Revelat. ch.4. The Sibylline Oracles Rev. ch. 5. GOD is reprefented on his Throne, with the four metropolitan Bishops; the twenty-four Elders are the inferiour Clergy, as Governours of the inferiour Churches conftituted by the Apoftles in St. John's time: The Jewish Priests were divided into twenty-four parts. They have not any thing like this Vision, but speak thus of God and his Spirit : Non tremiti, fummumq; Deum (quo præside stati) CHRIST is reprefented as a Lamb flain; a feal'd Book of Prophecies is deliver'd to him. Here God the Father is feated in his Throne, the Son is represented by the Lamb, and the Holy Spirit by the feven Spirits, or feven Horns, and Eyes, because of its Power, and Providence, and feven spiritual Gifts. The Sibylline Concerning Chrift's Paffion: Oracles. Lib. I. Lib. 4. Sed manibus paffis commenfus cuncta, coronam Fixerit. The Sibyl attributes all her Prophecies to God: Ut que Hic mihi verberibus mentem quatit acribus intus, Christ Christ is represented fitting at God's right Hand: Eo veniet in nube æternus & ipfe Chriftus ad æternum, magno fplendore, bonifq; Here the Lamb opens the Seals; the four Rev. ch. 6. first are the Visions of the four Emperors, who will destroy the Jews; 1. Titus, 2. Domitian, 3. Trajan, 4. Adrian, who finish'd their Destruction in his War with Barchochebas. The fifth Seal fhews the Martyrs in a Vision flain, in the three firft Perfecutions under Nero, Domitian, and Trajan, crying for Vengeance on the Roman Perfecutors. The fixth Seal contains the Destruction of many idolatrous Emperors, Diocletian, Licinius, Maximinus, &c. by Conftantine, in the Day of God's Wrath. Syriam Romanus adibit Bellator, qui cum delubra cremaverit igni, This is the Prophecy concerning the Deftruction of the Romans: Debinc exiftent altera regna, Affidue, Regnis pereuntibus, ufq; prement que Concerning the Martyrs the Sibyl writes thus: N 4 Caftus Sibylline C racles, lib. Lib. I Rev. ch. 7. byll. Orac. 3. Caftus enim Chriftus ponet certamina justa, And in the beginning of this Age a Star ap- The four Angels holding the four Winds represent the peaceable time of the Church, and freedom from Perfecution under Conftantine, in which both the converted Jews and Gentiles fhould be united into one body. The several Tribes must be converted in the places of their difperfion. The great Multitudes are the Gentiles, in white Robes, with Palms in their Hands; these were Martyrs in the paft Perfecutions: And the greatest of all, Diocletian's, lately past. The Sealing of the Jews, is, their profeffion of Christianity, which makes them God's Servants, as if they had been mark'd in the Forehead. Thus the peaceable time of Conftantine is defcrib'd: Pax autem tranquilla Afiæ gradietur in ori. Nam bona Lex omnis Cali Stellantis ab oris, una, Qua nihil eft homini utilius, concordia fana. O Falix ceu vir, veniet qui tempus ad illud, Concerning the calling of the Gentiles, this is their Prophecy: Cum Cum lætum liquerit orbi Pa&tum Evangelii, cujus de nomine furget This contains the feventh Seal, with the Rev. ch. 8. feven Angels, as Heraulds of War, with their Trumpets. The first Trumpet introduces the Goths, represented by Hail, becaufe a Northern Nation: Their Cruelty by Blood; the Deftruction of Cities by Fire. The Cities are the Trees, and the Villages the Grafs. Rome was taken by the Goths 410. The fecond Trumpet introduces the Pyracy of the Vandals, and their plundering of Sicily and Rome, and the Sea-fights and Tempefts by which the Ships were destroy'd ann. 442. Thofe Vandal Pyrates infefted Sicily ann. 456; they take Rome, burn and plunder it for 14 days. The third Trumpet introduces the Huns into Italy, under Attila, ann. 453, and he fell upon the midland Cities, Aquileia, Vicentia, Verona, Milan, Ticinum. He is call'd a Star, because he was a great Commander; and his Cruelty is reprefented by Wormwood. The midland Cities are call'd the Rivers and Fountains, because built near them. The fourth Trumpet, brings Odoacer into Italy, and he forces Auguftulus to resign his Kingdom, ann. 476. Here the Emperor is the Sibyl. Orac. Lib. 3. the Sun, the Royal City Rome the Moon, the Stars the leffer Cities. 'Tis noted by Historians, that from the plundering of Rome by Genfericus,its Power and Majesty decay'd: He plunder'd the Temples, and carried away the Imperial Ornaments, and the confecrated Veffels brought to Rome by Titus. Ann. 546, Totilas the Goth took Rome, burnt the City, overthrew a third part of the Walls, and carried away the Citizens. The third part of the Sun, is the Glory of the Emperor's Name, which was not us'd in the Weft for 324 Years. Odoacer and his Succeffors were call'd only Kings of Italy. The third part of the Moon, is the third part of the Walls of the City, which were demolish'd: The time of this Defolation was short, and 'tis call'd in the Text, the third part of the Day and Night; for Belifarius in a small time rebuilt Rome, and call'd it Cittifeus. In the Second Book: Concuffor Terra ftatuarum franget amorem, In the 2d Part of the Second Book: Rigida pereundum forte, quod Ædem Bel |