And the eye of reason being behind, it did discerni and see how the matters went in this world.

For tho' it be said they were full of eyes, yet they had but two eyes apiece, that is, the eye of faith, and the eye of reason. But neither of these two eyes did offend them, as it doth many thousands now a-days.

And because the seed of faith may not stumble at this interpretation, because I say there were but two eyes, when as John saith they were full of eyes.

You may remember that I have written before concerning the seven spirits of God, and yet but one spirit.

Only that one spirit had seven several workings in the seven churches of Asia.

So likewise these beasts having but two eyes, yet they were full of discerning both of spiritual and temporal matters.

For the eye of faith did see up into heaven, and the glory thereof; and the eye of reason did see the utmost parts of this world here below.

For these two eyes did see as much as could be seen; if they had had forty eyes, they could have

seen no more.

But in regard they did see so much, they are said by the revelation of the spirit, that they were full of eyes before and behind, &c.

Again it is said, That these four beasts rest not day and night, saying Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

That is, they cease not to give glory, honour, and thanks to him that sate on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever.

I would

I would have the seed of faith to observe, that these four beasts give glory and honour unto Christ here, as he was God the Father.

As Isaiah vi. 3, where it is said, And one cryed one to another, and said, holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory.

Likewise the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sate on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour, and power, for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and. were created, Revelations iv. 10. 11.

Here you may see that the four beasts and the four and twenty elders give glory unto Christ the only God, as he was the Creator, and in the condition of the Father.

He being the Lord Almighty, the Lord of Hosts, the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last; he that liveth for ever and ever, in that death could not keep him under, as aforesaid.

But in chap. v. the four and twenty elders give glory unto this Christ, the only God, as he is a Son, and hath redeemed' them, and so doth the four beasts also.

And as for the four and twenty elders, I shall say nothing of them here, because I have spoken of them in the Interpretation of the eleventh Chapter of the Revelation.

So I have given the interpretation of the chief things in chap. iv. of John's Revelation, I shall go unto chapter v. and give the interpretation of the chief things in that also.

IN

CHAP. XI.

N chap. v. verse 1, John saw in the right hand of him that sate on the throne, a book written within," and on the back side sealed with seven seals.

Why doth John say he saw in the right hand of him that sate upon the throne a book written within, and sealed on the back side with seven seals, when as he that sate on the throne was no other but God, the Creator of all things?

And Jesus Christ is he that created the world, and all things therein, as aforesaid.

And yet he that had the book in his right hand, was not to open the book, nor to loose the seals thereof.

The meaning is this, that Christ Jesus as he was God the Father, and Creator of all things, it was not his proper place and work to open the book with seven seals;

For it doth belong to him, as he is God the Redeemer.

Fór, as I said before, God did, and doth act according to the two-fold state and condition he was in.

So that he had the book of life in his right hand, as he was God the Creator; but as he is God the Redeemer, he must take the book out of his own right hand, and open it, and loose the seals thereof.

For John in his vision did see Christ to sit upon

the

the throne, as he was God the Father, and the Creator.

Also in his vision he saw Christ sit upon the throne, as he was God the Son, and as he suffered death, and so redeemed mankind.

And in like manner he and the elders give thanks and praise unto him, as he is the Creator.

And sometimes they give thanks unto him all together, as he is the Redeemer.

Yet all but one God, however it doth seem by John's vision, as if there were two, when as it is spoken with relation to a two-fold state and condition in God.

But who can understand but the seed of faith?

Therefore I would not have the seed of faith to stumble at these sayings of John, which doth here and there speak as if there were two Gods.

But consider, he speaks it but by way of vision, and all visions can never be understood so clear and plain as interpretation is.

For I am certain that John did believe in no other God but one, even Jesus Christ the only wise God, blessed for ever and ever, though spoken of with relation to a two-fold condition, as I have shewed before.

This book which was in Christ's right hand, as he was God the Father, I declare it was the book of life, wherein was written the names of all the elect seed of all the seven churches of Asia, and of all the elect seed of the seven churches of Europe.

I

say, the elect seed are all written in that book of life which is in Christ's right hand, and the seven

seals on the back side of this book, they were the seven visible churches of Asia.

That is, they were sealed up by the doctrine and faith of the gospel; they received the holy spirit of promise, whereby they were sealed in their souls with the holy spirit of promise, that they were redeemed unto eternal happiness, by the blood of the Lamb.

And this I say, that the witness of the spirit of faith, in the conscience here in mortality, it is but a sealing up to the day of glory.

Therefore what assurance, witness, or sealing soever a man hath in his soul, in this life, it is called by the Revelation of John, but a seal on the back sidę of the book of life.

For those seven churches of Asia were sealed with the holy spirit of promise, in that they believed the doctrine of Christ's death and resurrection, and so they were sealed in their hearts with the assurance of eternal life, their names being written within the book of life.

And because there were seven churches of Asia, which did truly believe, and were sealed in their souls with the assurance of everlasting life,

They are called seven seals on the back side of the book of life.

For all sealing of this side of death, it is called but sealing on the back side of the book of life.

For it is much like unto a book or letter, the matter and substance is within the letter or book, but the seal is without, or on the back side:

But he that breaketh open the seal of the letter or book, he seeth what is within.

So