Princes of the Empire, and twenty-four Imperial or free cities, ("so mightily grew the word of GOD, and prevailed!")-yet their further proceedings while in this corporate state, were not allowed to be the particular subjects of prophecy. When that state, indeed, came to be violently wrested from them, that event is most distinctly pointed out, as is also their political revival; but nothing, except the formation of the league itself, is noted antecedently to those events. "And when the seven thunders had uttered "their voices, I was about to write," says the Prophet; that is, what they had uttered: "but "I heard a Voice from the heaven, saying unto 66 me, Seal up the things which the seven thun"ders have spoken, and write them not." "The heaven," here spoken of, (for the face of the symbolical heaven is continually changing,) is emblematical of that political State of Protestant alliance, from which the seven thunders had proceeded; and therefore "a voice from the heaven," will denote the public sentiments of that State, as evidenced by its public proceedings. These had been of a character purely defensive; and they imperiously required, that the voices, which had proceeded from the seven thunders, should not be written, as any part of " the Revelation." The confederates had all, in accordance with the powerful persuasions of their mighty Leader, expressed their firm and unanimous resolution, of seceding from the Church of Rome; but little else was definitively settled either in principle or in practice; nor was the Protestant Cause so firmly established, as not to have much to dread, from the tremendous power, and implacable hatred, of its Popish adversaries; as subsequent events very plainly proved'. Besides, ten years had scarcely yet elapsed k since the Reformation had actually commenced; and it was consequently as yet in its infancy. There might be many things uttered, (as indeed we know there were,) during the first bursting forth of these States into Christian liberty, which were "not according to knowledge'," that sound knowledge, which might be afterwards acquired by experience: there might be many anticipations formed, from the surprising nature of the change they were undergoing, which could not be fully justified by the events: and therefore even Christian charity forbad, that these things should be written, as part of "the Revelation,” to whose great purpose, in fact, they would have been altogether irrelevant; nor was there to be i The Smalkaldic league itself, indeed, was so imperfect in its first formation, that it was found necessary to renew it no less than twice, before it held out the promise of any sufficient. protection or security. In the year 1546 it was again renewed; but soon after, in the war with the Emperor, it was weakened by the defection of some of its principal members. It was broken by the battle of Muhlberg; it was utterly annihilated by the decree of the Interim, on the 15th of May, 1548. See p. 1 Rom. x. 2. any thing expressed in the words of this prophecy, which might tend very greatly to discourage these worthy people, in the prosecution of that great and glorious enterprise, in which they were then engaging. At the same time, the eagerness of St. John to write what" the seven thunders" had uttered, is evidently designed to point out the intense interest and curiosity, which would be then excited in the Church of Christ, (of which he is frequently the representative,) by the passing events, which were so manifestly "the signs of that time." "The' LITTLE BOOK," however, by its various elucidations, by its collateral and supplemental scenes of prophecy, was graciously designed to develop the otherwise inscrutable scheme of Divine Providence; and to afford all the requisite satisfaction to every sincerely pious and inquiring mind. Ver. 5.-And the Angel, whom I saw standing upon the Sea and upon the Earth, lifted up his right hand towards the heaven, - m Ver. 6. And sware by Him that liveth for ever and ever, who created the heaven and the things that are therein, and the earth and the things that are therein, and the sea and the m το Ηρε τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ τὴν δεξιάν (Griesbach, which corresponds best, perhaps, with the ancient solemnity, of swearing by the sacred name of GOD. See Gen. xiv. 22. Deut. xxxii. 40. Ezek. xx. 5. Isaiah lxii. 8. But many copies omit δεξιάν. things that are therein, that delay shall be no longer; Ver. 7.-Except during the days of the voice of the seventh Angel, when he shall sound, and the mystery of GoD is to be completed, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. The preparations were soon to be made, for the sounding of the Seventh Trumpet; and it is here most solemnly announced, that that train of awful events, which shall complete the predicted mysterious dispensations of GOD in respect to his Church, shall be no longer retarded, than till the sounding of this trumpet. How impressively, then, is this part of the subject introduced, by the apparent impatience expressed by "the seven Thunders;" and by the prohibition laid upon the Prophet, to prevent his writing what those thunders had spoken! How well was it adapted to calm the disquietudes arising from the one; and to compensate for any disappointment occasioned by the other! For it shewed most distinctly, that what was then taking place, was only a preliminary step, in the arrangements of Divine Providence, towards the production of a more general and decisive good; and that no further delay would occur in bringing to pass this transcendent purpose, than till every means, and opportunity, for Reformation, had been granted to "the rest of the men "," which it was consistent with the Divine benevolence and justice to allow, and with the interests of rational creatures to require, but without success. : In the sublime form of asseveration, here adopted by the symbolical Angel, the Holy Spirit had evidently in view that, with which He had already inspired the Prophet Daniel, in describing the solemn affirmation of a former sacred messenger, in relation partly to the same great subject." And one said to the man clothed in 66 linen, who was upon the waters of the river, "How long shall it be to the end of these """wonders?' And I heard the man clothed in 6 linen, who was upon the waters of the river, "when he held up his right hand and his left "hand unto heaven, and sware by HIM THAT "LIVETH FOR EVER, that it shall be for a time, "" times, and an half; and, when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. 66 6 The wonders here spoken of are those prodigies of imposture, the spiritual dominion respectively of MOHAMMEDISM in the East, and of POPERY in the West; both of which, as I have already shewn, had their origin about the same time; and, as is here foretold, are destined to continue " Rev. ix. 20, 21. compared with xvi. 9. 11. • Dan. xii. 6, 7. and x. 4-6. P See Introduction, Sect. II. page 9. See p. 297-307. |