New Testament in a Year

Footnotes

1. Revelation 1:1 This Chapter hath two principal parts, the title or inscription, which standeth instead of an exordium: and a narration going before the whole prophecy of this book: The inscription is double, general and particular. The general containeth the kind of prophecy, the author, and, matter, instruments, and manner of communicating the same, in the first verse: the most religious faithfulness of the Apostle as public witness, verse 2. And the use of communicating the same taken from the promise of God, and from the circumstance of the time, the third verse.
2. Revelation 1:1 An opening of a secret and hid thing.
3. Revelation 1:1 Which the Son opened to us out of his Father’s bosom by Angels.
4. Revelation 1:4 This is the particular or singular inscription wherein salutation is written unto certain Churches by name, which represent the Church Catholic: and the certainty and the truth of the same is declared, from the Author thereof, unto the eighth verse.
5. Revelation 1:4 That is, from God the Father, eternal, immortal, immutable: whose unchangeableness S. John declareth by a form of speech which is undeclined. For there is no incongruity in this place, where, of necessity the words must be attempted unto the mysteries, not the mysteries corrupted or impaired by the word.
6. Revelation 1:4 By these three times, Is, Was and shall be, is signified this word Jehovah, which is the proper name of God.
7. Revelation 1:4 That is, from the holy Ghost which proceedeth from the Father and the Son. This Spirit is one in person according to his subsistence: but in communication of his virtue, and in demonstration of his divine works in those seven Churches, doth so perfectly manifest himself, as if there were many Spirits, every one perfectly working in his own Church, wherefore after Rev. 5:6, they are called the seven horns and seven eyes of the Lamb, as much to say, as his most absolute power and wisdom: and Rev. 3:1. Christ is said to have there seven Spirits of God, and Rev. 4:5, it is said, that seven lamps do burn before his throne, which also are those seven Spirits of God. That this place ought to be so understood, it is thus proved. For first grace and peace is asked by prayer of this Spirit, which is a divine work, and an action incommunicable, in respect of the most high Deity. Secondly, he is placed between the Father and the Son, as set in the same degree of dignity and operation with them. Besides he is before the throne as of the same substance with the Father and the Son: as the seven eyes and seven horns of the Lamb. Moreover, these spirits are never said to adore God, as all other things are. Finally, that is the power whereby the Lamb opened the book, and loosed the seven seals thereof when none could be found amongst all creatures by whom the book might be opened, Rev. 5. Of these things long ago, Master John Luide of Oxford wrote learnedly unto me. Now the holy Ghost is set in order of words before Christ, because there was in that which followeth, a long process of speech to be used concerning Christ.
8. Revelation 1:4 These are the seven spirits, which are, afterward, Rev. 5:6, called the horns and eyes of the Lamb, and are now made as a guard waiting upon God.
9. Revelation 1:5 A most ample and grave commendation of Christ, first from his offices the Priesthood and kingdoms, secondly from his benefits, as his love toward us, and washing us with his blood, in this verse, and communication of his kingdom and Priesthood with us: thirdly from his eternal glory and power, which always is to be celebrated of us, verse 6. Finally from the accomplishment of all things once to be effected by him, at his second coming, what time he shall openly destroy the wicked, and comfort the godly in the truth, verse 7.
10. Revelation 1:7 All men.
11. Revelation 1:8 A confirmation of the salutation aforegoing, taken from the words of God himself: in which he avoucheth his operation in every single creature, the immutable eternity that is in himself, and his omnipotence in all things: and concludeth in the unity of his own essence, that Trinity of persons, which was before spoken of.
12. Revelation 1:8 I am he before whom there is nothing, yea, by whom everything that is made, was made and shall remain though all they should perish.
13. Revelation 1:9 The narration opening the way to the declaring of the authority and calling of Saint John the Evangelist in this singular Revelation, and to procure faith, and credit unto this prophecy. This is the second part of this Chapter consisting of a proposition and an exposition. The proposition showeth, first who was called unto this Revelation, in what place, and how occupied, verse 9. Then at what time and by what means, namely, by the spirit and the word, and that on the Lord’s day, which day ever since the resurrection of Christ, was consecrated for Christians unto the religion of the Sabbath: that is to say, to be a day of rest, verse 10. Thirdly, who is the author that calleth him, and what is the sum of his calling.
14. Revelation 1:9 Patmos is one of the isles of Sporas whither John was banished as some write.
15. Revelation 1:10 This is that holy ravishment expressed, wherewith the prophets were ravished, and being as it were carried out of the world were conversant with God, and so Ezekiel saith often that he was carried from place to place of the Lord’s Spirit and that the Spirit of the Lord fell upon him.
16. Revelation 1:10 He calleth it the Lord’s day, which Paul calleth the first day of the week, 1 Cor. 16:2.
17. Revelation 1:12 The exposition, declaring the third and last point of the proposition (for the other points are evident of themselves) wherein is spoken first of the author of his calling unto verse 17. Secondly of the calling itself unto the end of the Chap. And first of all the occasion is noted in this verse, in that S. John turned himself towards the vision: after is set down the description of the author in the verses following, Rev. 1:13–16.
18. Revelation 1:12 To see him whose voice I had heard.
19. Revelation 1:12 The description of the Author, which is Christ: by the candlesticks that standeth about him, that is the Churches that stand before him, and depend upon his direction, in this verse: by his properties, that he is one furnished with wisdom and dexterity to the achieving of great things, verse 13, and ancient gravity and most excellent sight of the eye, verse 14, with strength invincible and with a mighty word, verse 15. By his operations, that he ruleth the ministry of his servants in the Church, giveth the effect thereunto by the sword of his word, and enlightening all things with his countenance, doth most mightily provide for everyone by his divine providence, verse 16.
20. Revelation 1:17 A religious fear that goeth before the calling of the Saints, and their full confirmation to take upon them the vocation of God.
21. Revelation 1:17 A divine confirmation is this calling partly by sign and partly by word of power.
22. Revelation 1:17 A most elegant description of this calling contained in three things, which are necessary unto a just vocation: first the authority of him that calleth, for that he is the beginning and end of all things, in this verse, for that he is eternal and omnipotent, verse 18. Secondly, the sum of this prophetical calling, and revelation, verse 19. Lastly a declaration of those persons unto whom this prophecy is by the commandment of God directed in the description thereof, verse 20.
23. Revelation 1:19 The sum of this prophecy, that the Apostle must write whatsoever he should see, adding nothing, nor taking away anything, as verse 2. Hereof there are two parts: one is a narration of those things which are, that is, which then were at that time contained in the second and third Chapters, the other part is of those things which were to come, contained in the rest of this book.
24. Revelation 1:20 That is, the things which [were] mystical, signified by the particulars of the vision beforegoing.
25. Revelation 1:20 By the Angels he meaneth the Ministers of the Church.