C A P . 2 t, ÂRervelation o f 'the Apòcalyple. sSg nów it beginneth tobe called great, when as the borders thereof be in- larged,and the multitude of her Citizens is grown to the full greatnef e thereof. It iball be the more glorious in this refpec`t, feeing a good thing paffeth it felf in goodneffe,the more common it is. But it is Holy betides, and comming down fromGod,of which thingswe have teen the reafon before. This is newly added to the defcription thereof,that it is faid,to be decked With the glory ofGod, that is, it bath the pretence of Godmani- fefled by a certain glorious brighrnefl , which Godgiveth it, as it is un- folded unto us in the things that follow. For this purpofe the Temple was filled with fmoke above,according to the old manner of Gods ap- pearing in the Tabernacle and in the Temple; but there [tall be ano- ther manner thereof at this time. God will give a more glorious thew and fignification ofhis Majefly, and glorious prefence, then ever he hath done before this, either among the Jewes, or among the Chri- fiian people. And then alto it is laid, that he bath afbining light,that like to a moil precious [tone, &c. What light is this ? Not any bright- nefhe whereby the City íhineth with its own purity, though yet it be moil bright and refplendent in it felt, but a light which is tranf-fnfed in- to it from another light. For fo the Greekword here tranílated /?inning, fignifieth, namely force fuch thing afcends forth light from it felf, as Me Sun, the A'Ioone, the Starres, a candle, a firebrand, &c. Therefore the Greek interpreters ufe this word, when they ttanflate thofe words, the tlt'ogreat lights, Gen. r. i6. and `Paul, when he faith, yehine as lights, Phi1.2. 15. The light then of the City is that which giveth light unto the City,which it taketh from out ofthe Light,but hath it not inherent of its own;whencethen is it mini[tred unto it ?from the very glory of God; for there things depend upon thofe words that went next before, as if it were faid, /fan, a City having the doryofGod, and thisglory of God, that is the light thereof,Was like to afrone that amofizprecious,&c.And the 23. verf. beneath helpeth us to this interpretation, where it is made the work ofGod,to inlighten this City. But why is the light made like to a rioíl precious hone, and not rather to the Sun, or to the Stars ? perhaps becaufe the lighx ofthe Sun burneth and blindeth the eyes , being more delightful! when it is looked upon indirettly,then when a man looketh wifhly and gazeth upon it; but the brightneffeofa !lone hath no hurt in r, yet muchdelight, and fo much the more, themore flay a man maketh in viewing it, and this doth notably refemble unto us the pleafantnele ofdivine knowledge. For this when it is but once looked upon as it appeareth in the beau- ty thereof, doth refrelb the minde of a man, when it waxethfaint, and Rrrrr it
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