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fcribed a thing in the most fymbolical and figurative diction, to represent the fame again in plainer language: and the fame method is obferved here, (ver. 15, 16, 17.) And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bond-man, and every free-man, that is Maximian, Galerius, Maximin, Maxentius, Licinius &c, with all their adherents and followers, were fo routed and dispersed, that they hid themfelves in the dens, and in the rocks of the mountains, and faid to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us; expreffions used, as in other prophets, (If. II. 19, 21. Hof. X. 8. Luke XXIII. 30.) to denote the utmost terror and confternation; Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that fitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to ftand? This is therefore a triumph of Chrift over his heathen enemies, and a triumph after a fevere perfecution; fo that the time and all the circumftances, as well as the feries and order of the prophecy, agree perfectly with this interpretation. (9) Galerius, (1) Maximin, and (2) Licinius

made

Cap. 9, 10, II. De Vita
Conft. Lib. 1. Cap. 59. Lactant. Lib. 2. Cap. 18.

(2) Eufeb. de Vita Conftant.

ibid. Cap. 49.

(3) Eufeb.

made even a public confeffion of their guilt, recalled their decrees and edicts against the Christians, and acknowleged the juft judgments of God and of Chrift in their deftruction.

I

CHAP. VII.

AND after these things, I saw four

angels ftanding on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind fhould not blow on the earth, nor on the fea, nor on any

tree.

2 And I faw another angel afcending from the east, having the feal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

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3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the fea, nor the trees, till we have fealed the fervants of our God in their foreheads.

4 And I heard the number of them which were fealed: and there were fealed an hundred and forty and four thousand, of all the tribes of the children of Ifrael.

5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thoufand. Of the tribe of Reuben were fealed twelve thoufand. Of the tribe of Gad were fealed twelve thousand.

6 Of the tribe of Afer were fealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were fealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manaffes were fealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were fealed 7 twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were fealed twelve thoufand. Of the tribe of Ifachar were fealed twelve thoufand.

8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were fealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were fealed twelve thoufand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were fealed twelve thoufand.

9 After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, ftood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

10 And cried with a loud voice, faying, Salvation to our God which fitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

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II And all the angels ftood round about the throne, and about the elders, and the four beafts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

12. Saying, Amen: Bleffing and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and

and power, and might be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

13 And one of the elders answered, faying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

6

14 And I faid unto him, Sir, thou knoweft. And he faid to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and ferve him day and night in his temple: and he that fitteth on the throne fhall dwell among them."

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the fun light on them, nor any heat.

17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne, fhall feed them, and fhall lead them unto living fountains of waters And God fhall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

What follows in this chapter is ftill a continu

(3) Eufeb. Ecclef. Hift. Lib. 10. Cap. 1. eqois es nuas vagγως πεπληρωμένοις χαίροντες Quæ cum omnia noftris tempo

ation

ribus manifeftè completa fint, læti deinceps et gratulabundi.-

(4) Reftituta per orbem tranquillitate, profligata nuper ec

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ation of the fixth feal, for the feventh feal is not opened till the beginning of the next chapter. It is a defcription of the ftate of the church in Conftantine's time, of the peace and protection that it fhould enjoy under the civil powers, and of the great acceffion that should be made to it both of Jews and Gentiles. Four angels (ver. 1, 2, 3.) are ordered by another angel to reftrain the four winds from blowing with violence on any part of the world; to show that these were halcyon days, wherein the former wars and perfecutions should cease, and peace and tranquillity be reftored for a feafon. Eufebius is very copious upon this fubject in several parts of his writings; and hath (3) applied that paffage of the pfalmift in the version of the Seventy, (Pfal. XLVI. 8, 9,) Come hither, and behold the works of the Lord, what wonders he bath wrought in the earth: He maketh wars to ceafe unto the end of the earth, he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the pear in funder, he burneth the chariot in the fire; which things, faith he, being manifeftly fulfilled in our times, we rejoice over them. Lactantius alfo (4) faith in the fame triumphant ftrain, that

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tranquility • being

tos fublevavit. Nunc mærentium lacrymas deterfit. Laftantius de Mort, Perfecut. Cap. 1.

(5) See

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