Brightman - BS2823 B85 1644

C A P. 1. .R evelation of the Apocalypfe. Whichmufl. fsortly come to paffe : A declarationofwhat things the velation conlìfteth; not offuck as have been paft of old, but which are to be done hence forward. Now he faith the time is at hand, be- caufe the matters fhould be begun by andby, and fhould flow from thence witha perpetual! courfe without interruption , although the finall confummation fhould be afterward for many ages. Andhefî'nified, That is, Which he altofignified, When heha dent it by hise..ínyellunto-hisfervant john. The Inftrumentall caufes are re- corded, two in number, The Aneell, and ohn ; Chi ift ufetlt the An- gels Miniftery, not f becaufe he difdaineth himfelf to fpeake to us, (for heoffers himfelf tobe feenofus inhis own perfon in this Chapter)bnt becaufe , both our weaknefs cannot indure the beholding of fogreat a Majeflie, as appeareth by and by after in john, who falleth down deadat thefight ofhim, ver. i 7. As alfo that he might [hew that he bath ruleover Angels and all other things. 2. Who bath teftifled: Here johndeft ribeth himfelfcleerlyunto us, teaching, that he is no other thenthat ?ohn that was the Apcftie, ivhofe two certainand propernotes are here fet down, the one, lots teftimony that he gave to the Wordof God, and to 7efut Chrit ; the o- the r, his credit, at being an eye.witnefe ofthe things he tellif ed. I or Chrift out ofall his Difciples chofe Twelve, who might continually converfe together withhim , and might be prefent at all his miracles and conferences, as ofthe Which they fhouldbe Witnefes afterWards to the ends oftheearth, Aet.i.8. Bywhich double note Luke defcribeth the fame men writing thus ; who at the beginning Were themfelves be- holders andminifersaf the Word, .MI 1.2. By which Arguments allo fohn himfelfe challengeth authority to himfelfe elfwhere ; That Which Wehave heard, Which We have ieen Withour eyes, Which We have looked upon, andour hands have handledof that Word oflije ; x 1 ohn r. . Neither are the things Peen which are here remembred , the viii" ons of this Booke which follow,but the deeds and miracles of Chrift, arthedoing whereofyohn was once prefent. Met-wifehow could thole things have gotten credit to the writer, ( which is the only thing that the mentioning of thefe things in this place relpecleth) which never as yet was made known to the Church? Wherefore this John who wrote this Booke of the Revelation, was the Apoflc, as towhom agree thofe fame markes , by which the Apoft!cs were known, and famous before others in theChurch; neither is th°re any other John , towhom the fame things can be implved. And indeed with verygood confideration, did he thus declare himfelf, Peeing it did

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