750 4 velatïonof the Apocolypfe. CAP.t$. THE EXPOSITION. Verfe I. And after theft things I fiWan Angell defcending. We fee here howGod will make his admirable patience to be manifeft to all the world, whenhe goeth about the de(trudtion ofthe City of Rome ; for betides all the former warnings that he had given it, wci were fo many, and of fo many kindes fa ire and foule, he doth not come down toexecute his la(1 judgement againit it, but firfl he fen- deth three Angels, by whofe voice men might be admonifhed, to avoide the plague that was ruling inupon them.The firft oftliefe is an ccmmirg downfrom heaven; that is, fame excellent and worthy man,fuch an one as fhould come fuddenly,before he be loo- ked for, as thofe things doe, which flip down from Heaven ; thofe things which fpring up amongus on earth, do yeeld fomefhew and tigne ofthemfelves, before they grow to their ripeneífe; but thofe that come from Heaven, can beupon us, and in themiddeft ofas in a moment, fo as we can perceive no fore- fight or fore-knowledge ofthem afore-hand. So in the t o Chapter, An e íngell came downe fromHeaven, when as many (lout Patrons of the truth arofe on fud- den, of which there was no iìtfpicion before. And thisfelfefame thing is confirmed by other places, which may be fetched out of this Interpretation. This Angell feemeth to be one that íha1l be fud- denly converted to the Truth, who (hall thereby make it manifell to all wren, that he commeth downe from Heaven. Such was that dcfcending in the tenth Chapter, where men that had been noufled long in fuperfticion, were made the nurfelings ofthe truth and true piety on a fudd.en. This e anyeli bath great poWer ; But to what end ? For there is no worthyexploit ofhis fpokenof; it may be that this is he, to whofecharge the demolifhing of this Throne is com- mitted ; who !hall not fo much bringa new prophefie touching the ruineof Babylon, ashe (hall [hew himfelf to beaddreffed tóput that matter in ex.cution, which the Oracles of God had often foretold, that it Ihould be. Thirdly, the earth Mu madebright Withhis glory, becaufe even they who are flrangers from the true Church , fhall honour and admire him for the lulre ofhis piety, the notable Maje(ly that [hall Thine forth in him,heß'all have a goodreport and teftimonyfrom them that be withottr,as the Apoftle fpeaketh, a Tim.3.:7.The like lignification of thefe words,which we have feen to be made in the former Chap- ters,helpeth us toknow what manner ofAngell this fhall be, though
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