AN EXQVISITE COMMENTARIE VPON THE REVELATION OF SAINT IOHN . WHEREIN , BOTH THE course of the whole Booke , as also the more abstruse and hard places thereof not heretofore opened ; are now at last most cleerely and euidently explaned .

By PATRIK FORBES of Corse .

LONDON Printed by W. HALL , for Francis Burton , and are to bee sold at his shop in Pauls Churchyeard , at the signe of the Greene Dragon . 1613.

FOr a token , though poore in my part ; yet that gratefullie I remember your Highnesse Princely mind , in keeping mee an eare against sinistrous delation , and giuing so gentle warning of your good pleasure therein , this part of my misreported paines , I humbly present vnto your Maiestie : to whose Souer aigne skill in these diuine secrets , ( by your royall writings well witnessed to the world ) besides common allegeance , all pens , and of all men imploied on this Prophecie , owe proper homage : as not only to the most glorious patrocinie , but therewith also the most learned censure . In both which , I doe yet more relye on your Maiesties experienced benignitie , then I presume either of merit for the one , or sufficiencie against the other . I know the too iust complaint of the wisest , vpon the great abuse of that excellent gift of printing , both to the disgrace and detriment of learning , while ( each man dotting after the brood of his owne braine , and vainly promising to himself the same applause of others , which his own partiall heart yeeldeth him ) no end is of making many books : so as the inexpert student , in search of letters weilding amidst infinite variety , is cast in such doubt of choise , that , tasting about , before he happilie fall on oughtworthy to feed on , appetite is spent , and he filled with he cannot tell what . I know also that as it was not permitted each Painter to practise his skill on the roiall Effigie of Alexander , so were it intollerable presumption for each Pamphlet to vsurpe the shadow of your Highnesse Name . Neither hath selfe-weining so ouersiled mine eies from the sight of mine own slendernesse , but that sincerely I acknowledge , in this so learned an age wherein much is excellently well written , and yet infinitely more paper miserably spoiled , that hundreths more gifted then I , might well be pardoned to put vp their pennes , and , so , much lesse to currie credit to their vnsutable works , by shrowding them vnder the shelter of so sacred a vaile : yet how great soeuer be my imparity to so high attempt , the subiect of this my labor is of such a surpassing eminency , as , if it hath pleased God onelie●wise by my weakenesse to bring forth any one sparkle of new and true light for more cleare vnderstanding thereof ( wherein , for ought that hithertils hath been said of any , the most learned yet acknowledge an vntried depth of which anie one point opened may bee a competent recompence of much paines ) I hope it shall somewhat excuse me of too great temerity , either in writing or in vowing , what I write , so highlie : and shall heerewithall encourage the better gifted soberlie to search out what heerein hath escaped me also . Now heereof as your Maiestie can best of all men iudge , so am I the bolder to vndergoe the hazard of so high a sentence , for that of your Maiesties knowne clemence I am certaine to report either praise or pardon .

IF God did but command , yet were all disobedience excuselesse ; if but promise , yet were wee holden , against all apparant impossibilities to beleeue , and hope euen against hope . But this magnifieth his mercy exceedingly , and taketh from all men all pretext of defection , that in his written word ( in a singular compassion of our weakenesse ) hee not onely setteth downe the rule of our waies , and proponeth the ground of our hope ; but also to his seruants in all ages , hee hath foretold such future cases , as the strangenesse whereof , might either discourage them in the course of the one , or shake their constant keeping of the other : and that so farre forth , as the wise in each time , had not onely enough whereon to stay their hearts , euen in the midst of most greeuous calamities ; but , being placed as it were in the light of diuine reuelation , they might cleerely perceiue the course and reason of God his wise dispensation , and reioice in the assured expectation of such euents , as neither the World dreamed of , and were much contrary to all their vngodly designes . Thus the Lord alwaies armed his Church , but most carefully in these last times , vnder the Gospell . Which albeit it might appeare to haue beene lesse needfull , for the huge measure of light and gracefull dispensation , therein beyond all former ages ; yet , in respect that Satan , seeing his time to be short , then chiefly bended his whole rage and full force of deceit ( specially in that huge mystery of iniquity growing on so in all effectual working , with al power , signes , and lying wonders , in all deceiueablenesse of vnrighteousnesse and such strong delusion , the sonne of perdition sitting as God , euen in the Temple of God , that , if it were possible , the very elect might haue beene deceiued ) therefore the Lord himselfe in the daies of his flesh , gaue hereof not obscure warnings ; his Apostles diuersly thereafter ; and lastly , in this prophecie , is the whole mischiefe , in the parties , their practises , the Church , her condition thereby , God his manifold wrath thereupon , to the full ouerthrow at length of all the enemies , and deliuerance of his Church ; so at large and cleerely set forth ; as we are not onely now to beleeue the things told vs before ; because they are alredy in a great part come to passe : but also , by the cleere light here opened to see what yet resteth to be performed : & with calme and ioifull minds ( in a most delightfull light ) to behold and dispise all this present terrible and restlesse endeauour of Dragon , Beast , and false Prophet , by their emissary frogs : as where by they are but hastening on to themselues such a foile , as the wonderfulnesse thereof shall make the place to bee called , euen in Ebrew Harmageddon , and shall giue matter euen of an Ebrew song : When thereupon , not onely a great multitude in Heauen , the foure beasts and twenty foure Elders : but by a powerfull voice from the Throne , all God his seruants , al that feare him both small and great , as the voice of many waters , and as the voice of strong thunderings , shall sing together Halleluiah .

Now the golden programme ( blessed is he that readeth &c. ) set ouer the gate of this goodly edifice , as it giueth to conceiue , and both wakeneth and warranteth to search after some rare insight , so did it chiefly incourage me to step in and much stirred , in sobernesse , to suruey the singularities . Wherein , as the Queene of Saba seeing Salomon , by helpe of God , and to the praise of his truth in this , I found so much more then I presumed , as no spirit was left in mee . Now , here withall , the earnest petition of Saints poussing thereto , and after the story of Christ in the flesh , and of his Church raised by Apostolike labors , this falling in fitly in the course of my trauels to bee handled : yet nothing so much carried me to the publike reading thereof , as a holy indignation at the dealings of Romanists in our quarters too carelesly exposed to their seduction . They had nothing more frequently in mouth then the antiquity , glory , & multitude of their Church , the consent of Nations , Counsels , and succession of many Ages , with disdaineful demands , where our Church was before Luther ; and whether we esteemed all our Forefathers so many ages past to bee condemned , who liued and died all in the faith and Communion of the Church of Rome ? with such speeches largely amplified and cunningly coloured , amongst a simple people ; as sheepe for the most part without shepheards ; I found by experience and credible information , that not onely many altogether ignorant were corrupted , but euen diuers instable soules , who had shewed some beginnings of learning , and louing the way of truth , were rather quite alienated therefrom , or cast in dangerous doubts : so as oftner then once , men otherwaies well stablished , haue euen with sollicitude both by word and writ required of mee how the hearts of the weake might be staied against these obiections . To whome as both waies , in the time , I gaue satisfaction , so , it hasted me to the publike interpretation of this prophecie : whereby euen the most simple , not wilfully shutting their eies against an ingyring light , may cleerely see how that whereof they glory most , turneth most to their shame , and that , wherwith they most reproch our Church speaketh strongly for vs . If this seemeth strange to any , they haue not yet learned , that , as great is the mistery of godlinesse , so also is that of iniquitie : and to know the hid secrets of either , none euer shall attaine : who by the heauenly light of the word , goeth not higher then all authority , multitude , custome , or consent of men . Now , albeit , at first , I minded nothing lesse then to write any further thereon , but some short note for mine owne vse , of such things wherein my iudgement did vary from most part , or all enterpreters : yet cloied with continuall requests to write at large , what by voice I deliuered , I was induced to take a mid course , neither to write so shortly as I intended , nor at such length as they required : but so , as who were my auditours , reading it , might remember what further they had heard , and others might so farre bee set in way , as by their owne easie paines , to find out what for more cleere explication is requisit . I haue labored , though not so farre as my owne disposition would haue carried mee , yet so farre as giuing to suiters some contentment I could , to be short , and not burthen the reader with any tedious discourse of commonly knowne matter .

On the first three Chapters to busie my selfe , except so farre as was necessary for coupling them with the rest of the prophecy . I thought it needlesse : so much being already written thereon , and by so many both learned and godly men . Whose trauels on the rest of this prophecie , by this my doing , I am so farre from either despising or condemning , that from my heart I both reuerence their godly and learned labours , and sincerely acknowledge my selfe to haue beene much helped thereby . But this being such a worke , as wherein one wrong stich will carry thorow all the seame a sensible errour , and being of such inestimable worth , as meriteth still to be wrought on , till , in whole and each part , it keepe sentence , I haue , hereto , in all singlensse and sound affection contributed my sparkle : expecting and hartily wishing others after me to doe the like , for more and more cleere light , till the Whore bee euidently set naked before the eies of all the World , and the Bride , in her vpright beauty , be discerned of all men . Vse it therefore with such heart , as thou hast it of me : praising God for that which is cleerely from him , and in Christian compassion , excusing what is of mine infirmitie .

Before the opening whereof to a particular manifestation of the euils therein ( for more cleering of the matter , and , in a diuine artifice , to imply that this second mischiefe was hatching euen in time of the first sorrowes ) a summary view of the whole sequell thereof is giuen : in a deadlie euill to ouergoe all the face of the visible Church , worship and professors therein . Against which the care of Christ for preseruing his true Church is shewed , and her double condition first vnder and in time of the mischiefe , by a mystical number of sealed ones , and of whome , and how that number is made vp , to the ninth verse : and secondly her condition victorius ouer the euill , as the same condition is offered to Iohn his perception ; first by seeing and hearing : and secondly by information to the end of the seuenth Chapter .

For particular explication of that which in the seuenth Chapter was summarily portended , the seuenth Seale is opened , and yeeldeth seuen Trumpets , as also many signes giuen of diuers degrees of iudgements , whereby God was , as it were , to charge vpon the World : these in comparison are lighter or heauier . The first foure are lighter : first through cold showers of selfeloue and fierie contention , mixed with crueltie in the visible Church , followeth a destruction , in part , of true spirituall life and religion both in weake , and in such as appeared strong Christians . Secondly through the fire of ambition amongst Church-men , a corruption , in part , of the common worship and a death in superstition . Thirdly through hereticall prauity , arising vpon despitefull pride , bitternesse , and presumption of great knowledge , the very grounds , and chiefe Doctours are poisonablie infected to the death of many therein . Fourthly darke ignorance , and a decay in part of true light and learning , both in diuine and humane sciences , Chapter 8.

Now these foure lighter euils were but alse many steppes to the fift , and first of three great woes in the fift Trumpet . When not in part onely , but through the fall of great Pastours from Heauen to the loue of the Earth : and thus , losing the Key of knowledge and of the Kingdome of Heauen , and becomming Ministers of the Keyes of darkenesse and of Gehenna ; so great a smoake ouergoeth the whole face of the visible Church , as all light therein is eclipsed . And out of this darkenesse ariseth that huge mischief of Antichrist , in the abominable army & hellish head thereof , for punishment whereof ( if so be they could haue beene cured ) the Mahometan armies are loosed from the East : after they had beene a space in God his patience tied vp from their first ranging , now againe with Turkish furie to make desolate both by sword and poysonable doctrine the third part of the Earth . This sixth euill and second great woe working no repentance , but rather further induration in Antichristian workes Chap. 9.

A preparation is for Antichrist his full , recurelesse , certaine , and neere approaching ouerthrow . Christ , in a sort , returning with the weapon of his warfare , the little booke now open , and the bold and powerfull preaching thereof : setting thereto fit instruments : who , by diligent study of scriptures are inabl●d to preach the Gospell widelie Chap. 10.

And being instructed with faculty thereto , by assistance of Christ they apply the right rule of examination , and thereby find that Antichrist hath long obteined the place and title of the visible Church . The true Church all the while larking within the compasse thereof : and being secretly intertained with a hid but powerfull dispensation of grace : by few , vnknowne , and albeit afflicted Ministers yet preaching long without great bloodshed : till at ●ength Antichrist perceiuing them to apply the rule , they are for a space cruelly murthered and barbarously intreated , euen with applause , thorowout all Antichrist his domination , but God stirring vp others in the same spirit , who vigorously oppose themselues , a visible separation by diuine warrant , is made from Antichrist his fellowship and contagion : feare taketh him and his followers : great commotions ensue thereupon : and his Kingdome is in a part weakened . This farre preparation and beginnings of his fall hauing wrought on euen in the height of the sixth euill and second great woe vpon men of the Earth : then the seuenth Trumpet soundeth to his vtter fall , by seuen Vials which it yeeldeth of the last Wrath. The summary effect whereof ( in a preconceiued ioy vpon the signe giuen ) is in a gratulatory song of the Church denounced in the end of the 11. Chapter .

Before the particular explication whereof ( for more cleering the reason of so huge a ioy of the Church , and the equitie of so determinate a iudgement against the enemies ) according to that cleere sight which the Tabernacle of Testimony now opened in Heauen yeeldeth to God his seruants of the enemies and their dealings , a large narration thereof is incerted : and thereafter their great and iust destruction ( summarily aboue denounced ) is exponed at length . Both which parts of story the holy Ghost setteth forth vnder the names of two great signes seene in Heauen . The first in the 12. 13. and 14. Chapters , the other to the end of the narration .

The first signe is double , in the party assailed , and the assailer : the assailed party is the Church , in her first seed , and in her seed of succeeding times . The assailing enemy against bo●h , is the Diuell that old Serpent , but in different manner . Against the Primitiue Church or first seed , directly , in open rage , by his instruments thereof the Roman Emperors : first labouring to keepe downe the Church from rising : next cruelly persecuting her being raised : third● , being restrained from open persecution , through that protection the Church got by Constantine the Great . Whereby as by wings she was freed from his open rage , labouring to drowne her by that inundation of barbarous Nations , which , neuerthelesse in God his wise disposing prouidence , turned to the defacing of that persecuting Empire . Yet so , as , in the time the true Church , by degrees , passed to the Wildernesse ( whereto the wings gaue occasion ) and lurking there , was fed , as was Israel and Elias : no more any true visible face thereof appearing , then those three yeeres and an halfe of famin in the daies of Elias : or the same space , when Antiochus Epiphanes abolished the daily sacrifice , and set vp the abomination of desolation in place therof . Ch. 12.

Satan highly incensed for his misgiuing endeuors against the first seed , tak th occasion of this flight of the Church to the Wildernes , to bring in roome the Beast of his working and authority , by him to make warre against the Church in her seed of succeeding times . This Beast is the same kingdom of Rome : but vnder the pontificality , by lying signes & wonders , and false pretence of Christ his power , so bewitching the world , as , through voluntary submission of the ●en of the earth thus deceiued , the kingdome of Rome , vnder it , recouereth that ancient glory , lustre , estimation & subiection of Prouinces , which it had lost in the deadly wound it got in the fall of Caesars , all the earth wondering and following the Beast . Chap. 13.

All the time of this preuailing euill , euen in the greatest height thereof , Christ had still his true Church first lurking ; and albeit not perceptible to the world , yet inioying the presence of her head , hauing powerfull and plentifull dispensation of grace from him , and worshipping him heartily and truly . Secondly , by degrees breaking out , and contesting with Antichrist in great suffering and much bloodshed , to the 14. verse of the 14. Chapter . Where the Story falling in againe to the same point of time and matter , whereat ( for incerting this interiected narration ) at blowing of the seuenth Trumpet Chap. 11. it had left off : what , there , in a gratulatory song was summarily denounced , the summary execution thereof is here propounded ( so to bring in the large narration of the effect of the seuenth Trumpet in the seuen Vials thereof ) to the end of the 14 Chapter .

This summary proposition is at length handled in the 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. and 20. Chapters : and thereupon the gracefull estate of the Church shewed Chap. 21. and 22. And this whole matter is that other great signe seene in heauen : hauing the greatnesse of the errand , and the disposing of the instruments for execution thereof , Chap. 15.

The execution in seuen degrees : first by discouerie of the filthinesse and hypocrisie of the Beast his characterized followers , their persons are despised . Secondly , their common worship becommeth ahominable . Thirdly , euen their grounds and chiefe Doctors are seen corrupted & deadly : and therewith in God his iustice , because they had been bloudy murtherers of the Saints , they in their course get bloud to drinke . Fourthly , the still waxing light of the Gospell , as the Sunne discouering their darke works , burneth them vp with indignation and despite . 5. Thus Antichrist his kingdome becommeth contemptible , losing much of the wonted lustre and magnificence ▪ to the great torment of their minds , they euen gnawing their tongues for sorrow . Sixthly , Peoples , tongues , and Nations falling from the obedience thereof , it is left naked and weake : whereby a way is prepared for the Esterne kingdomes , and most specially the Iewes sparsed amongst them , to come into the obedience of faith . In which perilous case of their kingdome the Dragon , Beast , and false Prophet bestirre themselues , and iointly bend their whole malice , power , and deceit by their emissarie false Teachers , to seduce the Kings of the earth in their quarrell against the true Church . But for such a mighty foile to both the seducers and the seduced , as shall make at length the long blinded Iewes , turning to the faith , to concelebrate the victory . 7. This miserable euent in the enemies , prognosticated against all their busie indeauors in the sixt Viall , is now in the seuenth fully executed , with so strange a commotion , alteration and ouerturning of the state of the earth , by so vncouth plagues , as was not since the beginning of the world . At all which notwithstanding , that Antichristian body , deuoted to destruction , still obstinately blasphemeth . Chap. 16.

This so huge a destruction , so summarily in the seuenth Viall deliuered , is henceforth more largely and cleerely exponed , according to that grouth of light which that time shall bring with it , laying open to the view of the Earth , the parties destroied , and the manner , measure , and euents of their ouerthrow . These are , the Whoore , Chap. 17. and 18. The Beast and false Prophet Chap. 19 and the Dragon ( for an absolute victorie ) Chapter 20. Of the Whoore is shewed , who shee is , and by whom shee shall be destroied : The Whore is the City of Rome borne vp to be a Lady of Kingdomes , and a mother harlot corrupting the Earth with spirituall fornication , by the pontificality the eight and last sort of soueraigne heads ouer-ruling that state , and with whom it shall fall for euer . Her destruction shall bee by these selfe same Kingdomes and States , who , before deceaued with her , had beene speciall props of Antichrist his power . but at last espying the abhominations thereof , fall from him and become instruments of God his iust indignation against the Whore Chap. 17.

The greatnes , certainly , instant performance , & equitie of her irreparable ruin , is Rhetorically amplified , Chapter 18.

Whereupon , and the conioined fall of Antichrist her aduancer , by the sword of his mouth who iudgeth and fighteth righteously , whose name is that word of God , is ministred to the Church such matter of ioyfull praise as stirreth also at length ( God powerfully turning their hearts ) the Iewes to ioine in the concelebration of the same victory , Chap. 19.

The Dragon , Satan , who by Constantine his conuersion and Christianity by lawes established , had beene bound vp , from open rage , a thousand yeeres , ( all which time , howsoeuer the most part of the World , through Antichrist his preuailing deceit , were dead in superstition and blindnes , yet the true Church , who receiued not his character , liued the life of God , being partakers of the first resurrection , and Christian religion was in account ) is therefore againe let loose to practice open cruelty ; and thereto , stirreth all his forces from all quarters . But yet by the power of the Gospell preuailing , maugre all his endeauours , the rest of men who haue long laien dead in blindnes and error , rise also the first resurrection : there is a new face of a world , all enemies being so ouerthrowen , as the Church hath a most gracefull and quiet state , for that Satan is now taken againe this second time , and so as hee neuer getteth any liberty hereafter , either by errour to deceiue , or persecution to disturbe the Church her quiet ; hee being now not onely bound vp for a thousand yeeres as that first , but so as his destruction now begunne holdeth on till that full point it shall haue in the last iudgement , and the Church her raigne hereupon shall accordingly , not be for a thousand yeeres onely , as at the first , but for euermore ; hauing now performed in her and to her whatsoeuer rested ( foretold by the Prophets ) vnaccomplished for her gracefull and quiet state and her enemies full destruction here ; and , in that , the mystery of God is fulfilled : shee hauing no more to expect but the comming of her Lord for translating her to glory .

From the sixth verse of the 22. Chap. is the conclusion of the Booke , wherein , for procuring to this prophecie due regard and carefull obseruation , it is commended from the truth and fidelity of the matter which is from God by a glorious dispensation , and ministry deseruing credit , from the neere approaching performance of things prophecied , and from the perfection thereof , in this , that it closeth vp the Canon : so as no more is to be expected either for light or manners , but hearts to be erected in earnest wish and attentiue expectation of our Lord his comming . Euen so come Lord Iesus .