saints so pure and white, that they became a white horse for him to sit upon. So that they were able by their faith, in the blood of the Lamb, to suffer tribulation, and death itself.

So that they became more than conquerers; for he that suffereth persecution for the name of Jesus, he doth conquer more than he that doth persecute and put to death.

So likewise Christ that sate upon this white horse, as he was the Redeemer, he went forth conquering and to conquer. That is, he went forth in the power of faith, by which he created all things; he went forth to redeem the seed of Adam that was fallen under death, and the fear of eternal damnation.

So that death and hell got power over Adam and his seed, so that Christ riding upon the white horse of innocency, or the righteousness of faith, he went forth conquering and to conquer. That is, he went forth to die, to shed his most precious blood, and by his giving himself up unto death, he conquered over sin, death, and hell.

Therefore it is said in scripture, Oh death, I will be thy death, oh grave I will be thy victory! That is, he will get victory over the grave, as he did over death; for he destroyed death; in that death could not keep him under it for ever, in that he passed through it He got victory over the grave, in that the grave could not keep him inclosed in the earth.

So that he went forth conquering and to conquer, never leaving off until he had conquered all his enemies. That is to say, sin, death, devil, hell, the grave; these all were his enemies, and he hath con

quered

quered over them all, by his becoming flesh, and by his suffering of death upon the cross, as he was a Redeemer, or as he was God the Son; and these enemies did Christ which sate upon the white horse, go forth conquering, and to conquer, to redeem the seed of Adam.

And this is the true meaning what is meant by the white horse, and by him that sate thereon, and by his conquering and to conquer.

And the bow which he had, it signified the power he had to shoot and kill those spiritual enemies, which is sin, death, hell, and devil; which could no ways have been killed, but by giving his life up unto death, and by his passing through death, and quickening into life again, he killed death, sin, hell and the devil; with this dart of offering up his soul unto death, it being shot through sin, death, and hell, by the strength, or bow of the power of faith in God.

And as for the crown that was given him, it is spoken with relation to the Son-ship of God, as he is a Redeemer. So that the crown of Glory that he hath given him, it is attributed unto him, as he is a Redeemer. For the work of redemption is counted by the redeemed ones, more worthy of a crown of glory, than the work of creation.

So that this crown of glory that is given to Christ that sate upon the white horse, it is in relation to his work of redemption, in that he conquered over all those spiritual enemies as aforesaid. So much for the first and second verses.

CHAP.

IN

CHAP. XVI.

N verse 3. it is said, And when he had opened the second seal I heard the second beast say, come and see. And in verse 4. There went out another horse, that was red, and power was given to him that sate thereon, to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another; and there was given unto him a great sword.

These four beasts which John saw in the vision, did signify unto him those wonderful transactions. which were, and should be acted here on earth in the state of mortality, in the time of the four monarchies, and signified unto John in the way of vision, by four horses.

Now the second horse that did appear to John in the vision, was a red horse, and power was given to him that sate thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another.

This monarchical government went forth upon a red horse, that is, shedding of blood should be the greatest work he that sate thereon should do.

It was called a red horse, because of the much shedding of blood; so that the blood of man is called a red horse, even as the righteousness of faith is called a white horse.

And as the souls of the saints were made white with the blood of the Lamb, so are these souls made red with sheding of one another's blood.

So that every man's soul became a red horse, and he that sate upon this red horse had power given

him to take peace from the earth, and for that pose there was given unto him a great sword.

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Now this great sword it was to kill and in killing one another, peace must needs be taken from the earth.

So that this kingly power, though they were many kings, yet they are called but him that sate upon the red horse.

So likewise, though there were many thousands slain, and had their blood shed, yet they are all called but a red horse; so that there is but the horse and his rider; for king's and magistrates do ride upon the people, in that they command the people to kill one another.

So that people which go to fight to shed one another's blood, may well be called a red horse, for they make their souls as red as scarlet with bloodshed.

And the power of the magistrate doth ride and sit upon this red horse, for he hath a great sword given unto him to command perscutors to kill one another, and they must obey and become a red horse, or else they must be killed themselves.

Thus in short I have given you the signification of the red horse, and of him that sits thereon; for the sword, famine, or pestilence, doth always take peace from the earth: and he that sate upon this red horse was such a power or government, that did kill many men with the sword.

And it is called a great sword, in regard it should prevail and do much execution in that kind, therefore said to go forth upon a red horse; to signify that he should ride upon bloody minded men that

should

should spare neither man, woman, or child, therefore called a red horse.

CHAP. XVII.

AND in verse 5. And when he had opened the third seal, John heard the third beast say, Come and see, and he beheld, and lo, a black horse, and he that sate on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

This black horse which John saw in the vision, it was the spiritual blindness and darkness upon the minds of men, which makes them to worship false gods, or idols; they being not so much as enlightned in the law of reason. That is, their minds and understandings had the most ignorant and lowest degree of reason, which made them to become extream idolatrous; their minds being so dark, they fall to worship any thing instead of God; even the sun, moon, stars and planets; now these people that do this, are exceeding dark in their minds.

But let us come to those that are more enlightned, as the people of Israel were by the law of Moses, and those we call Christians, being educated under the discipline of the Old and New Testaments, which are called the Scriptures.

Yet men being in their state of nature, they are very dark in their minds concerning the knowledge of the true God, and the true spiritual worship, which God requires; for the not knowing of God, is the cause of all false worship, which darkness hath, and doth lye almost upon the whole creation.

For was not that a great darkness upon the minds

of