$n .1Pevelatïon ofthe Ap.ocilypfe. C A r .11. becaufe the laft calamity of the wicked fhould, bee difpatched in a fhort time , and fhould not linger fo long as the former Trumpets did, but fhould fly rather with fwift wings. Then thefeventheiln elbleWWith his Trumpet; d-c. Namely , in the ycer,i558.Às theevents do make it plain;for then were thegreat voices given forth in heaven, that is,great joy arofe in the reformed Church; for that is the meaning ofHeaven, as we have Paid oftenbe fore; neither are thefe voices fuch terrible ones , as are joyned with the Thunder and lightnings that follow after in the endof this Chap- ter, and are meant elfewhere; but they are voices of joy and thankf giving, as the matter of them fheweth in the words next following. Whofe there voices are, it is gathered out ofthat that followeth up- on the voices in the next verfe,namely, that the Elders fell upon their faces, When they heard thofe voices, which they are wont todoe at the hearing .of the voices of thefour beafs,Chap.4.19,20.1hey are there- fore the Governours of the Churches, who go before their flocks,ftir- ring themup,&fhming them the way to magnifie the Lord for föme notable benefit;which thisfeventh TrumpetsMart brought unto them. Theyfhewwhat kind of benefit this is,when they fay, the ICing- dams ofthe World arebecomefubjefl to our Lord, and hù Cori l, &c. fiat what meaneth this.? Doth Chrif raign now firft of all ? Cer- tainly, he hath always raigned, even in the midft of his enemies. But now in his Kingdom robe efp,ecially extol-led withprayfes, When as he doth make his Majelty to be vifible after a fort in the, Kings thcmfelves,by fo framing and fathioning their hearts , that they are gladto caft down their Crowns and Scepters before his feet, and do give themfelves wholly to feek the advancing of his glory. And yet this is no ftrange thing neither. He raigned thus in ancient times by means of Conftantine,and other Godly Emperours. In there laft ages alfo,thofe renowned Princes ofJermany had re- fiored'this Kingdom ,ere while before this ; To whomGutavus the King-of SWevcl,and,&Chriftianw theKing ofDenmark may be added, who'intl:e veer, 1558.put down Anti- Chriflian impiety , and letup the Golpel in the roomof it. I anfwer, that this.is not the meaning of this Prophecy,that now the Kingdoms become Chriftian firft of all, but only that there fhould be a great addition made, at the farfl blaft of the Trsimpet; for then dò we chiefly fay that a man raigneth, when we fee the bounds ofhis kingdom to be enlarged : Andyet over and befides , this is a peculiar prerogative of this time, that this King- dom of; Chrifl, that began from this time to be great andmanifefl, flsould never be obfcured fo againe , as the former Kingdoms Were
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