w^ch we have handled of the Word of life: for the life was manifested & we have seen it & bear witness & shew unto you that eternal life w^ch was with the father &c.

This Prophesy was so far from being written by any other Iohn then the Apostle that Christ \the Lamb/ alone was found \declared/ worthy to receive it of God. It is therefore entituled The Revelation of Iesus Christ w^ch God gave unto him. He alone was worthy to receive it of God & he sent his Angel the most worthy to receive it from him & shewed it unto his Ioh servant Iohn the most worthy among men, who bare record of y^e word of God & of the testimony of Iesus Christ & of all that he saw. To attribute it to any other Angel then the spirit of truth or to any other Iohn then the disciple whom Iesus loved is to weaken the testimony & in effect to undermine the \credit of the/ Prophesy. And Christ himself is sometimes called an Angel. For in this Prophesy he is the mighty Angel who appears cloathed w^th a cloud & a rainbow about his head & his face as the sun & his feet as pillars of fire & a little book of prophesy in his hand. And in Daniel he is called Michael the great Prince (or Messiah) \who is/ set over the children of Israel & shall stand up at y^e resurrection of those that sleep in the dust, & who alone holdeth in matters of prophesy w^th the Angel who was sent to inspire Daniel w^th y^e prophesy of the scripture of truth. An Angel signifies a Messenger, & all the Pr the son is sent by the father & the Spirit of truth by the son \from the father/ & all the Prophets were sent by the spirit of truth. The Law it self was given \to Moses/ b by an Angel in Mount Sina Act. 7. 38. Tha The Spirit of truth puts on various forms & when ever he appeared in an humane form the Prophets \he is/ called him an Angel, & sometimes a Man. This Angel in a sevenfold form is the seven spirits before the throne from whom Iohn wishes Grace & Peace to y^e Churches. He inspired Iohn with this Prophesy for Iohn saith I was in the Spirit of the Lords <6v> day; and again, immediately I was in the spirit. Iohn calls him the spirit in saying He that hath an ear let him hear what the spirit saith unto the Churches. And, The Lord God of the Holy Prophets sent his Angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done, that is, God spoke to Iohn by the same spirit by w^ch he spoke to the holy prophets. And again, I Iesus \have/ sent mine Angel to testify unto you these things in the Churches: And what Angel so fit a witness as the spirit of truth? |All prophesy is originally in the breast of him that sitteth upon the Throne & he communicates it immediately to ‡| < insertion from lower down f 6v > ‡ immediately to none but the Lamb: for the testimony of Iesus is the spirit of the prophesy & the Lamb sends it by his messenger to the Prophets. \If I go not away, saith Christ, the Comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart I will send him to you – & when he/ For the spirit of truth speaks not \is come he will guide you into all {truth}. For he shall not speak/ of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, saith Christ, that he shall speak & shall will shew unto you things to come & \he/ shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine & shall shew it unto you. All things that the father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine & shall shew it unto you. Iohn 16. The Comforter \who is the Holy Ghost/ whom the father will sen{d} in my name he shall teach you all things Iohn 14. 16. And when the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the father, even the spirit of truth who proceedeth from y^e father, he that testify of me. {&} Iohn 16. 15. 26. From all w^ch it is manifest that there can be no prophesying but by inspiration of y^e {illeg} holy spirit & that unworthy persons are never inspired. All predicting of things by Astrology, Augury, Necromancy, soothsaying conjuring: all pretending to infallibility by prophesy or to infallibility by vicious men is imposture.

< text from higher up f 6v resumes >

This Prophesy being of the highest consequence required to be well attested It is of such \such/ consequence not for \enabling us to/ foreknowing things to come, but for satisfying them that study it & compare it w^th things past, that it is a true prophesy, & by consequence that the world is governed by providence, that there is a revealed religion, what that religion is, who they are that profess it & who err from the truth; [& particularly that Christ is the Messiah \the Prince of the kings of the earth, &/ was not only a Prophet but washed us from o^r sins in his \own/ blood, arose \is the first begotten/ from the dead & is alive for ever {more} & \& is the/ shall reward all men according to their works & is \the great High Priest who offers up the prayers of the Saints/ the Word of God is \his God & is/ alone worthy to whom God reveals himself immediately & by whom he reveales himself to us & is accordingly \therefore/ called the Word of God faithful & true witness & the Wor{d} of God. And in \general this Prophesy/ {illeg} is the Key for interpreting the old Prophets concerning the last days & establishing the \true/ religion to be restored after the times of the great Apostacy \are expired & the Prophesy is fulfilled & fully interpreted/] < insertion from the left margin > & particularly that Christ is the Messiah the Prince of the Kings of the Earth, the King of Kings & Lord of Lords, that the \Lamb/ alone is worthy to whom God reveals himself immediately & by whom he reveals himself to us, {illeg} & is therefore called \the Word of God &/ the faithful & true Witness & the Word of God whose testimony is the spirit of prophesy; that he is the great High Priest who offers up the prayers of the saints to God & \by the sacrifice of himself/ hath washed \us from/ {illeg} o^r sins in his own blood \that for w^ch we are to give him glory to God for our creation & to the Lamb for our redemption; that Iesus/ is the first & the last, the beginning of the creation of God & the first begotten from the dead & is alive for evermore & shall come to reward every man according to his works \✝ & that we are to give glory to God for o^r {creation} & to the Lamb for o^r redemption. And th/ ✝ Iohn has many references to the old Prophets for interpreting them & after \all are/ {illeg} fulfilled & interpreted fully understood they {will} \are to/ establish the truth which is to {scorned} the great Apostacy. And therefore it was not w^thout a cause that the fearful & unbeleiving & abominable & murderers & whoremongers & sorcerers & all liars shall have their part in the lack of fire. It has many references to \Daniel &/ y^e old Prophets for explaining them {illeg} \after it has been explained it self by the event of things:/ particularly to Daniel {illeg} prophesy {illeg} sealed but as the time of the end, many of the scripture of truth was sealed by w^ch means in the time of the end knowledge is to be encreased & the everlasting Gospel is to be preached in all nations so that the wise shall understand but none of the wicked shall understand. {illeg} It is that Gospel by not the preaching of the preaching of which the kingdoms of this as the witnesses \are to/ ascend up to heaven in a cloud & the kingdoms of this world are to become the kingdoms of o^r Lord & his Christ for ever who shall reign for ever & ever. And therefore it was not without cause that Iohn tells us: Blessed is – – < text from f 6v resumes > And therefore 'twas not without a cause that Iohn tells us Bllessed is he that heareth \readeth/ & they that hear the words of this Prophesy & keep those things that are written therein. And, He that hath an ear let him hear what the spirit saith unto the Churches. And, if any man shall add to these things God shall add to him the plagues of this Book: & that are written in this Book: & if any man shall take from these words of this Book God shall take from him the away his part out of the Book of life. there is no book in all the scriptures so much recommended & guarded by providence as this. And if they are thus threatned that add to it or take from it \are thus threatned, how/ can they be \secure/ /innocent\ innocent that \question it or/ weaken it a then it {illeg} reject it, undermine it or weaken its authority.

It is said to be of things w^ch must shortly come to pass & that the time is at hand. For it began to be fulfilled from the time that it was written & & an 1000 years are w^th y^e Lord. \as are/ It conteins one period of a 1000 years, another of a time times & half w^ch is y^e main period of Daniels fourth Beast & therefore concerns a long time, & may extend to the second coming of Christ {& &} the day of Iudgment & \the/ new heavens & new earth, as it really doth: all w^ch \all w^ch/ time tho it may seem long to scoffers, yet is w^th the Lord a short time & but as one day.

The Scene \& form/ of the Visions

1 The dayly worship

2 The Prophesy of opening the sealed & book, & the fourfold description of the times of the seventh seal {in} \by allusions to the/ fast & feast of Tabernacles.

3 The Interpretation of the foregoing prophesy. \The Prophesy on the backside of the book./

5. 4 Allusions to history

4. 5 The Persons w^ch are the subject of the Prophesy

The Scene of the Visions

The Revelation of Iesus Christ w^ch God gave unto him \to shew unto his servants things w^ch must shortly come to pass/ & he sent his Angel & signified it to his servant Iohn who bare witness of the tru record of the word of God & of the testimony of Iesus Christ & of all things w^ch he saw. Christ \The Lamb/ alone was worthy to receive it of {illeg} God. He sent

Angels signify messengers & are put \in general/ for Officers & ministers of the Temple & \by consequence/ the seven chief Angels went the son of for y^e seven chief Officers next y^e High Priest.

Till his days it was generally received

- The only begotten son who is in the bosom of the father - the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world. - the Bridegroom - He that cometh from heaven & testifieth what he hath seen. He that came down from heaven - the Bridegrome {sic}

And this was the state of the Apocalyps till the 1000 years being misunderstood brought a prejudice against this book. & Dionysius of Alexandria so far as I can find was the first that questioned it; & he did not question its being received by tradition, nor durst oppose it openly it being then generally received, but complemented it & tried to weaken its authority by pretending that it differed in style from Iohn's Gospel being fuller of He Barbarisms, & therefore was written by another Iohn. Which being a frivolous objections the followers of Dionysius are not to be regarded. All the difference ------ & but as one day.