C A P.15. ifkvelation ofthe Apocalypfe. 5O9 It is this ambitiòn that will not fuffer either the preachingof the Word to have fo freepaffage as it ought to have, or the wicked lives ofmen to be corrected and fiippreffed with that rod and bridle of holy difcipline, which being taken away, men have liberty ranted thein,at.leaft they may take it,to be licentious,and to cömit all kindof notorious crimes, that do overthrow trueChriftian pietv.Such a fire as thisflyeth up ánddown throughout the whole reformed Church, which doth either confume the molt men, or is troublefome to the refs, while they ftrive to reftraine the force of it. Neither can there be any found quietnefie any where, becaufe this Great fire hath fuch power to live and todomifchiefe even in the middeft of the waters,. The which thing the Holy Ghoft loth diligently warn us of in thefe words,that no man might caft away the truth, and true Church, be- caufe of Contentions,and corruptions that are mingledwith and in it. For thankes be to our God, though this fire be mingled with our Sea, yet hevouchfafeth it to be glaffy as yet, that is, through-bright and thining, fo as we may behold through it, the moil comfortable grace of Salvation,purchafed forus by Chrift.Wecome fhort indeed of that Chriftian purity and fincerity, which ought to be amongft us, yet let us enjoy with gladneffe ofheartthis blefíingwhichwe have, earneftly ftriving with God by prayer, that he would vouchfafe happily and fpeedily to put that towhich is wanting. But we have caufe to feare that hee will take away thofe good things which he hath vouchfafed us already, fo outragious and innumerable are.our fumes , as we have (hewed in the particular Churches, Chap. 3. And thofe that hadgotten vi 3ory. Thusfar of the matter, the per- fons are the Conquerors in the reft ofthis verfe, and the harpers in the 3. verf. The Greek expreffeth this conqueft by an Hebraifine, thofe that overcome from orout ofthe Beaft, which particle inHe- brew is often conftrued with the verb toprevaile, and doth then frg- nifie a comparifon, as they Wereftronger from or ont of Lyons, that is then Lyons, a Sam. r, 23, So Pfal. 65. 4. and in the fame manner, . thofe that prevaile out of the Beaft, are fuch as prevaile over the Bea, hie Image, hùMark, and the member of hie name. Tilde things are rehearfed feverally,becaufe it fhouldbe a full and abfolute victo- ry. And yet the Ruff fhould remaine alive but for a little while longer. For they ílaou1d not only reject Antichrift hirnfelf, but they fhould alfoabhor every one ofhis Marks, yea moreover they &mid not endure to have themfelves to be once called by the T t t nurm- 1
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