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that had suffered persecution unto the death, which were slain under the altar, who suffered for the testimony of Jesus, whose names were written in the book of life.

And if this book should not have been opened, the condition of the saints would have been sad, which suffered all those things for the name of Jesus, who loved not their lives unto death, who had their names recorded in the book of life.

That at the general day of God's account, when he shall make up his jewels, their names being written in the book of life.

They may have that blessed reward which God did promise, and they did faithfully believe, and expect: But if none could have opened the book, neither in heaven nor in earth, what benefit would they have had for all their faith and sufferings?

This was enough to make John and all the other prophets and believers to weep also, if there should be none found neither in heaven nor in earth, that could open the book of life.

But in verse 5, one of the elders said unto John in the vision, Weep not, behold the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

One of the elders puts John in good comfort again; for there is one found now that can open the book, and read it also.

This is that lion, as Jacob prophesied of, Gen. lix. 9, as I have spoken of before.

This lion hath prevailed to open the book.
He openeth the book as he is God the Son,

And

And as he became a Son, he is called the lion of the tribe of Judah; and as he is God the Son, he is called a Lamb.

And as he was God the Son, he suffered death to redeem his people.

And as he is a Redeemer, he hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. That is, as he is the Redeemer, he hath power to raise every one of them again that are written in the book of life.

That is, all the seed of faith which are elected in the secret decree and council of God, as he was the Creator.

And as he is the Redeemer, he hath power to give life everlasting to every one of the seed of faith, who were written in the book of life.

And when John saw there was one found in heaven that could open the book, he gave over weeping.

For one of the elders had shewed him in the vision one that could open the book, and loose the seven seals thereof.

For in verse 6. John beheld, and lo in the midst of the throne, and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb, as it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.

This Lamb which John saw in the vision in the midst of the four beasts and the elders, it was Christ.

This I suppose all men that profess the scriptures will confess it.

Now observe that this Lamb which stood as it had been slain, it was no other than God himself;

For

For this Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes ; now these seven horns which the Lamb had, it was the faith and patience which the seven churches of Asia had, which did enable them to go through their sufferings with cheerfulness,

For when a man doth suffer for his faith in God patiently, and willingly, he destroyeth his enemy more in submitting unto suffering, or death itself, than if he should resist his enemy.

And this doth become a horn to push the persecutor's soul.

Thus it was with the seven churches of Asia, they were by their faith and patience made able to suffer persecution and death itself.

Which became as seven horns to push and gall the souls of their persecutors.

For though the horns of a Lamb doth but little harm to the outward flesh, yet when they get within the flesh they will gall very much.

That is, when the horn of suffering for righteousness gets into the mind and soul of the persecutor, it doth gall his soul exceedingly with the fear of eternal damnation.

This I think experience will shew the truth of it. For the Quakers and others who suffer for a lie, yet they think they suffer for truth; and the persecutors know no other but that they do suffer for truth.

Therefore the sufferings of the Quakers cannot choose but push and gall the persecutors consciences;

The Quakers being so stedfast and confident in their way, who do not fear their lives unto the death.

This suffering of theirs doth trouble and molest the minds of the civil powers; which doth shew that suffering in innocency, though for a lie, it will be a horn to push and gall the souls of the persecutors.

Then how much more would they push and gall if they suffered for truth?

That is, if their ministry which provoke them to meet contrary to the parliament's order were true, as the ministry of the seven churches of Asia were.

But it is not; therefore they suffer for a lie, yet the persecutor not knowing it, he is, and will be pushed and galled in his soul with the fear of eter nal death, for doing it.

Now

CHAP. XIII.

OW it is to be observed, that this Lamb that was slain had the seven horns, and the seven eyes. Now these seven horns, as I said before, which the Lamb had, they were the sufferings of the seven churches of Asia, in the ten persecutions.

According to that saying of John's Revelation, ii. 10. he giving an exhortation to the church in Smirna, that they should fear none of those things which they should suffer.

Behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison, ye may be tryed, and ye shall have tribulation ten

that

days.

Now this devil that shall cast some of them in prison, I shall shew what he is hereafter.

But as for the ten days tribulation which the I saints

saints should suffer, it was spoken with relation to the ten persecutions.

And they are called by the revelation of the spirit but ten days, when as it was at times a matter of ́three hundred years that their tribulation did last, which were the ten persecutions, yet called by the spirit, but ten days tribulation.

And the faith and patience which these seven churches of Asia had, being made able to suffer with chearfulness those ten days tribulation, it being the ten persecutions aforesaid, they are called the seven horns which the Lamb had;

For they by their sufferings, did push and gall the souls of the persecutors, as the Lamb himself did when he did suffer death:

For he did procure no less than eternal damnation to his persecutors, by his suffering of death, and being slain by them.

And these seven churches having their power and strength to suffer from Christ, the Lamb slain, they walked in his steps in the way of suffering; therefore called the seven horns of the Lamb, or the Lamb's seven horns.

And as for the seven eyes which the Lamb had, they are called the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

You may remember that I have shewed before what the seven spirits before the throne is. And these seven spirits which the Lamb hath, are the very same; that is, they are all but one spirit of Christ, only this one spirit doth operate and work seven several ways, to wit, in the seven churches of Asia.

Therefore

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