ing to his great commandment. And let us always be fure of this, that the more fervent and zealous we are in religious duties, the more familiar acquaintance we fhall find with God, and he will at all times be the more open-hearted unto us, and will hide nothing from us that may be for his glory, and our good. For fuch as are much in heavenly contemplation, he doth reckon not amongit his fervants, but amongst his dearest friends, to whom he will make known all things that he hath heard of the Father, John xv. 15.

But now let us proceed to the third circumftance. The third circumstance is the place where John received this prophecy, and that is fet down to be the island of Patmos, which, as the geographers write, is a little defert land lying in the Egean fea, wherein it is reported that John the apoftle was banifhed by the emperor Domitian, about the year of our Lord 96, and there received, and wrote this book of the Revelation, where note by the way, that there is no place fo obfcure or vaft, wherein a godly mind may not afpire up unto hea ven, and receive a greater largenefs of fu pernatural things; for Daniel in prifon, Peter in a tanner's houfe, Paul in a broken fhip received a fuper-abundant measure of grace more to be esteemed than all the gold

of India.

Some write, that this ifland of Patmos, is accounted among the islands. called Sporados, which lie over against Afia, and the city of Ephefus, and was in fight both of Europe, and Africa; fo that it feemed to be as it were a middle feat or holy chair, out of which Chrift preached by John from heaven to the whole world. And indeed the councils of God are wonderful, and his goodnefs unfpeakable, which revealeth fo great myfteries to his faithful, as it were out of the Romish pri fon, and Babylonifh captivity.

Moreover, John declareth the cause of his coming into the fame ifland; for he faith,. He was there for the word of God, and the teftimony of Jefus Chrift, that is, for the preaching and conftant profeffion of the gofpel of Chrift.

Hiftory reports, that John was appre hended in Asia, and by the foldiers led to Rome, that he might plead his caufe before the emperor Domitian,. who moft favagely and cruelly condemned the innocent, and caufed him to be put into a caldron of hot boiling oil, out of which when he by miraculous providence escaped without harm, he was carried and conveyed into the island of Patmos. "

But immediately after John's banishment, God met well enough with this perfecuting

D.

emperor Domitian. For in the fifteenth year of his reign he was cruelly and most thamefully murdered by his own fervants. And thus much for the third circumftance.

Now it followeth to fpeak of the fourth circumftance, which is, the perfons to whom this prophecy is written, and that is fet down in the firft chapter and first verse, to be all the fervants of God. As many therefore as be the fervants of God, muft attended unto this book, hear it, read it, and remember it, for to all fuch it is dedicated by the Holy Ghoft, to all fuch it be longeth, for all fuch it is written and re

corded.

Some do falfely and foolifhly imagine, that it was given only to John, and that it might likewife be given to fome special men, as to fome great fcholars or deep divines, which could tell how to use it, and now to wield it. But we fee how grofsly they err; for the Holy Ghost faith, it bebelongeth to all the fervants of God. And moreover, John is willed and commanded to write all the things which he faw in fundry vifions in a book together, and to fend it to the feven churches which is in Afia, Rev. i. 11. becaufe the Lord would have it remain in perfect record unto the ufe of the whole church, both that the church might have the cuftody of this book, and

alfo that it might be a faithful witnefs unto the end of the world, that this book was written and penned by John the apostle, of whofe truth and fincerity the church had fufficient experience.

True it is indeed that there are but seven churches named, but, under thefe feven churches all others are comprehended. It had been an infinite matter to reckon up all the particular churches which were then in the world and to have opened their feveral eftates: therefore under thefe feven churches of Afia, and their particular and feveral eftates, the ftate of the univerfal church militant is laid open. I conclude therefore that the whole doctrine of St. John's Revelation, appertaineth to the univerfal church of Chrift throughout all the world, and in all times and ages, fince it was written and recorded. And that as all fcripture is written for our inftruction and comfort, Rom. xv. 4. and as all fcripture is given by divine infpiration, is profitable to teach and convince, &c. 2 Tit. iii. 16. fo this book of the Revelation is written for the fpecial comfort and inftruction of the church in these last days. And fo I do conclude this fourth point. The firft circumftantial point is, the end and ufe of this prophecy, which is to publish and blaze abroad the things which muft fhortly come

to pafs, that is, all things prophefied in this book, and to be fulfilled even to the end of the world, and whereas he faith, that thefe things must come to pafs, Rev.. i. 1. he gives us to understand how great the ftableness, and affuredness of God's determination is. For look what things are fore-appointed by God's determinate purpofe, they are altogether unchangeable: the Lord is God, and he is not changed, Malachi iii. 6. And he faith,' 'My determination fhall ftand,' And Chrift faith, Heaven and earth fhall pass away,' &c. Matth. xxiv. 35. It is therefore most certain, that every particular thing contained in this prophecy, fhall be fulfilled in God's appointed time. For God hath dif clofed thefe things to his Son Chrift, not to the end he fhould fhut them up again in himfelf, but that he fhould fhow them forth to the godly, that the whole church might fare the better by them. It doth then become us all to inquire and fearch into these things which muft fhortly come to pafs, that thereby we may be strengthened and comforted against all future dangers.

And Chrift faith, Behold I come fhortly: bleffed is he that keepeth the words of the prophefy,' &c. Rev. xxii. 7. But how fhall we keep them except we know them? And how fhall we know them