C A P.11. 1@elationoftbe Apocalypfe. 3 61 thendearoy the world with fire, for the daily wrongs that it offer- eth them ? The injury offered unto them is twofold , one more grie- vous, as which is advifedly, andwithopen either forceor fraud of- fered. Theother upon errour and unadvifedly , and therefore ligh- ter; They feem then to have put on fackcloth, becaufe ofthis fecond kinde,and yet in the mean time they did continually take revenge of their more deadly enemieswith this devouring fire.Itis faid togo out of their mouth , becaufe this or fuch like judgement is execntedby their denouncing, and upon their prayers. For even as of old time,at the threatningof Mafes , fire cameoutfrom theLord , andconfromed the tWo hundredandfifty men , that made an infurrellion again) him With Korah, Num. 16. Or, zu fire came down from heaven at the prayers of Eked , and took aWay the Captain , andhis fifty , Which Ahaziah fent to mill him, 2 Kings i. After the fame manner doth God defend thefe Prophets , as he did thofeold ones ; yea he doth fomuch the more notably provide for thefe, by howmuch more ac- count he maketh of his truth, and of the whole affemblies of the Saints, thenof particular perfons. The Scriptures therefore while they dodenounce moff certain punifhments againft all impiety and tranfgrefsion, do as it were blow fire out of their mouth, Where- with they do utterly confiime the impenitent ; For it cannot be, that one tittle oftheWord of God fbould fall to the around Matth. 24. 35. But they do fpecially vomit out fire again) thofe that Will hurt them, that is, who dare corrupt their moil pure truth with the patched inventions ofmen,threatning thus,that If any man Will adde unto this prophecie, GodWill caft upon him the plagues Written in this Book, Chap. 22. i 8, 19. Not that they do effeern the authority of this Bookof the Revelationalone, to be more holy and great then ofthe other Books,the contempt whereof they will havepunilhed fo grievoufly;But they will have the like regard to be had of the whole truth, that is infpired fromGod ; as, re not adde unto this Word, Which I(peak untoyou,,rreitherfball ye take oszht from it, Dent. 4. i. Do not adde ought to his Words, leaf. thou be reproved, andfound a liar, Prov..3o.l-fencecame that-horribledcfruifion,that was madeofdeals Priets of old, i Kings 18. 4o. Kings io, 15. Hence was it that fo many molt grievous calamities did mill upon the world, during all the time of thefe 42. moneths, and that becaufe nothing in a manner was taughr,or done, according to the-truemeaning of theScriptures, but the world would be wholly wife, and inftruFted onely out of and by traditions; as fior the truth of God, they did either al- together
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=