THat thou mayest with better acceptance peruse my Exposition of this Book of Prophecies , 1 1 The Authentickness of the Apocalypse . the Apocalypse , I thought fit to say something by way of Preface : First , concerning the Book it self , not only the Authentickness and Intelligibleness , but also concerning the Excellency thereof : Secondly , concerning the grounds I go upon , and the Truth of my Exposition : And thirdly and lastly , concerning the great Usefulness thereof .

That this Book is Canonical and of Divine Inspiration , is confirmed by the Authority and Suffrage of the Church Universal , both Roman and Reformed : And though it had no external Confirmation , the truth of Predictions in that large comprehension of things that it reacheth to , and the holiness of that Spirit that breaths in it , to any intelligent Reader will certainly prove it to be a Book Divinely inspired . Not to add , that the very Wit , as I may so say , and Artifice in it seems not to be Humane but Angelical . It was indeed doubted of at first , and the Authority thereof called into question ; but the occasion of questioning it was , because it was in the hands of very few , it being dangerous for the Christians to let this Book of the Apocalypse ( that does plainly predict , as it might seem , the burning of the City of Rome , situated on seven Hills , and having Rule then over the whole Earth ) so freely to go about as those others of the New Testament did . And therefore this Book being so generally unknown , when they began to determine what Books were Authentick and what not , they might very well be at a loss concerning it . Besides that , Cerinthus and others overmuch Judaizing Christians who drew those things written of the first and second Resurrection , and the New Jerusalem , and the thousand years Reign of Christ , to their Carnal Iudaical conceits , made them more shie how they admitted this Book for Authentick . Nay some , as Gaius an ancient Author in Eusebius , relate that Cerinthus the Chiliast was the writer of it . Others , who yet thought well of the Book , that John the Presbyter , a Disciple of the Apostle , not John himself was the Author thereof . The occasion of which might be , as Grotius ingeniously conjectures , because that John the Presbyter had the Book in his custody , whence some out of mistake might deem him the Author thereof . But by the Authority of the chiefest Fathers , and upon a more narrow search and examination of the business , it is now out of question with all Christian Churches , that this Book of the Apocalypse is Authentick and Canonical , and writ by John the Evangelist and Divine , so called for his more plainly and peculiarly declaring the Divinity of Christ beyond any other of the Evangelists .

Now for the Intelligibleness of the Book . II II The Intelligibleness of the Apocalypse . Though there is a marvellous artifice of Concealment in it , yet there is as sure an artifice of Revealment , as I hope will appear by this our Exposition . And why Prophecies should be obscurely writ , and in what this obscurity consists , I have sufficiently * * Synops. Prophet . Book 1. chap. 2. elsewhere declared . The chief obscurity is in the Prophetick stile , which when it is opened to a Man , the sense will run clear . As he that understands any other Language different from the Vulgar , if the Book it is writ in be good sense , he without difficulty will find it out . And as it would be absurd in him that understands not that language to complain of the obscurity of the Book , so it is as childish for him that will not take the pains , ( which is not much ) to understand the Prophetick stile , to complain of the obscurity of the Apocalypse . But that it is intelligible , all sorts of Christians Reformed and Unreformed have given their suffrage thereto , in writing Commentaries upon it : And it is no less than blasphemy against the Holy Ghost that inspired this Prophecy , to say it is simply unintelligible , as if Christ trifled with his Church in a thing so exceeding serious , as this Book of Prophecies seems to be .

III III The Excellency of the Book of the Apocalypse . The Excellency whereof is notably set out , if not also the necessity of reading and understanding it , chap. 1. vers. 3. Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this Prophecy , and keep those things that are written therein ; which they cannot do unless they understand them . And so , chap. 22. vers. 7. Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the Prophecy of this Book : Which is chiefly performed by Faith and Constancy to the True Church of Christ against either the Dragon or Antichrist , which he cannot do if these Prophecies were unintelligible : nor can there any blessedness accrue to a man from reading a Book he understands not : But the sayings thereof understood and kept being so effectual a way to blessedness , it must needs argue the excellency of the Book .

But there is yet a further illustration of the Excellency thereof from what occurrs , chap. 5. vers. 2. which concerns the greatest part by far of this Book , and that which some phansie the only Prophetical part thereof , namely the Visions of the Sealed Book , and of the Opened Book . For what was contained in the Opened Book lay open by virtue of the breaking up of the Seals . In that Chapter is the highest Encomium of this Book of Prophecies that the Wit and Rhetorick of men or Angels can invent or utter . For first it is said , vers. 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 no man in Heaven nor in Earth , neither under the Earth was able to open the Book , neither to look thereon . This therefore must be a most excellent and transcendent Book of Secrets and Predictions that neither Angels , Men , nor Infernal Spirits can reach to the knowledge of by virtue of their own faculties . And then it follows , And I wept much because no man was found worthy to open and read the Book and to look thereon . Which further argues that it is a Book not only of rare secrets and vast comprehensive Predictions , but more than ordinary desirable , if not necessary to be known . And lastly , when the Lion of the Tribe of Judah , that is , Christ , the Lamb under another expression and figuration , was found worthy , and had taken the Book , what acclamations in Heaven were there thereupon ? For 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 the Saints . And they sung a new Song , saying , Thou art worthy to take the Book and open the Seals thereof , for thou wast slain , and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood . As if this priviledge of obtaining such a wonderful power of predicting things to come , and communicating such a Book as this of the Apocalypse unto his Church , were one special fruit of his Passion , and the shedding his most precious blood upon the Cross.

IV IV The peril of slighting the Apocalypse , and the study of understanding it . And therefore let them take heed that despise this Book of the Apocalypse so much , and all endeavours to understand it aright , that they be not found in the number of them that tread under-foot the Son of God , even in those things for which he is the most highly admired and extolled by the blessed Saints and Angels ( which is the greatest slight and affront of him imaginable ) and count his precious blood shed upon the Cross ( whereby he procured this transcendent priviledge to himself and them , of fore-knowing things that concern all Ages of his Church ) an unholy thing , and do despite to the Spirit of Prophecy .

In the mean time , this may at least excuse them that seriously and soberly endeavour rightly to understand the Visions of this Book from being reputed men less judicious , or else very unfortunate to spend their time and labour on so mean and obscure an argument as this Book of the Apocalypse ; as some for want of judgement or good will have perstringed that excellently learned and pious person Mr Joseph Mede : But what a vast difference is there betwixt the Spirit of the holy Evangelist John and the great Spirits or Wits , as they would be accounted , of this Age ! He wept out of an eager desire of understanding the Prophecies of this Book , they laugh at any one for a fool that pretends the endeavouring to understand them , or thinks they are to be understood . But I hope that will be found true that Solomon sayes , Prov. chap. 14. vers. 6. A scorner seeketh wisdom and findeth it not , but knowledge is easie to him that understandeth .

Which I distrust not but will be made good in any intelligent Reader of my Exposition of this Book . V V The grounds the Authour goes upon in his Exposition of the Apocalypse , how assured they be . It will prove easie to him upon his taking notice of the meaning of the Prophetick stile , and supposing the grounds I go upon , which are but few , and allowed generally by all Protestant Churches that I know of , ( viz. ) That the Church of Rome is Idolatrous , which will imply , that the Greek Church also was so , as is plain from the second Nicene Council , which the Romanists alledge . That the said Church is murderous , as having put to death many and many thousands of innocent Souls , because their consciences would not allow them to joyn with this Church in their Idolatrous Worship . And lastly , that she is Imposturous , in pretending to many miraculous Acts that exceed the power of Nature , or the faculties of any ordinary men . As changing the Elements , as they call it , of Bread into real Flesh , and of Wine into real Blood , by saying certain words over it : In exorcising or enchanting of Statues , or Images , and of Water , Oyl , and other things , by certain words , into a power of keeping off Enemies , repelling Diseases , ceasing Thunder and Lightening , and driving away the Devil ; nay , in pretending to a Power of thunder-striking men down into hell , which is only in the hand of God Almighty , to do at his pleasure , and not for men to do at their pleasures , because others will not joyn with them in their gross Doctrines , and Idolatrous Worship . This if it were true were a stupendious Miracle indeed , thus to bring fire from heaven to thunder-strike innocent men into the pit of hell . But such pretended feats as these this Book elegantly expresses by the phrase of Sorcery or Magick , as it may be called , as being an imitation of the pretences of Magicians thus to act above Nature , by words and charms . These are the main things that are supposed concerning the Church of Rome , which if they be admitted the sense of the Apocalypse will run as glib as may be upon a little knowledge of the Prophetick stile : And I shall wonder at any one that is satisfied concerning these , that shall stick at the truth of our Interpretation ; which as touching this part is so throughly demonstrated in my Joynt-Exposition , or rather in the eight last Chapters of the first Book of my Synopsis Prophetica , that I cannot tell what can be more fully evidenced to the reason of a man ; namely , That the Beast that was , and is not , and yet is , is the Roman Empire , and the Woman that rides him , the Roman Hierarchy , after the times of the seventh King , that was to stay but a little while , which are the pure Christian Caesars : Wherefore the Roman Hierarchy after that time being set out by the symbol of a Whore , for so that Woman is called , ( viz. ) the Whore of Babylon , and the Beast she rides on , said to be full of Names of Blasphemy , it is manifest , that both the Empire and Hierarchy are become Idolatrous . Besides that , if the Apocalypse were silent in this matter of their being Idolatrous , the Writers of the Protestants have over and over again demonstrated them to be so , and for them that are so perswaded , not to acknowledge their condition to be predicted in the Apocalypse , but to conceit it silent therein , is to envy God and Christ the Glory of foretelling things to come , and the Church the priviledge of having them foretold her , and the advantage of confounding her enemies thereby .

And now for the state of the Reformed Church that it will be at last so well Reformed , and so largely amplified , that Peace , Truth and Righteousness shall at last over-spread as it were the face of the earth , and that herewith the Iews will be called , and make one part of the Catholick Church , this is a thing both believed and hoped for by all good men , and expresly pointed at in several places of Scripture , as well as in the Apocalypse . And lastly , for the first Resurrection , the proper priviledge of the Martyrs at the entrance of the Millennial Reign of Christ upon Earth , that this was the general Opinion of the Primitive Church is made out notably by Mr J. Mede in sundry places of his Writings : And that way that I have explained it here in my Exposition , it cannot have the least scandal or offence , the Martyrs according to my Explication , not living upon Earth , but being revivificated into their Glorious Bodies , reign with Christ in Heaven .

Wherefore the things that I suppose being so certain or unexceptionable , and my Exposition consequential to these , and perpetually made out according to the known meaning of the Prophetick stile , and agreeably to the truth of History , without any violence done to either Grammatical Criticisme , or the Rules of Rhetorick , and observable Genius of the very stile of this Book of the Apocalypse it self , if such an Exposition for so far as the time of Prophecies is already past , be not true , what Exposition of any Prophecy , or of any thing else can be thought to be true ? And the things that are to come , as the Calling of the Jews , and the utter breaking in pieces of the Roman Idolatrous Hierarchy sore against their will , considering the sweet relish of domineering and imposing upon the world , and their obdurate pretence of Infallibility , it were a Miracle indeed , to think they will ever confesse themselves convinced of those enormous Errours and Crimes that are so justly laid to their charge : And being they would fall of themselves did not some Secular Power support them , it therefore is rational to conceive that some Remnant of the Roman Empire may stick to them to the last Vial : So solid is our Exposition in that part also . And concerning the Calling of the Jews , I have noted already how generally the Opinion is allowed of , and how often intimated in the Scriptures . To which I may add , that it does not seem probable , that they are preserved a distinct People from the rest of the world all this time for nought . And then for the flourishing of Peace , and Truth , and Righteousness in the times of the New Jerusalem so universally over the face of the Earth ; It is a thing that has been so little done already , and so fully and repeatedly inculcated by the ancient Prophets , as well as set down so exactly in the Apocalypse , that unless a man will question the Truth of Scripture , he cannot but admit it to be true . From which considerations I hope it will appear that our Exposition of the Apocalypse is throughout true , and that I have not rashly called it Apocalypsis Apocalypseos , it being a plain and true unveiling of the Apocalypse , or stripping it of all those coverings and disguisings contained in the Prophetick stile , and whatever other Artifices of Concealment , and laying the sense bare and open to the eyes of all that will not wilfully wink that they may not see the Truth .

VI VI How grosly Grotius has overshot himself in his Interpreting the Apocalypse . And that there may be no distrust of the assuredness of our Interpretation by pretending that others have interpreted the Apocalypse another way , I shall give notice here by the bye , that I have with all care and diligence perused other Interpreters , and the very best of them , Grotius and Ribera ; ( for as for some Modern Buffoones rather , and abusers of the Apocalypse , than serious Interpreters of it , no sober man will think-himself obliged to take notice of them ) and in those two chefest Chapters , as to the Controversie betwixt the Church of Rome and us , whether they are not to be proved from thence Idolaters , ( I mean the thirteenth and seventeenth Chapters , of which I have made a Joynt-Exposition in my Synopsis Prophetica ) I have shewed how absurd and impossible both Ribera's and Grotius his Interpretations of those Chapters are . And in Grotius his Exposition of them , who yet is now accounted the Chiefest Interpreter , and most accommodate to baffle the true and genuine meaning of those Prophecies , I have noted near fourscore such flawes , as I should be loth any one should be able to find one in my whole Exposition of the Apocalypse ; besides his absurd mis-timing of the Visions , which would show , though otherwise his Expositions were more tolerable , that they were nothing to the purpose : And that they are mis-timed , I have abundantly demonstrated in my Synopsis Prophetica , Book II. Chap. 2. So that there is the greatest assurance imaginable of my Exposition of the thirteenth and seventeeth Chapters of the Apocalypse , as you may be fully satisfied by the reading of my Joynt-Exposition of them , Synops. Prophet . Book I. Chap. 12 , 13 , 14 , 15. And if this Bulwark of my Joynt-Exposition stand impregnable , as most certainly it will , none that perceives the force thereof , but will easily admit of the rest of our Interpretations as solid and true . And thus much briefly of the Truth of our Exposition of the Apocalypse .

VII VII The Usefulness of the Authors Exposition against Atheism , and for the defence of Natural Religion . Now the usefulness thereof , which I proposed in the third and last place , it is exceeding considerable : First , against Atheists , and those that believe neither Angel nor Spirit ; for there being a deduction of things foretold from the beginning of the Church to the end of all , so natural , so solid , and so true , and every way unexceptionable to any Rational Man , this is the greatest Evidence desirable to evince a Divine Providence over the Church , and the Affairs of Mankind , and consequently the existence of a God ; as also of Angels , the Ministers of his Providence , which is all along inculcated in this Book of the Apocalypse . And particularly it is asserted in the beginning of the Book that this Revelation was made to St John by the Ministry of an Angel : And that this can be no imagination of St John 's , as the prophane Hobbians and Spinozians would be ready to suggest out of the Principles of their stupid and incredulous minds , but a real thing , the Book it self is an ample Testimony and plain demonstration , it being out of the reach of any man by his own natural wit or fore-sight , to write a Book of such comprehensive Prophecies , and so continuedly true : to say nothing of the manner of writing it , the very Wit and Artifice thereof , which seems to imply 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the Stile and Wit is not the Stile and Wit of a Man , but certainly of an Angel .

Nor does the Apocalypse only support the truth of Natural Religion , VIII VIII The usefulness of it for the confirming of Christianity . which is the belief of the Existence of a God , and of Spirits or Angels good and bad , and of a Blessed Immortality after this life ; but it is a most special and extraordinary confirmation of the truth of the Revealed Religion of Christianity , and the most assured Argument , and most lasting and satisfactory of the Apotheosis of Christ , that the Wit of Man can excogitate , or his heart desire . For reading this Book , and comparing it with the History of the Affairs of the Church , and of the Nations , so far forth as they have had any thing to do with the Church , or the Church with them ▪ he may as it were see with his own eyes , and feel with his hands the Truth of our Religion in the veracity of our Great Prophet and Saviour , and in the exact completion of the Predictions he has communicated to his Church as hitherto . Which standing Miracle is of as much weight with the Intelligent , for the confirmation of their Faith in Christ , if not more , than if they lived in our Saviours time to see his Miracles , or conferr with the eye-witnesses of them . And it is an extraordinary glorious priviledge of the Christian Church to have such a Book of Prophecies as these ( and peculiar to her above all Religions else in the world that ever was ) and so easie and naturally applicable to the events predicted : And therefore they deserve very ill of the Christian Church , who either rashly , or out of design , instead of the true and genuine meaning of the Visions of the Apocalypse give unnatural , forced senses of them , disterting them from their intended scope , applying mean , sapless , insignificant , useless and inept meanings to them , instead of those that are proper and adequate : Which not to dissemble the Truth , Grotius , though otherwise a Learned Writer , has most wretchedly done . For this makes the very pretense of understanding Prophecies ridiculous , and deprives Christ of his Glory , and of one of the most Illustrious Fruits of the Passion and Apotheosis , and the Church of her so Eminent Priviledge above all other Religions : For such meager , dry , distorted , and contradictions Expositions , as Grotius has given of the Apocalypse , if there were no other to be had than those , would never argue it a Book Divinely Inspired , but to be rather a confused heaping up of vagrant thoughts , and fortuitous imaginations : And yet these fond conceits of Grotius ( forsooth ) must stifle the genuine meaning , and due efficacy of the Apocalypse ; that is , We must rob Christ of his Glory , and the Christian Church of her high peculiar Priviledge above any other Churches or Religions ; nay , take take away that extraordinary support , which not only Christianity , but even Natural Religion it self has from this Book of the Apocalypse , in a meer Complement to the Church of Rome , that she may not seem as well by Divine Testimony , as by Humane Reason guilty of Idolatry : See my Synopsis Prophetica , Book II. Chap. 2 , 3 , 4. and my Mystery of Godliness , Book V. Chap. 16. Which Chapters if you attentively read , though with the Favourers of Rome and Grotius , you may think me not over-civil , yet you will certainly conclude me very true and just in this my censure . This I thought fit , though it is against my Genius to lessen any ones performances , plainly to declare , that no man may be fobbed off from embracing the Truth , by the specious name of Hugo Grotius prefixed to such weak and imperfect Essayes upon the Book of the Apocalypse ; where amongst other things it is to be noted , that the six first Seals , and the six first Trumpets , which are indeed all the Visions of the Sealed Book , he interprets of things which were transacted before the Prophecy was writ , than which nothing can be more wild and preposterous .

IX IX And for the justifying the Reformed Churches from all imputation of Schism . A third considerable Usefulness of our Exposition , is , that it is a plain justification of all Reformed Churches , Prince and People , for their having left the Communion of the Church of Rome , and a discharging of them of that perverse and unjust imputation of Schism , which the Church of Rome would fain cast upon them : For though they do loudly miscall them by the name of Hereticks , yet they have nothing to lay to their charge , but the disowning those things which it were Heresie for them to embrace , and are nothing but unsound Doctrines , and foul Trumperies , and Principles of Idolatry , which pretended Holy Church holds up for her unholy and secular ends , or worldly interest : For the main Body of Protestants hold all that were accounted Articles of Faith in the first Ages of the Church about the first four hundred years while the Church was deemed Symmetral , as is intimated in the Apocalypse , Chap. 11. whence it is impossible they should be Hereticks : And that neither Prince nor People in the Reformed Churches are guilty of Schism , besides the nature of the thing it self , that no man is bound to disobey God under pretence of obeying a Church that is Idolatrous , there is not only a Commission but a Command to all to leave her Communion , Apoc. Chap. 2. ver. 20. and Chap. 18. vers. 4. And I heard a voice from Heaven , saying , Come out of her my people , &c. So that both Prince and People every where have a Commission from Heaven to leave her Communion , so far are they from being Schismaticks for leaving it .

A fourth Usefulness may be , X X And for moving them to repentance , and amendment of their lives . and that again to the Reformed Churches , which are the Church in Sardis , who are reprehended by Christ in his Epistle to that Church , for having a name of living , as having a zeal one against another about things of smaller consequence , and from thence making Schisms and Dissentions in the Reformed Churches , but being even dead otherwise to that which is the onely Life of a True Christian , which is Charity or Love , the character of the Philadelphian Church : Which the Sardian Church is heartily to breath after , that all their breaches may be healed , and defects made up , and that Peace , and Truth , and Righteousness may flourish amongst them : But as yet it is too true that her works are not found perfect before God , as Christ complains of her in his Epistle : Which Epistle of Christ to the Church in Sardis , I wish all the Reformed Churches would seriously peruse and take notice of the heavy Commination against them ; If they do not watch and stand upon their guard , and endeavour to strengthen the things that are ready to dye , namely true Faith in God , and in Jesus Christ , and the promised asssistances of his Holy Spirit to subdue our Corruptions to the Scepter of his Kingdom , and a sincere Zeal against all scandal and debauchery of Life , and gross Superstition , and Idolatry , and against hankering after the Flesh-pots of Aegypt , as thé Israelites did when God had brought them out of the House of Bondage into the Wilderness : Which state is something analogous to the Sardian Interval in respect of the Philadelphian , which is as it were the taking possesssion of the Holy Land , and more analogous than we could wish in murmuring against their Governours , and that Government which obtained in the Church even in those times , which by the Spirit of God were accounted Symmetral , Apoc. cap. 11.1 . If they do not remember how they have received and heard , and hold fast and repent ; namely how they have received from the Apostles themselves by their Writings , and from Apostolick men raised up in the late Reformation , who generally declared against the Idolatries of the Church of Rome , and declared the Pope with his Hierarchy to be that Man of Sin , the Antichrist , even those that professed themselves not to know what to make of the Book of the Apocalypse , as Luther and Calvin , whom Cornelius à Lapide affirms to have cast it out of the Canon , which is a sign that the Idolatry and Antichristianisme of the Roman Church was to their judgements so gross , that they wanted no such helps to assure them thereof : How they have received from St Paul ; Children obey your Parents in the Lord ; as well as , Fathers provoke not your Children to wrath , Ephes. 6.4 . And that Love is the fulfilling of the Law , Galat. 5.14 . For all the Law is fullfilled in one word , even in this , Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self : but if ye bite and devour one another , take heed that ye be not consumed one of another . These and the like sins is the Sardian Church to repent of , and to stand upon their watch , lest the judgement of God suddenly surprize them before they be aware , Apoc. 3.3 .

A fifth Usefulness of our Exposition is in reference to the Jews , XI XI The Usefulness of his Exposition in reference to the Jews . for the facilitating their before in Jesus , the true Messias . For that perverse Objection of theirs against the Messias having been already come above sixteen hundred years ago ; seeing such gross Idolatry , and bloody persecution has been so long a time in the Church against those men that have had the most Conscience touching the Purity of Gods Worship , and the greatest Zeal against Idolatry ; This Objection , I say , is easily answered out of our Exposition of the Apocalypse , that these things are no otherwise than the True Messias has predicted they would be , whence the Argument is retorted against themselves , that it is the greater Demonstration that Jesus is the True Messias , and not only this , but moreover , which is the chiefest of all , That all things predicted in the Apocalypse , from the beginning of the Church to this day , have exactly come to pass , which is a pledge of Christs veracity touching the future state of the Church , that is , That this bloody and Idolatrous Hierarchy will be put an end to , and that both Jew and Gentile will become One Fold under One Shepherd , Jesus the True Messias , namely , at the descending of the New Jerusalem out of Heaven from God , in which will be accomplished al the Glorious Promises of God touching his Church , predicted by the mouths of his Holy Prophets : Which cannot but be a full Answer to this Objection of the Jews .

The sixth is a particular Usefulness for the undeceiving the Fifth-Monarchy-Men , XII XII A particular usefulness for the undeceiving the Fifth-Monarchy-men . as they are called , and any others that are inclinable to such Opinions as they are of , ( viz. ) That upon the Rising of the Witnesses a Fifth Monarchy must be erected , in which Jesus Christ is personally to Reign with the revived Martyrs in the Millennium here upon Earth , and that the way to these Times is to be made by the Sword . For according to our Exposition the Witnesses are already risen in the late Reformation , and the Time of the One thousand two hundred ▪ and sixty dayes expired , that no watch-word may be taken to any Tumults from any such indication of Time . But the most certain sign of the downfall of Antichrist will be the raising again in the Reformed Churches a sincere and fervent Zeal after Truth and Holiness , hearty Love and Amity amongst themselves , and a Conversation unspotted and unexceptionable , and such as will convince their very Adversaries that they are in good earnest Christians , and demonstrate their faith by their works , and that they have not shaken off the Yoke of the Pope to serve themselves , or to turn Slaves to their own Lusts , but to be the Faithful Servants of him that redeemed them out of that House of Bondage . If this were seriously minded in the Reformed Churches , and due discipline kept up to that purpose , the Papacy would melt away like a bank of snow in the summer-sun , or consume as the fat of Lambs , as the Psalmist speaks , yea , even as the smoak would they consume away . And as for any Fifth Monarchy , in which Jesus Christ shall visibly and personally Reign as the Monarch thereof , or any one else as an Universal Monarch over all those many and large Kingdoms that shall then be Christian ; ( that the Fifth-Monarchy-men may not substitute this instead of the other ) our Exposition is not at all favourable to any such conceit , as neither to that of the Reign of the revived Martyrs upon Earth in the blessed Millennium . And I am so far from countenancing the Opinion , that these Times are to be brought in by the Sword , unless it be by the Sword of the Spirit , which is the Word of God , that that most dismal Prophecy , Chap. 14. vers. 20. where it is said , that blood came out of the Wine-press even unto the horse bridles by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs ; and that Prophecy of the battel of that Great Day of God Almighty , Chap. 16. and the other of the rider of the white horse , Chap. 19. where the Fowles of the Air are called unto the Supper of the great God , to eat the flesh of Kings , of Captains , and of Mighty Men , &c. that I interpret , I say , all these not litterally but mystically , not of slaying of bodies , but of converting and saving of souls . And I hope the Reader will be convinced , when he considers the places , that my interpretation is true .

The seventh and last Usefulness of my Exposition redounds to the Pontifician party themselves , XIII XIII The usefulness of it in the behalf of the Pontifician Party . as many as are predisposed to hear plain and evident truth . For according to our Exposition , which how true it is I have above made good , and it will approve it self true to any Intelligent and unprejudiced Reader , those that stay in the Communion of the Roman Church , when as they should be the faithful Members of Christ , they are , ipso facto , the Members of an Harlot , that is , of an Idolatrous Church , which the stile of the Apocalypse calls the Whore of Babylon . And how assured a man can be of his Salvation in such a state , I 'le leave to himself to judge : Or rather let him hear what the Angel sayes , Chap. 18. vers. 4. Come out of her my People lest ye partake of her sins and of her plagues : As also what another Angels sayes , chap. 14. vers. 9 , 10. If any one worship the Beast and his Image , and receive his Mark in his forehead , or in his hand , the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his Indignation , and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels , and in the presence of the Lamb , and the smoak of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever . This is the doom of those that forsake not the Communion of the Church of Rome , but obey the Two-hundred Idolatrous Beast , that has the horns of a Lamb but the voice of a Dragon , decreeing gross Idolatries and bloody Persecutions .

This plain therefore and evident Exposition of the Apocalypse , I hope may be an Instrument to bring off those that are any thing well disposed , out of those gross and damnable Errours into the way of Saving Truth , and keep those more stedfast that are in it . For though there will be those , and they not a few that will remain obstinate and unconvinced , especially of the Roman Hierarchy it self , even until the effusion of the last Vial , yet there may be many particular gleanings , and some larger harvests in the mean time , to which so sound and faithful a sense of the Apocalypse , as our Exposition exhibits to the Reader , may be effectually subservient : And truly this one usefulness thereof may very well seem a sufficient compensation for my labours , to any sincere lover of the Souls of Men.

Wherefore to come to a Conclusion : XIV XIV The Conclusion . Since this Book of the Apocalypse is so Excellent and transcendant a Book as well as Authentick and Intelligible , and our Exposition thereof so sound and assured , and the use of it so manifold and so great , I hope that every Intelligent Man that is a Well-willer to the Truth , and a sincere Lover of the Church of Christ will allow of my design of publishing it , as a thing laudable at least , if not indispensable . For though in things of mere speculation , it is a piece of prudence for a man to seem no wiser than others can bear , lest instead of being admired he be looked upon for a fool , or a man of extravagant conceits ; yet in such points of knowledge as we are assured of , and as assured of their manifold usefulness for the Church , and the good of mankind , it is a piece of Conscience that we communicate them to the world , it being a Depositum we are intrusted with from God , and of which we must give an account to him at that great day .