So is it with Christ, he having the Book of life in his right hand, wherein the elect seed are written, and the assurance of faith which is the elect seed of the seven churches of Asia had, and as others have, are called the seven seals on the back side of the book of life.

Which no man in heaven nor in earth could open the book, nor loose the seals thereof, but Christ as he is God and Redeemer.

You that have faith may see what is meant by the book, and by the seven seals on the back side. &c.

IN

CHAP. XII.

N verse 2. John saw a strong angel, proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

And in verse 3. And no man in heaven, nor in earth; neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

I shall pass by these two verses, there being but little matter of concernment in them, but I shall go

to verse 4.

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open, and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

Here John was at a hard set in his vision, when he saw God have a book in his right hand, and no man in heaven, nor in earth could open it, nor read it.

There was cause enough for John to weep, because that book was the book of life, and many thousands and millions of souls were written in that book.

As he afterwards maketh mention of, and many

that

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 1 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 persecu tor'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 righteous ness 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 con

sciences;

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.

CHAP. XIII.

NOW 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, that ye may be tryed, and ye shall have tribulation ten 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