CAP.2,1. A evelatíoìi ofthe Apocalypfe; 849 fectire our (elves, as ifno filch fearful'', judgement as this were threatned in theft words; and that becaufe this departing away of the firit heaven and earth may be underffood, not of the finals perishing of the truth a- mong the inhabitants of Europe, but of filch a renewing of all things amongthe Jews,as in reCpec'of theglory and gliftering whereof,whatfo- ever was excellent be;ore,may be laid to have been.paffed and.vanifl-ied away, when as the light of the Moyne flail be as the light ofthe Sun, and the li.oht of the Sun Thais be /'evenfold"even t `e. light of(even days,ancf the fern Jhall be abaJhed when toe LordJhall raion in Sion, a3 we heard before out ofthe Prophet"Efay; or toconclude,unleffe that have tome moment in it,that the fpirit fpeaketh Co exquifitely and circumfpealy, not faying that the former heavenand the former earth wentaway,but that the firft heavenand thefiril earthdeparted, as ifthefe words did not refpeet the gentiles at all,but the legali worship on!y,which a man may call the filft heaven by right,as which was inftituted by God himfelfin the firft place, and in the beginning of the world almaft; but the Chriftian People a-, mong the Gentiles, was.neither the.firft people, neither were the Rites which were obfervitd by them,the firft Ordinances that were delivered from heaven unto the Church.So that afterall this lifting of thefe words they feeme tobe taken in this meaning, as if it were faid, although this peopleof the Je wes,did thirff after their old Rites, and worship all the timeoftheir rele.` ion, and did make their brag of it in no obfcure man- ner,that the time would come one day,when they fhouldhave power gi- ven them,to exercife their former worthip freely after their old manner (which is the thing that we know they boaft of at this day alto) yet in this rtftoring Oftheirs they (hall-.fo wholy frame and apply themfelves. to theWillofGod,that they (hall willingly renounce their ancient en- (tomes ufedin the fervieeofGod, as which th..y lhall then acknowledge to have had their end in Clarift; and by this meanes they (hill make it plaine to all men,that thefide heavenand ea th,.w#aich theyhoped to fee againe, but all in roaine,was paft'and gone away for ever. This.laff inter- pretation ofthefe words feemeth to beof no final! force, fo a; t`,e refpeç} ofthe.order of thefirfi heaven and earth, is not between Gentiles and Ie*es,but only between theLegal and ChrifZian Ievves themfelves. My carefulneffe offatisfying themindsofmen that love the truth,hath made methus to fearch into every corner to the uttermoft of my power : Now I refer it to the judgement ofthe Chriftian Reader,which of thefe interpretations is chiefly tobeaffented unto. And the Sea Jball not be extant any more. This Sea is degenerate, and adúkterateDoarine.of corrupt teachers, which (ball have no place In.
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