IN

CHAP. XLII.

N verse 4. These are they which were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. Also they are said to be the first fruits unto God, and to the Lamb. And in verse 5, there is said, In their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Observe, that those hundred forty four thousand saints they are said not to be defiled with women, for they are virgins. The meaning is this, they were not defiled in their souls with idolatry, in worshiping of idols and false gods; for idolatrous men are called whores, and whoever worshipeth images, or false gods, may be said to go a whoring after strange gods, and so come to be guilty of spiritual whoredom, and spiritual fornication; and so may be said to be defiled with women, as the scriptures doth in many places prove the truth of this interpretation. And as for their being virgins, the meaning is this, they were not tainted with the idolatrous worship of the nations set up by those beasts aforesaid; that they were as pure in their souls from idolatry, as a virgin is from the knowing of a man; for as a virgin is not defiled with man, So were these saints not defiled with idols and images; which idols and images are called in the spiritual, women; for they follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth; that is, they followed him in the worship of the gospel, notwithstanding that great idolatry and persecution there was in the A a 2

time

time while the apostles commission did last, which was a matter of three hundred years.

;

And they are called The first fruits unto God. Observe, they are called the first fruits unto God, because they were of the Jews seed, whom God made a covenant with that they should worship him, as Moses should direct them, and these hundred forty and four thousand who were redeemed by their faith and obedience to the gospel in the apostles commission, I say these were of the Jews, as I said before, therefore called the first fruits unto God for the believing Gentiles are not called the first fruits unto God, because God chose the Jews church first; therefore the believing Jews are called by the spirit in John the first fruits unto God. And these being preserved in their spirits from defiling themselves with idols, they are said in their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before· the throne of God. That is, they were not guilty of worshiping of false gods, and so not defiled with women; but worshiped Christ in the way as he his apostles to establish, as aforesaid.

gave

And in verse 6. John saw in his vision another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.

This angel John saw fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach; I declare it was Peter, he being the head apostle to whom Christ committed the preaching of the gospel unto, and to whom Christ committed the keys of heaven, and of hell; and upon Peter's faith, Christ called

a rock,

a rock, upon which he would build his church. Also I would have the reader to mind, that Christ gave this power to all the twelve apostles as well as to Peter; for they all had their commission from Christ, after he was ascended, to preach the everlasting gospel to all nations that dwell upon the earth, according to that saying of Christ to his apostles before he suffered death; who said unto his apostles whom he had chose, Go preach the gospel to every creature, or to all nations, and lo I will be with you to the end of the world, &c.

Now this gospel was preached to all nations, according to the words of Christ in the time of the apostles commission; as may be read, Acts ii. 5. And there dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Unto these Jews did Peter and the rest of the apostles preach the gospel of Jesus, they speaking, though unlearned men, to every man in his own tongue, the wonderful things of God; so that this gospel which the apostles preached, it was carried to all nations on the earth, as you may read Acts ii. beginning at verse 7.

And as for the everlasting gospel being preached to every nation, and tongue, and people, it was preached at that time aforesaid, and at other times. For Jew and Gentile doth include all nations, kindred, tongues, and people.

And Paul being chosen of Christ to preach the everlasting gospel unto the Gentiles, he was madeone with the rest of the apostles in the commission of the gospel. So that Peter, he being the apostle of the Jews, and Paul being the apostle of the Gen

tiles,

tiles, they both preaching one everlasting gospel, so counted by the spirit in John but one angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach.

Therefore mind, though there were apostles besides Paul, and divers other preachers of the gospel in the time of that commission, which did last a matter of three hundred years, as aforesaid, yet they are all called by the revelation in John, but one angel, because they were all under one commission. And Peter being the chief and head apostle of the commission of the gospel, I declare by revelation, that he is called by John that angel that he saw fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach. And this everlasting gospel which was preached, it was Christ crucified unto death, and Christ risen again, and ascended up into glory in that same body he suffered death in. And this was that gospel the angel did preach unto them that dwell on the earth.

This is also the everlasting gospel which is preached to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

And according to the words of Christ, when he was upon earth, to his apostles, the gospel was preached to every nation on the earth by Peter and Paul, and the rest of the apostles and ministers ordained by them, and Christ was with them to the end of the world. That was to the end of their commission, which did last as aforesaid, a matter of three hundred years. years. So that So that you whose understandings are enlightened in the knowledge of revelation and interpretation of scripture, you may see

what

what is meant by the angel who had the everlasting gospel to preach, and what the gospel is, and when it was preached; and to whom, and how Christ was with the preachers of it to the end of the world, &c.

I

CHAP. XLIII.

Shall pass by the seventh verse, there being no matter of concernment in it, but what is commonly known by all, who will confess they ought to fear God, and praise him that created or made the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, &c.

In verse 8, it is said, And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

You that have the true light of life in you, observe what this Babylon is that John prophesies of, or that he saw in his vision is fallen, is fallen, that great city.

Now what the angel was that said so, or shewed it to John, I shall not speak of here, being of no great concernment to know. But the great matter to know is, what is meant by this Babylon that is fallen, and what is meant by the great city, and the drinking the wine of the wrath of fornication. I would have the reader observe, that there is a two-fold Babylon; the one in the history, and the other in the mystery; that is, one is a temporal and the other a spiritual Babylon. That is, with relation to the nation of the Jews, who were carried captive unto Babylon,