AN EXPOSITION OF THE pouring Out of the Fourth VIAL: MENTIONED In the Sixteenth of the Revelation.  
By Master ROBERT PARKER.  
Wherein he differs from M. Brightman, and other Protestant Divines, which hold, That these Judgements are to be poured out upon the Church of Rome, and that Party. But he conceives they have Reference unto these Times, and are to be poured out upon some Protestant Princes and Churches.  
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Pierrepont at the Sun in St. Paul's churchyard. 1650.   

To the Reader.  
MAster Parker the Author of this discourse is well known by his other works published, wherein though he show himself an adversary to Ceremonies and Popery, yet he concurreth not with Mr. Brightman and others, in exposition of this Vial; who affirm, that all the Vials shall fall only, or most upon the Papists: but his conjecture, is that the fourth Vial shall fall upon some Protestant Prince or state, who enjoyed the benefit of the Gospel, but did not obey it; perhaps he might have said truly, upon all the Protestant Princes or Churches, there being scarce any one that hath not been scorched with fire, and burnt with heat, by the great wars and troubles that have happened these last thirty years past, since the blazing Comet, which appeared 1618. because they enjoyed the light of the Gospel, but brought not forth fruits worthy of repentance and amendment of life. It is therefore most worthy our serious consideration, to harken to the interpretation here offered, especially seeing the Vials do concern us of this last age; for after the seven seals with their effects are past, and also six of the seven Trumpets have sounded; the seven Vials to be poured forth, do certainly concern us most, to consider the effects of them, and apply things so, as may most conduce to our admonition, and amendment of life, seeing the mighty hand of God is now stretched forth over us, and some Vial of God's wrath is now pouring out, in these wonderful wars and Troubles, raised up in most parts of the world.   

Imprimatur ista (quae D. Parkeri perhibetur esse) phialae quartae expositio, unà cum adjectis animadversionibus.  
Tho. Gataker. Aprilis 30. 1650.   

Master Parker's EXPOSITION of the FOURTH VIAL,  Revelation 16.8, 9 
And the fourth Angel poured out his Vial on the sun, and it was given unto him to torment men with fire. And men boiled in great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues, and they repented not, to give him glory.  
THough I am not worthy to be named with Mr. Brightman, yet I trust I may crave leave under correction, to differ from him in the exposition of this vial; I prosecute his memory with all the benediction that is due to so great a light in the Church of God, and behold himself (for his clearing of this Apocalyps') the chief Angel of this vial, in case it be meant of Protestant Writers (as he would have it) making the Scripture as clear as the Sun, to the confounding and tormenting of the Papists. Howbeit there be some reasons that lead me to interpret it rather of the wasting of some Protestant or Lutheran State, not long hence to be accomplished, which I crave liberty to set down.  
First, the confounding and tormenting of the Papists by the Scripture, is not a distinct particular event, as the event of this fourth vial seemeth to be; distinct it is not, but the same with the plague of the first vial, whose botch, what is it else, but an Ulcer of mind in the Papists, to see the growth of the Gospel, and the fall of Popery, especially here at home in England, by the death of Queen Mary, and the succession of Queen Elizabeth to the Crown; And it is general, whereas this vial poured is poured on the sun, a particular star in the heaven, to note a plague on some special State of some true Church, or at the least some Church disunited from Popery.  
Secondly, the sun being King among stars Jer. 44.17. He fitly here designeth some King or State, even as he doth else where; so Jacob (the most heroical man in his days) is resembled to the sun, Gen. 37. and David 2 Sam. 21.17. and Hezekiah King of Israel 2 Kings 20.11. Who is the Angel standing in the sun Apoc. 19.17. out of doubt some great man in power and place; for as much as the writing of bare Divines, cannot so effectually draw people and nations to join in war against the Pope. What that the darkening of the sun Apoc. 6.12. is the fall of the persecuting Roman Empire▪ And the third part of the sun smitten, Apoc. 8.12. is the wasting of afric, the third part of the world by the Vandals.  
Thirdly, in this fourth vial the sun himself is first plagued, which cannot be meant of the Scripture; for the Text doth say as directly, that the fourth Angel doth pour his vial upon the sun, as that the fifth doth pour his vial upon the Throne of the Beast; by which Rome's ruin is fore showed, howbeit the sun not extinguished by this Vial, but distempered only, to scorch with heat, doth seem to imply, that the plague of this Prince or State, shall not cast them down so much, as irritate and stir them up to an heat of revenging, laying wast the men that did hurt them.  
Fourthly, the men here plagued are not only Papists, for whereas it is added in the first Vial, by way of restraint to them, that the sore fell upon the men which had the mark of the Beast, and who worshipped his Image, here is no such limitation, it is only said in general, power was given to the sun to Torment men, to wit, men of the same heaven, where this sun shineth, that is, men, in that visible Church where this Prince or State doth govern, nevertheless here is hope given, that the Godly of this Church shall escape, in that it being said of the plagued, that they gave no glory to God; there is probability, that the Judgement of this vial shall light only or chiefly on Papists and wicked men, mingled with this State or Church, who had before no care of God's glory, or the gospel's good, but sought only their own glory, wealth and pleasures.  
Fifthly, the plague here is not only described by heat, which yet sufficeth to hold allusion to the sun, but also by fire This maketh me to conjecture that this Prince or State shall lay desolate by fire and burning, more than by sword; God girding him or them with such power, as that they shall not need to fight many battles. Neither ought it to seem strange, that fire here laying all things wast, should be literally meant, seeing the Angel that hath power over fire, Apoc. 14.18. is Cranmer triumphing in the fire of martyrdom. And the burning of the flesh of the Whore, is the sacking of Rome, Apoc. 17.16. so the Angel of the waters, in the fifth verse going before, resembleth the States of Low Germany, seated in a watery country.  
The effect of this plague in the wicked, is boiling heat, and blaspheming the name of God; which contain more than an inward rage of Papists: For the confounding of their religion by the Scripture, they must needs show well near such a ruin of a State, as the ruin of Rome cometh to, for as much as, as a great plague is described here, as in the fifth Vial, and that in the same terms and words, as appeareth by comparing this ninth verse with the eleventh following. Add to this, that the plague of this Vial is uttered in the plural (they blasphemed the name of God, who hath power over these plagues) as if it contained many confusions in it. And this answereth to the justice of God, who beginneth judgement at his own house, and at them who make profession to be of his household: By this Revelation, the Pope shall be destroyed before the Turk, because he professed Christianity, which the Turk did not. In like manner before God destroyeth the Pope, he shall pour his vial upon some Protestant or Lutheran Church, which made profession of the Gospel against Popery, but obeyed it not; by this means it shall come to pass what was done of old, than God afflicted Jewrie his own Church, before he destroyed the Earth by Babylon; now he shall punish one of his own Churches, before he proceeds against Rome, the Babylon spiritual.  
Seventhly, I conjecture, that this sun of the fourth Vial punishing a Rebellious Church, and the Angel of the fifth Vial sacking Rome, shall be one and the same. First, because the fifth Vial is immediately adjoined & expressed with the very same terms, which probably induceth to think, that it shall be wrought by the same means: this conjecture is helped by this; that the rebelling against the sun of the fourth vial, shall be procured by Pope and Papists, which shall be the cause that this man as soon as he hath subdued his domestical enemies, shall address himself to an expedition against Rome. Secondly, the ruin of Rome ariseth from a wilderness, Apoc. 17.3. that is (as I conjecture) out of some country laid wast like a wilderness.  
This country must be the State wasted by the sun of the fourth Vial, for we have no other prophecy of any other State to be laid wast immediately before Rome's sacking; but only of that: Now that John's carrying into the wilderness to see the ruin of Rome, doth show that Rome's ruin shall arise out of a Land brought to a wilderness, may thus appear; wherefore is John set on the sea shore, Apoc. 12.18. when he is to see the rising of the Beast, but because the Beasts rising is out of the sea, (Ergo) in that Apoc. 17.3. John is placed in a wilderness to see Rome's ruin; it is a sign that Rome's ruin shall arise out of some country reduced to a wilderness; so when John is to see the beauty of the Jewish Church, he is carried to a great high mountain to see it, Apoc. 21.10 to wit, because this Church shall be set on high like a mountain, Isaiah 2.2.  
Thirdly, this is the description of him that sacketh Rome, Apoc. 18.1. I saw another Angel come down from heaven, having great power; so that the earth was lightened with his glory, which agreeth with the sun of this fourth Vial; He cometh down from heaven, that is, suddenly, beyond all expectation of man, so the sun of the fourth Vial ariseth suddenly out of his plague, when the world thought he could never have recovered, he hath great power given him; this is the power of the sun of the fourth Vial, both by glory of Conquering, and by the wealth of the Conquered, which he shall get into his hands.  
He hath light and brightness, which what, is it else but the light and brightness of the sun of the fourth Vial. Lastly, he replenisheth the earth with his glory, which implieth the great Admiration of the world, and the Astonishment of the Papists and earthly men, when they shall see the sun of the fourth Vial rise so extra ordinarily out of this plague.  
Fourthly, and last of all, Apoc. 17.18. it is said, that the ten horns shall sack Rome, and whom shall the States of Christendom sooner choose for their general, or proclaim their Emperor against Rome, than the sun of the fourth Vial, plagued by Papists, and enraged against them, and furnished with the greatest authority, power, and wealth to subdue them.  
Thus I presume to deliver my conjecture concerning this fourth Vial. (I say conjecture) because it cannot certainly be known until it be executed. Nevertheless, because the time thereof approacheth, it becometh every Christian man to strive, by prayer, meditation, study, and all other means, for some understanding of it, considering that God hath not written this prophecy only to instruct us when it is past, but also to forewarn us aforehand; The revealer of secrets that unsealed this Book to John, open unto us this mystery of it, that we may foresee the evil that is to come, and hide ourselves from it, as also keep ourselves pure from offence against our sun, lest we partake of the plagues that this Vial doth denounce against all such transgression.  
To God only wise, be all Honour and Glory for ever and ever, Amen.   

Some Annotations upon Mr. Parker's discourse.  
SEeing Mr. Parker hath proposed his opinion modestly, by way of conjecture, and forborn to determine till the event should manifest the truth, he is the rather to be harkened unto; especially because the reasons for his conjecture do seem very probable, now after the great troubles, which have happened of late years, in Germany, France, Poland, Denmark, and many other countries, and also among ourselves, wherein the greatest loss hath fallen upon the Protestant Churches.  
Whereas Mr. Parker saith▪ [that he doth behold Mr. Brightman as the chief Angel of this Vial.] He perhaps took this, from Mr. Brightman himself, who Chap. 17. doth not spare to say. I that am an obscure man, and unknown to all, and of no reckoning in my own country, do exhort you most mighty Princes to attempt against the whore, &c. Which seems more than fitting for one to speak of himself.  
Whereas most of our writers do affirm, that all the vials of God's wrath shall fall upon the Papist. Yet Mr. Parker saith, that the first Uial seems especially to be intended against the Papists, in regard it is said, in the text, verse 2. that a grievous sore fell upon the men, which had the mark of the Beast, and upon them which worshipped his image; but no such restraint is mentioned upon this Vial.  
Whereas Mr. Parker saith, Sect. 6. That God beginneth judgement at his own house, and at them who make profession to be of his household: by this revelation, the Pope shall be destroyed before the Turk, because he professed Christianity, wh●●● the Turk did not; in like manner, before God destroyeth the Pope, he shall pour out his Uial upon some Protestant or Lutheran Church, which made profession of the Gospel against Popery, but obeyed it not.  
This may be seen to be true by the lamentable condition and great troubles, which have fallen upon the Protestant Churches of late years: For in Germany, besides the horrible Plundering of their rich and spacious country, the Protestants have lost many thousand Churches and Ministers. In France the Protestants have suffered extremely; for though they are left alive, and not prosecuted to death universally, yet Deodatus saith, in his Epistle from Geneva, that they are alive but during pleasure only, and that they are like poor Callow Birds stripe of all their feathers: for whereas they had formerly eighty nine strong towns and Castles allowed them for their security, yet now they are all lost, through their wars, whereunto they were persuaded, through the fiery zeal of some amongst them, who had the guiding of their Consciences; saith the French History. [Grimston.] Their great noblemen have deserted their cause, and become Papists: as the Duke of Bovillon the Duke Lesbigners, who when a Protestant took up arms against them, and was made great Constable of France; the Duke of Trenovill, and the Duke of Suilly, once Lord Treasurer under Henry the fourth, who much dissuaded from war: besides many others of great quality, so that now they want Protectors, and leaders, of the Nobility, which they had in former times.  
The fifth Vial is to be poured out upon the seat of the Beast, verse 10. which as Master Mede saith, is Rome, and that the holy Ghost doth not hide the matter any longer; but this is yet to come; for the Pope after all the troubles, hath greatly increased his party, and is very powerful, and this year 1650. he celebrates a jubilee at Rome, and all his adherents do flock in great numbers to him, to receive his benediction, pardons and holy water, &c. Master Brightman saith, that before this yeear 1650. the Jews should be called; and that the whore of Babylon's nose should be slit; and that the Pope should fly from Rome to Avignion, or to Bononia, or to some other of his Cities: But we see not the Pope disturbed, nor the Jews called. But some are so hasty and rash in their opinions and predictions, that they seem to be guided more by passion, than reason. Napier of Scotland kills the Pope, 1639. Brightman kills him, 1650. Arthur Dent kills him within the age of a man, and thinks that the sixth Vial is now pouring out. Philippus Nicolaus kills him about the year, 1650. which is twenty years hence. But these peremptory opinions prove false hitherto, and do give no satisfaction to wise and sober men. It is more probable that Master Mede saith, that the fifth vial shall fall on the Pope; and that under the sixth vial the Turks shall be destroyed, and the Jews converted, whom he accounts to be the Kings of the East, verse 12. for whom the way must be prepared, when that vial shall be poured out on the great River Euphrates.  
Whereas Master Brightman saith, that the Beast the Pope of Rome, did spring up with Constantine, the first Christian Emperor; and was made great by the first Nicene council.] This is much to the dishonour of the truth, for Popery is of a far later date and growth. And Master Brightman doth confess, Chap. 13. that his opinion is new, and himself the first man that durst adventure to say so: If he had said from the second Nicene council, wherein Images were established, he had come nearer the truth.  
Philippus Nicolaus a Lutheran Divine, (an acute and learned man, saith Master Mede) that wrote above thirty years ago, doth lay great imputations upon the Calvinists, saying, Cap. 10. De Regno Christi; Ecclesia militantis Novissima calamitas a Calvinianis promanabit: That the last calamity of the Church Militant shall be occasioned by the Calvinists; and much more he addeth against them, as well as against Papists and Turks, Brightman, Nicolaus and Parker do all agree in this, that there shall come great Calamities upon the Church. Hoc tantum addo, quod inevitabilis quaedam malorum mensura nostris cervicibus incumbit, as Nicolaus saith.  
Master Parker saith, that the sun upon whom this fourth vial falleth, shall be distempered with heat; not extinguished.] God grant that the Sun of the Gospel be not totally eclipsed, nor our Candlestick removed from us; but that these troubles prove no more than a distemper; mean while to prevent the worst, the Text saith plainly, verse 9 that only Repentance can do it, and to give God the glory, who hath power over these plagues: Which that he would moderate and stop, and put an end to these great troubles, is earnestly to be begged by humble and fervent prayers.  
But whatsoever the Interpretation be of these abstruse and mystical points in the Revelation; it is not safe for any men, to ground any action upon presumption or confidence that now the time is come when things shall be fulfilled, and that it doth belong to them to execute the Wrath of God against Papists or any others, whom they imagine to be designed by the Holy Ghost.  
FINIS.