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was written by revelation and vision, I say it is more profitable to man than the scriptures themselves.

For what profit is it to a man to read another man's revelation or vision, and know nothing of it himself? Therefore interpretation of scriptures is the best, and most profitable gift unto the seed of faith now a-days, to lead them unto their eternal rest.

Therefore to unfold something more of John's vision in verse 2. And immediately he was in the spirit, and behold a throne was set in heaven, and one sate on the throne:

And in verse 3, he tells what he was like that sate on the throne; and in verse 4, he saith, And round about the throne were four and twenty scats, and upon the seats John saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment, and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

And in verse 5. There were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.

And in verse 6. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto chrystal, and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

And in verse 7. And the first beast was like a lion; and the second beast like a calf, and third beast had a face like a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

Verse 8. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him, and they were full of eyes within, and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

Verse 9. And when those beasts gave glory, and honour, and thanks to him that sate on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever.

1 shall give a short interpretation of these things afore-mentioned. In verse 2. John saw a throne in heaven, and him that sat thereon.

You may remember how I have shewed before, that there are thrones in heaven, as there are here in earth, and there is a throne in special for the king of heaven, as there is for a king here on earth.

And he which John saw to sit upon the throne in heaven, it was no other but the Lord Jesus Christ, as aforesaid.

Though John doth set him forth in verse 3. That he was to look upon like a jasper, and a sardine stone, with other glorious expressions; which is only to set forth the glory of him that sat upon the throne.

And in verse 4. Round about the throne were four and twenty seats, and upon the seats were four and twenty elders sitting, cloathed in white raiment, and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

It is much like unto the throne of an earthly king; for an earthly king hath many seats for his nobility to sit on round about the throne, where he seats himself.

And the nobility do sit in those seats, according to their degree and place.

1

Likewise the nobility have crowns of gold upon their heads, though not so absolute crowns of gold as the king himself.

Yet they have a resemblance and likeness of crowns, signifying that they are of the blood royal.

So

So is it in heaven, the four and twenty elders being of the blood royal, coheirs unto the kingdom of heaven, they have seats to sit upon round about the king's throne.

And as for the four and twenty elders what they I have opened at large in the Interpretation of the eleventh of Revelation.

are,

Therefore I shall not speak of them here: but as for their being cloathed in white raiment, the meaning of that is this:

They were cloathed in their minds, while they lived in this world, with the righteousness of faith, which purifies the heart; and not by the righteousness of the law; for by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified; but by the righteousness of faith is every true believer justified.

And these four and twenty elders being justified by faith, in the blood of the Lamb, they may be said to be cloathed in white raiment.

That is, they are pure and white in their souls, by being washed in the blood of the Lamb, by faith, as aforesaid.

They have no guilt of sin upon them at all, &c. And in verse 5, it is said, That there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.

The meaning of those seven lamps which burned before the throne, I declare they were the seven churches of Asia.

That is, the souls of the true believers, which were of the seven churches of Asia, were those seven lamps which burned before the throne,

And

And the seven spirits of God are those several gifts of grace, which he gave to the seven churches of Asia, as aforesaid.

And that grace of faith and love, which God gave to the seven churches of Asia, it burneth in the lamps of their souls, before the throne of God to eternity.

For every soul is a lamp for the fire of God's love to burn in, if there be but oyl in your lamp, that is, if there be but faith in the heart.

It will be a glorious place for the candle of the Lord, which is the spirit of God, to burn in, and happy will that man be that hath his lamp burning before the throne of God, as these seven churches of Asia shall.

For this I would have the seed of faith to understand, that John speaketh of things to come as if they were in present being.

For visions and revelations speaketh of things at a distance, as if they were in present sight.

Because God and faith knows that time will be swallowed up into eternity.

Therefore it is that John doth say in his vision, that he saw such and such things already, when as the things which he speaketh that he saw, were not accomplished at that time, nor many of them not

as vet.

But however they will be accomplished, because God is truth, and will not frustrate the faith of his prophets, apostles, and saints

But according to their faith it shall be unto them.
So much concerning the seven lamps and the seven

G

spirits

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spirits of God, I suppose the seed of faith may understand the true meaning of it.

CHAP. IX.

IN verse 6, John saith, And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto chrystal, and in the. midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts, full of eyes before and behind.

Here you that have faith, may see that there is in heaven, above the stars, a chrystal sea like unto glass, or a sea of glass like unto chrystal; that is, the glorious water or sea above the stars is set forth by those things which are most pure, and most esteemed of by the reason of man here in the kingdom of this world, but as certain as there is a sea and waters in this world, else the creatures therein could not live.

So likewise there is a sea and waters above the stars, though of another nature, differing from this here below, yet they are real substances as these are.

But because mortal men cannot declare, nor make known the nature and substance of them, neither can mortal man understand it, if it could be declared.

Therefore the Revelation of John calls it a sea of glass like unto chrystal, because chrystal is highly esteemed of by the reason of man.

But however, it is for certain that there is a sea and waters above the stars, let it be like what it will. For this I would have the reader to understand, that the things which are, were not made of things which do appear, according to Paul's words, then

of