St. John, in the conclufion of the laft chapter, having touched upon the corruption of the western church, proceeds now to deliver fome prophecies relating to this lamentable event. But before he enters upon this subject, he (and the church in him) is prepared for it by an auguft and confolatory vifion. Another mighty angel came down from heaven, (ver. 1.) described fomewhat like the angel in the three laft chapters of Daniel, and in the first chapter of the Revelation. He had in his hand (ver. 2.) a little book, Bibλapidov a little book or codicil different from the Belov or book mentioned before: and it was open, that all men might freely read and confider it. It was indeed a codicil to the larger book, and properly cometh under the fixth trumpet, to defcribe the ftate of the wef tern church after the description of the state of the eastern and this is with good reafon made a feparate and diftinct prophecy, on account of the importance of the matter, as well as for engaging the greater attention. He fet his right foot upon the fea, and his left foot on the earth, to fhow the extent of his power and commiffion: and when he had cried aloud, (ver. 3.) Seven thunders uttered their voices. St. John would have written down (ver. 4.) thofe things which the feven thunders uttered, but was forbidden to do do it. As we know not the fubjects of the. feven thunders, fo neither can we know the reasons, for fuppreffing them: but it may be conceived, that fome things might be proper to be revealed to the apoftle, and yet not to be communicated to the church. By thefe feven thunders, (6) Vitringa understands the feven great croifades or expeditions of the western Chriftians for the conqueft of the holy land, and Daubuz the feven king-. doms which received and established the proteftant reformation by law. But doth it not favor rather of vanity and prefumption than of knowlege and wisdom, to pretend to conjecture what they are, when the Holy Spirit hath pur-, pofely concealed them? Then the angel (ver., 5, 6, 7.) lifted up his hand to heaven, like the, angel in Daniel, (XII. 7.) and fware by him that liveth for ever and ever, the great creator of all things, dri Xpovos un sai si, that the time shall not be yet, but it shall be in the days of the seventh trumpet, that the mystery of God fhall be finished, and the glorious ftate of his church be perfected, agreeably to the good things which he hath promifed, s euntyenice, to his fervants the ευη γελισέ, prophets. This is faid for the confolation of Christians, that tho' the little book defcribes the (6) Vitring, in locum. p. 431. Daubuz. p. 469. calamities (-) Mr. calamities of the western church, yet they fhall all have a happy period under the seventh trumpet. St. John is then ordered (ver. 8, 9, 10.) to eat the little book, as Ezekiel (III. 3.) did upon a like occafion: and he ate it up; he thoroughly confidered, and digefted it; and found it to be, as he was informed it would be, fweet as honey in his mouth, but bitter in his ftomach. The knowlege of future things at firft was pleafant, but the fad contents of the little book afterwards filled his foul with forrow. But these contents were not to be fealed up like those of the feven thunders; this little book was to be published (ver. 11.) as well as the larger book of the Apocalyps; and as it concerned kings and nations, fo it was to be made public for their use and information. I CHA P. XI. AND there was given me a reed like unto a rod and the angel ftood, faying, Rife, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2 But the court which is without the temple, leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles and the holy city fhail they tread under foot forty and two months. 3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophefy a thoufand two hundred and threefcore days clothed in fackcloth. 4 These are the two olive-trees, and the two candlesticks ftanding before the God of the earth. 5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he muft in this manner be killed. 6 These have power to fhut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to fmite the earth with all plagues as often as they will. 7 And when they fhall have finished their teftimony, the beaft that afcendeth out of the bottomlefs pit, fhall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the ftreet of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where alfo our Lord was crucified. 9 And they of the people, and kindreds, and tongues, and nations, fhall fee their dead bodies three days and a half, and fhall not fuffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 10 And they that dwell upon the earth fhall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. 11 And after three days and an half, the fpirit of life from God entered into them: and they stood upon their feet, and great fear fell upon them which faw them. 1 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven, faying unto them, Come up hither. And they afcended up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies beheld them. 13 And the fame hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were flain of men feven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past, and behold, the third woe cometh quickly. In the former part of this chapter, from the first verse to the fourteenth, are exhibited the contents of this little book. St. John is commanded (ver. 1.) to measure the inner court, the |