shewed and proued that the Popish Religion together with all the power and authoritie of Rome shall ebbe and decaie still more and more throughout all the Churches of Europe and come to an vtter ouerthrow euen in this life BEfore I enter into the exposition of this Prophesie I thinke it not amisse to handle sixe circumstantiall points which may giue some light to the whole matter following and they be these First the instrument that writ this booke Secondly the time when he writ it Thirdly the place where he receiued it Fourthly the persons to whom he writ it Fiftly the ende and vse of his writing this Prophesie Lastly the authoritie of it As touching the first it is agreed vpon amongst the soundest Diuines that Iohn the Apostle or Euangelist Iohn the Disciple whom Iesus loued was the Authour and Instrument of penning this Prophesie as hee himselfe testifieth saying I am Iohn which sawe these things and heard them And he receiueth a commaundement from Iesus Christ which hath the keies of hell death that hee should write the things which hee had seene and heard and set them all downe together in a booke Now we all know that the testimony of Iohn is of great weight though hee be but a man for hee is such a man as is firmely to be beleeued in all that he speaketh Hee is an Apostle an Instrument of the holy Ghost and so guided by the spirit of God that he speaketh vttereth nothing that is his owne He was well knowne to the Churches to be one of Christs Apostles his authoritie among all the faithfull was throughly knowne and approued For we must consider that what an Apostle did vtter hee did vtter it as the instrumēt of the spirit which cannot erre For the prophets Apostles did not write the holy scriptures as they were men only nor yet as they were Ministers of the church only but as they were the immediate certain instruments of the holy Ghost of purpose chosen set apart to pen publish the holy bookes of God This S. Peter confirmeth saying Prophesie came not in old time by the wil of man but holy mē of God spake as they were moued by the holy Ghost The Apostle Paul also affirmeth the same touching his Gospell which saith he was not after man neither receiued hee it of man but by the reuelation of Iesus Christ Therefore whē this our Apostle saith I am Iohn which saw these things and heard them hee giueth vs to vnderstand that hee was both an eye and an eare witnesse Hee bringeth not matters which he hath heard by vncertain report he deliuereth this book to the churches they which receiued it at his hāds did know him to be a most faithfull seruant of the Lord euen a great Apostle which deliuereth not any thing but that which he had receiued of the Lord and therfore he testifieth that he saw heard al the things which he hath written in this booke And moreouer he testifieth of himselfe that he was called and authorised by Iesus Christ to write this Prophesie did nothing herein of himselfe or of his own brain For saith he I Iohn heard behind me a great voice as it had bene of a trompet saying I am Alpha Omega the first and the last that which thou seest write in a booke send it vnto the Churches Here we see how Iohn is called authorised by Alpha and Omega that is Iesus Christ to write this doctrine of the Apocalyps But may some man say was not Iohn called before was he not one of the Lambes 12. Apostles had he not now many yeares executed the office of the Apostleship right faithfully must hee now haue a new calling a second calling what needs he being an Apostle to be called authorised again To this I answer that this matter now in hand was a new a special work and therfore requires a new special calling It is a strāge reuelation therfore requireth a new authoritie to meddle in it For in this prophesie God dealeth with Iohn as he did with the old prophets in like cases For whē he wold foreshew vnto any of thē speciall matters he called them by glorious visions as we may read what a goodly visiō Esay had what a vision ful of glory Ezechiel had what a visiō Daniel had euē in maiestie like vnto this which Iohn hath here Thus then it is to be considered Iohn now is as one of the old Prophets to foreshew things to come therefore the Lord appeareth vnto him in vision and calleth him and authoriseth him therevnto as he appeared vnto them called them Let this then suffice for a reason of Iohns new calling to his new worke and office And thus much touching the first circumstance Now followeth the second circumstance which is the time whē Iohn receiued this Prophesie which is noted to be vpon a Lords day It is the day which S. Paul to the Corinthians calleth the first day of the weeke in which the Churches did meete for the holy exercises in religion which is also euident because hee saith they came together to breake bread Now the obseruation of a seuenth day is of diuine institution euen from the beginning It is naturall morall and perpetuall for God blessed the seuenth day and sanctified it We are therfore to thinke that although Iohn now in his exile was absent in bodie from the church assemblies yet he was present with them in spirit commending them most earnestly vnto God in his holy praiers and meditations and therefore it is said that hee was rauished in the spirit vpon the Lords day So we reade that the like befell vnto Daniel when hee was prisoner in Babylon the like also vnto Ezechiel who was taken by the spirit in the visions of God and carried to Ierusalem The like to Peter the like to Paul But the speciall reason of Iohns rauishment in the spirit at this time was that thereby hee might be made more fit and capable to receiue and vnderstand all those great mysteries and heauenly visions which now should be shewed vnto him And withall let vs obserue that all men are alwaies most capable of heauenly things when they are most in the spirit for God doth euermore most reueale himselfe to such as are most in praier reading and meditation and to such as make greatest conscience to spend his Sabaoths Christianly and religiously according to his great commandement And let vs alwaies be sure of this that the more feruent zealous we are in religious duties the more familiar acquaintance we shall finde with God and he will at all times be the more open-hearted vnto vs and will hide nothing from vs that may be for his glorie and our good For such as are much in heauenly contemplatiō he doth reckē not amongst his seruants but amongst his dearest friendes
THE RVINE OF ROME OR AN EXPOSITION vpon the whole Reuelation Wherein is plainly shewed and proued that the Popish Religion together with all the power and authoritie of Rome shall ebbe and decay still more and more throughout all the Churches of Europe and come to an vtter ouerthrow euen in this life before the end of the world Written especially for the comfort of Protestants and the daunting of Papists Seminary Priests Iesuites and all that cursed rabble Published by Arthur Dent Preacher of the word of God at South-Shoobery in Essex Apoc. 18. vers 7.8 She saith in her heart I sit as a Queene and am no widow and shall see no mourning Therefore shall her plagues come at one day death and sorrow and famine and shee shall be burned with fire for that God which condemneth her is a strong Lord. LONDON THE EPISTLE TO THE Christian Reader BEing often requested gentle Reader and much importuned by sundry both learned and godly to publish that doctrine of the Apocalyps which diuers of them with liuely voyce heard publikely deliuered I did at last vpon my most mature deliberation yeeld vnto their reasonable request I meane the reasons of their request Indeed I doe ingeniously confesse that I am the vnmeetest of many which this age God be thanked doth afford to deale in a matter of so great importance or any wise to be imployed in so great and honourable a seruice as this is But if I doe industriously vse my small talent and be found faithfull in a little I hope it shall haue both chearefull and comfortable acceptation with the Church of God For this I presume will bee granted of all that hee which hath but a little strength and yet putteth it forth to the vttermost to doe good withall is more to be commended then he which hath thrise his strength and vseth it not to the helpe and benefit of others And true it is indeed that sundry worthy labours of diuers excellent men vpon the Apocalyps are already extant so as he may seeme to powre water into the Sea or goe about to mend the crowes eyes that will attempt to adde any thing to that which is already published But know this O Christian Reader that the Lords garden is so large and plentifull of all most sweete and pleasant flowers that where any one hath gathered a Nosegay most fragrant and delectable another may come after and gather another not to be contemned For the wisedome of God is such an vndrainable fountaine and head-spring that where one hath drawne much before another may come happely and draw as much afterward yea though thousands doe succeede yet can this fountaine neuer be drawne drie Be it farre from me to arrogate any thing to my selfe aboue others for I am priuy inough to mine owne meanes and do freely confesse that in this worke I haue receiued much light from others and therefore do not as a iudge giue sentence vpon other mens workes but as one that would furnish the same feast bring in my dish among them Or as one that in the same cause would come in as a third or a fourth witnesse to testifie and confirme the same thing And verily through the gracious assistance of Gods spirit my simple purpose and indeuor is to giue a lift to the vttermost of my power to further that which is already happily begun and to prouoke others of greater gifts to come after with their great lights and Lanternes in their hands to discry and discouer whatsoeuer in this Prophesie is not yet fully seene into I am not ignorant that some would not haue this booke medled withall nor in any wise to be expounded among the common people because say they it is so darke and hard to vnderstand But let all such leaue their owne opinions and hearken what the holy Ghost saith Blessed is he that readeth and they that heare the words of this Prophecy c. What can be said more or more effectually to stirre vs vp to heare and reade and with all gladnesse to embrace this booke then to tell vs that in so doing we shall be blessed For the thinges contained in this booke be no trifles they be not things onely for a shew to mooue wonderment or to delight the curious minds of men but such as indeed do giue true blessednesse vnto all those that are well instructed in them What thing is greater then to bee blessed for euermore If we be not exceeding dull yea euen like stockes and stones it must needs moue vs stir vs vp For who will wittingly willingly loose his own blessednes or suffer it to be taken from him when as he may haue it If any will obiect that a man may be blessed well inough without the knowledge of this booke and that there bee bookes inough in the Scripture to procure our blessednesse without this and that thousands are now in heauen which neuer knew what this booke meant I answere that all this doth not take away the necessary vse of this booke for the holy Ghost doth pronounce a blessing vpon the heads of those that reade and studie this booke not because a man cannot be saued without it but because of the great comfort which it ministreth vnto vs of this age and hath ministred vnto all the Churches since the Apostles times For it is the Prophesie of this age and the Prophesie of all the ages since Christ wherein is fully shewed what shall be the estate and conditiō of the Church in the seuerall ages thereof vnto the ende of the worlde For God according to his admirable wisdome mercy hath neuer from the beginning left his church without a Prophesie for the great comfort thereof For we know that immediately after the fall of our first parents God himselfe for the great comfort of his Church did foretell and foreprophesie long before of that restauration which should be made by the Messias his sonne according as it came to passe in the fulnesse of time Afterward he did foretell his people of Israel of their great seruitude and intollerable bondage in Egypt and also of the ende and full determination thereof after foure hundred and thirtie yeares After all this he foretold by his seruants the Prophets of the captiuitie in Babylon and the full expiration thereof at the end and tearme of seuentie yeares And yet further for the comfort and consolation of his people he foretold by Daniel and Ezechiel of the great afflictions troubles which his Church should endure by the persecutions of the diuided Greeke Empire I meane Alexanders posteritie especially the Kings of Egypt and Siria which descended of Ptolomeus and Seleucus whom the scripture calleth the Kings of the North and of the South by the space of 294 yeares and of the precise determination thereof at the comming of the Messias Loe then what care God hath had of his Church in all ages before the comming
conclude that when God hath decreed the vtter ouerthrow of Rome wee must not aske this question how can it be or which way shall it be brought about For the scriptures doe teach that God in all ages hath done the greatest exploits either by himselfe alone without meanes or else by weake meanes or contrary to all meanes By himselfe without meanes hee ouerthrew the Moabits Ammonites and them of mount Seir which made warre against good king Iehosaphat By himself he destroied Pharaoh his army in the red Sea By himselfe hee ouerthrew Iericho that great citie By himselfe hee slew the huge army of the Assyrians that made warre against Ezechias By himselfe hee smote the great and dreadfull army of the Ethiopians before Asa and before Iudah By himselfe hee smote the Syrians which besieged Dothan the citie where the prophet Elisha was By weake meanes hee ouerthrew the innumerable army of the Midianites euen by Gedeons three hundred By weake meanes he slew a garrison of the Philistines euen by Ionathan and his armour-bearer By weake meanes he ouerthrew the kings of Sodome thereabouts euen by Abraham his family He ouerthrew Goliah by Dauid Sisera by Iael Abimilech by a woman Contrary to meanes hee saued the three children from burning being in the fire Contrary to meanes hee saued Ionas from drowning being cast into the sea Contrary to meanes hee preserued Daniel from deuouring being cast into the Lions denne Contrary to meanes hee kept the Israelites from drowning being in the bottome of the sea Contrary to meanes and to all expectation hee caused the Sunne to stand still at noone day whilest he overthrew the fiue kings of Canaan by Iosuah Therefore I conclude that forasmuch as God in all ages hath effected the most strange and admirable things either by himselfe without meanes or by very weake meanes or contrary to all meanes therefore it is in vaine to aske this question how or by what meanes shall Rome bee destroyed for it is inough for vs to know that it shall be destroyed and come to vtter desolation And in my iudgement the holy ghost hath so often so plainely affirmed this that no man should any more make any doubt of it or once call it into question For what can bee more plaine then to say Rome is fallen Rome shall fall Great hailestones like talants shall fall vpon it It shall goe to perdition It shall fall to destruction It shall bee cast downe like a great milslone into the bottome of the sea It shall be burnt with fire It shall bee made desolate and naked It shall bee without inhabitants All the popish sort both high low shall with great mourning lamentation bewaile the desolatiō therof Their armies shall come to Armageddon The beast the false prophet shall bee taken their captaines souldiours slaine by infinit heapes their carkases made meate for the foules of the aire If all this be not plaine inough I cannot tell what can bee plaine inough True it is indeed the holy Ghost doth not name Rome but it is apparant by the circumstances that all these places must needes bee vnderstood of Rome of Romish power and of the Romish armies For there can be no other soūd sense giuen of them as all diuine writers and interpreters doe affirme both new olde And therefore I conclude that S. Iohn in this prophesie could not speake more plainly except hee should haue named Rome For hee nameth Babylon He nameth the great citie which then raigned ouer the kings of the earth He nameth the citie situate vpon seauen hils Hee nameth the citie which had seauen seuerall gouernments And therefore out of all doubt hee meaneth Rome Well then sith it is so that Rome and all Romish power and authoritie shall fall flat downe and come to vtter destruction and desolation in this life let all men take heed how they ioine with Rome how they ioyne with the Romish Church and how they receiue the beasts marke for assuredly they shal al be destroyed together both in this life in that which is to come as wee shall heare by and by Let all wise men therefore and all such as haue any care of their saluation follow the wholesome counsell and aduise of the holy ghost which saith Goe out of her my people that yee be not partakers of her sinnes and that yee receiue not of her plagues for her sins are come vp to Heauen and God hath remembred her iniquities Our onely wisdome then wil be to seperate our selues from the whore of Babylon that is from the Church of Rome and to ioyne our selues with all speed to the true Church of God that is the Church of the Protestants for this shall stand and florish the other shall fall downe and perish But what then shall wee bee sory for the fall of Babylon and the ruine of Rome No no. The holy Ghost counselleth vs greatly to reioyce in her destruction and ouerthrow saying O Heauens reioyce ouer her and ye holy Apostles Prophets because God hath giuen your iudgement on her We are therefore to be so far from mourning lamenting for the desolation of Rome as the kings merchants mariners other her friends as that it ought to be the very ioy and reioicing of our hearts For S. Iohn saith that not onely the holy Angels Prophets Apostles Martyrs shall reioyce at the destruction of Rome but also all the Saints and the whole bodie of the Church And therfore he saith that after the vtter ouerthrow of Rome He heard a great voice of a great multitude in Heauen saying Hallelu-iah that is praise yee the Lord for hee hath condemned the great whore which did corrupt the earth with her fornication and hath auenged the bloud of his seruants shed by her hand And againe saith S. Iohn they said Hallelu-jah Hallelu-jah Hallelu-jah thrise together therby expressing the great ioy thāksgiueing for the destruction and ouerthrow of the great whore and euen so ought all that loue God that loue the Church and that loue the truth greatly to reioyce in the destruction of Rome because this monster shall no longer oppresse the Israell of God And sure it is that the more zealous godly that a man is the more he will rejoice at the destruction of Popery for a man cannot loue God and his church that doth not laugh in the destruction of that Antichristian and bloudy kingdome Let no man heere say this is crueltie this is want of charitie and want of pittie to laugh in the destruction of any or to reioice at other mens harmes But the most wise God saith Reward her euen as she hath rewarded you and giue her double according to her works and in the cup that shee hath filled to you fill her the double In asmuch as shee glorified her selfe and liued in
againe and the Papists looke for a day It stands vs then all vpon which loue Christ and his Gospell that wee should be well appointed and throughly armed against them And for this purpose the Reuelation of S. Iohn is of great vse necessitie As I said before so I say againe that it is the Prophesie of our time written to this speciall ende that by it wee might bee both fore-warned and fore-armed If wee doo consider the whole matter of this booke wee shall easily finde out the vse and end of it For the excellent matter of it doth argue the excellent ende and vse of it Now then as concerning the generall matter of this booke here are to bee founde very large and liuely descriptions of the most glorious person of Christ chapter 1 and all his excellent offices both of King Priest and Prophet and also most notable descriptions of the Church and of the Ministers of it and of the persecutions and afflictions which it must of necessitie passe through in this world Also of Gods mercifull prouidence for his Church and most vigilant care ouer it in the middest of all extremities Here are set before our eyes very liuely descriptions of the Churches deadly enemies both of Sathan himselfe and his three great instruments the Romaine Emperour the Pope and the Turke Here are set downe all their cruell persecutions of the Church and their vtter ouerthrowe in the ende Here are described hell death the resurrection and the last iudgement Here also the very kingdome of heauen is at large described with all those great rewards infinite glory and endlesse felicitie which remaine for all the faithfull worshippers of God I conclude therefore that for as much as this Prophesie is of such excellent contents therefore the vse and necessitie of it must needes bee verie great And for this cause Iohn is willed and commaunded by Alpha and Omega chapter 1.19 to write the things which hee had seene the things that were and the things that shall come hereafter By the things which he had seene is meant that glorious vision mentioned in the first Chapter vers 13 14 15 16. wherein Iesus Christ did appeare vnto him in the middest of the seuen golden Candlestickes in most glorious manner as is there described And all this was in the I le of Pathmos where Iohn was first called and authorised to this worke and therfore he is willed first of all to record this vision which hee had alreadie seene By the things that are hee meaneth the present state of the seuen Churches of Asia which were then the most flourishing Churches in the world as they are described in the second and third Chapters and in them the estate of all other Churches By the things that shal be he meaneth all the prophesies of this booke which were to bee fulfilled in their time al those strange accidents which should come to passe in processe of time and the seuerall ages of the Church euen vnto the end of the world Thus we see how Iohn receiueth a precise commandement from the sonne of God to write things past present to come that they might stand in record vnto all posterities from generation to generation Thus much touching the fift circumstance which is the ende and vse of this booke Now followeth to speake of the last circumstantiall point which is the authoritie of this Prophesie which is strongly confirmed from the Author of it which is Iesus Christ and therefore it is called the Reuelation of Iesus Christ which God gaue vnto him chapter 1.1 And againe it is written I Iesus sent mine Angell to testifie these things in the Churches chapter 22 16. Here wee see plainely that Iesus Christ the very sonne of God the Alpha and Omega is the Author of this booke for hee subscribes his name vnto it and sets his hand and seale vnto it Needes therefore must the authoritie of it bee very great which commeth from so great a personage for looke what dignitie and authoritie he is of from whom the booke commeth of the same dignitie authoritie is the booke it selfe An other strong argument to confirme the authoritie of this booke may be taken from the protestation of Iesus Christ in these words I protest vnto euery man that heareth the words of the Prophesie of this booke chapter 22 18. if any man shall adde vnto these things God shall adde vnto him the plagues that are written in this booke And if any shall diminish of the words of the booke of this Prophesie God shall take away his part out of the booke of life Here wee see how Iesus Christ maketh the authoritie of this booke equall to all other the Oracles of God to the which it is not lawfull for any man to adde or detract vnder paine of condemnatiō It maketh much also for the authoritie of this booke that S. Iohn doth so often repeate reiterate and inculcate his owne name I Iohn I Iohn I Iohn I Iohn the Apostle I Iohn the Euangelist I Iohn the Diuine Shewing by all these repetitions how needfull a thing it was that the faithfull should bee throughly instructed who he was euen one of the Lambes twelue Apostles and therefore to be voide of all suspition and doubt concerning the authoritie of this booke and not once to imagine it to bee any inuention of man or faigned deuice sith it was penned by so great an Apostle Moreouer the authoritie of this Prophesie is confirmed by foure reasons in the last chapter The first is the affirmatiō of the Angell who saith chapter 22.6 7 8. These words are faithfull true The second is the authoritie of the most high God himselfe in these wordes vers 6 The Lorde God of the holy Prophets sent his Angell to shewe vnto his seruants the things which must shortly bee fulfilled The third is the testimonie of Iesus who pronounceth them blessed which keepe the words of this Prophesie For saith he Behold I come shortly vers 7 Blessed is hee that keepeth the words of his Prophesie The fourth and last is the witnesse of Iohn in these words I am Iohn which heard and sawe these things vers 8 Now it may bee demaunded what is the cause that here are so many things heaped vp for the confirmation of the authoritie of this booke Surely wee must thinke there is some speciall cause and reason of it For the holy Ghost dooth not vse to deale so much and so earnestly in a matter but vpon great cause We may easily gather what the cause is This booke painteth out the whore of Babylon and the whole kingdome of the great Antichrist together with all Sathans cunning and sleight therein and for this cause Sathan hath laboured especially to weaken the credit and authoritie of this booke Hee by some meanes in olde time preuailed thus farre that euen among some Churches of true Christians the authoritie and truth of it was doubted
West North and South The sense is that the diuels haue yet further and greater scope giuen them to plague and destroy the inhabitants of the earth These diuels had exceeding great power in the kingdome of Antichrist but they are vnsatiable in mischiefe and so after a sorte lie still bound till they haue their desire The place where they lie bounde is Euphrates wherein is a mysterie for Euphrates literally taken is a great Riuer which ranne so nigh the citie Babylon in Chaldea that it was a mightie defence vnto it so that the citie could not be taken vntill they that laide siege vnto it cut out trenches and deriued the waters an other way Now for the mysterie it is this Rome in this booke is called Babylon By a metaphor and after the same manner the great Riuer Euphrates as wee shall see afterward chap. 16. signifieth the power wealth and authoritie which that citie Rome euen this westerne Babel hath to defend it selfe Then it followeth that in this power authoritie and strength of Rome the diuels lie bounde for they waited through the power of Rome to worke yet farre greater mischiefe and therefore are saide to bee bounde so long as they were restrained The mischiefe which they plotted and purposed to bring to passe by the authoritie and power of Rome was the hatching and bringing forth of the Mahometish religion which in very deed did spring from the darknesse of Rome as from his proper roote and originall cause The diuels did foresee that out of the superstitions and Idolatries of Rome defended by their great power and authoritie Mahometish religion might very well bee framed and therefore not being content to plague the West part of the worlde with Poperie and Idolatrie they do greedily desire also to plague the East part of the worlde with the false religion of Mahomet They are not satisfied with plaguing and poisoning all Europe with abhominable Idolatries except also they plague and infect all Asia Affrica with the Turkes most execrable religiō so insatiable are the diuels in working mischiefe Now in the meane time they think thēselues too much straightned bound and tied vp in Rome Romish religion except they may be loosed and proceede further to ouerspread the whole world with all impieties and most horrible abhominations A man would thinke that when the diuels had preuailed so far as to place Antichrist in his cursed chaire and to breede the swarmes of Locusts out of the smoake of hell they might haue bene satisfied for then as wee say hell seemed to be broken loose But yet all this cannot satisfie the vnsatiable diuels but they will haue the religion of Mahomet established to poison and plague all the East parts of the world in their soules and also they will haue the most huge cruell and sauage armies of the Turkes raised vp to murder and massacre milliōs of men in their bodies in the west parts of the world as presently we shall heare Now till all this bee effected they are saide to lie bound at Rome But here we see that this sixt Angell hath a precise commaundement from Iesus Christ to loose these diuels which lay bound at the great riuer Euphrates that they might plague the whole world farre and neare at their pleasure so now all the diuels of hell are let loose and let vs heare what followeth And the foure Angels were loosed which were prepared at an houre at a day at a moneth and at a yeare vers 15 to slay the third part of men Now the diuels being loosed and vnbounde by speciall commandement from Christ were in a readinesse to execute their mischiefe This ascending by degrees from a short time vnto longer longer From an houre to a day c. dooth signifie that as the diuels were prest at hand at an houres warning as we say to put in practise whatsoeuer they had plotted so they were as forwarde to continue the same From an houre to a day from a day to a moneth from a moneth to a yeare that is frō time to time vntil the date of their commissiō was out for their time was limited and their commission bounded as afterward we shall see And this is our comfort that both the Papacie is limited to fiue monethes and the Turcisme to houres daies monethes and yeares The diuels power is limited though it grieueth them full sore They cannot doo what they list they cannot continue as long as they would After the number of horsemen of warre were twentie thousand times ten thousand for I heard the number of thē vers 16 Now vpon the loosing of these diuels here followeth the description of a most horrible plague which they raised vp and it is a huge army a murthering army an army in number exceeding great for he saith They were twentie thousand times ten thousand that is two hundred millions or two hundred thousand thousands But we may not think that this army was euer all at one time or in any one age but here are the armies of many ages reckened vp and the full plague of many yeares set forth How could Saint Iohn number such an army may some man say He answereth this doubt and saith Hee heard the number of them Hee did not number them but the number was tolde him Moreouer it is to be noted that as this army did exceed in number so also in terror and strength and therefore they are said to be all horsemen For an army of horsemen are both more strong and more terrible then any arm of footemen vers 17 And thus I sawe the horses in a vision and them that sate on them hauing firy Habbergeons and of Iacinth and of brimstone and the heads of the horses were as the heads of Lyons and out of their mouths went forth fire and smoake and brimstone Heere is the description of these horsemen and horses as they appeared to Iohn in a vision First touching the horsemen it is saide that they were very well armed with Habbergions that is coates of Maile Corselets or Curets and that of a fiery colour and of the colour of Iacinth that is of smoake as appeareth in the last clause of this verse and also of the colour of Brimstone For as horsemen in compleate armour were wont to weare in their breast-plates and targets certaine ensignes and colours whereby they might be made terrible to their enemies So these Turkish warriours and horsemen do holde out their colours of fire smoake and brimstone as it were flagges of defiance against the whole world threatning present death to al that should withstand them or as if they meant to spet fire and flame them or to choake them with smoake and brimstone then burne them vp with fire brimstone All this their colours and ensignes in their breast-plates and Habbergions did portend Now as concerning their horses no doubt they were as fierce as the horsmen They were great Launces they had heads like
wherewith the Ministers of the Gospell are armed is very great and glorious though the world see it not nor know it not For the Apostle saith The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but spiritual mightie through God to cast downe holdes casting downe the imaginations and euery high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God c. And when they haue finished their testimony vers 7 the beast that commeth out of the bottomelesse pit shall make warre against them and kill them Here is set downe the great crueltie and bloudie tyrannie which Antichrist should vse against these faithfull witnesses of our Lord Iesus For although they ouercome him with the spiritual sword which is the fire that commeth out of their mouthes yet for a time power was giuen to this beast that commeth out of the bottomlesse pit that is the Pope and his adherents to murder Gods Saints with the materiall sword but yet note that Antichrist can doe nothing till the two witnesses haue finished their testimony such is Gods care and prouidence for all his faithfull seruants And their corps shall lye in the streetes of the great citie vers 8 which spiritually is called Sodome and Egypt where our Lord also was crucified By the great citie here is meant Rome yet not the citie only of Rome but all the Romane Empire power and iurisdiction as afterwarde shall be made manifest Now the corpses dead carkasses which were murdered and massacred in all nations by Antichrists tyrannie are here said to lie in the streetes of Rome that is to be cast forth into the open fieldes as not worthy the honour of buriall in all places countries kingdomes within the Romaine Empire or iurisdiction of Rome as we read to haue bene in England Scotland France Ireland Germany and Spaine And as the holy Ghost saith The dead bodies of thy seruants haue they giuen to be meate to the foules of the heauē and the flesh of thy Saints vnto the beastes of the earth Moreouer it is to be obserued that Rome is here compared spiritually or by a trope to Sodome and Egypt To Sodome for filthines for what citie euer was or is more filthy then Rome chapter 17.5 the mother of whoredomes and abhominations of the earth And to Egypt for Idolatrie keeping Gods people in spirituall bondage Last of all it is here saide that our Lord Iesus was crucified at Rome which may seeme straunge sith all men knowe that Christ was crucified at Ierusalem But to answere this doubt wee are to vnderstand that in respect of the place our Lord Iesus was crucified at Ierusalem but if we respect the power and authoritie that put him to death hee was crucified at Rome for Christ was put to death by a Romane Iudge by Romane lawes by Romane authoritie by a kinde of death proper onely to the Romanes and in a place which then was within the Romane Empire And for this cause it is here said that Christ was crucified at Rome And they of the people and kindreds and tongues Gentiles shall see their corpes three dayes and an halfe vers 9 shal not suffer their corpses to be put in the graue Hitherto we haue heard of the rage of Antichrist against the two witnesses Now further we are to vnderstand of the malice and furie of all his adherents that is all Papists Atheists and the rest of the blinde people and seduced multitude which all did allow the Popes crueltie in sheading the bloud of the Martyrs and they do testifie the allowance approbation of the Popes fact and also their owne malice and madnesse against them in this that they will not vouchsafe them the honour of buriall but cast out their dead bodies as carrion or as the dead bodies of dogges or swine thereby shewing that they esteemed them no better then so Nay we read that their hellish rage and madnesse was so great outragious that they wracked their malice vpon the dead bones and carkasses of Gods Saints and Martyrs For their bloudie most malicious minds could not be satisfied except they digged vp the bodies of Gods witnesses out of their graues then burnt thē to ashes Wheras it is said they shal see their corpes the meaning is that all the blind people within the Romane Empire should be eyewitnesses of these things and not only so but euen great Agents also in the slaughter of Gods people By 3. daies an halfe which is halfe a week he meaneth all the time of Antichrists raigne tyrannicall gouernment as before hath bene shewed For these 3. daies a halfe being in propheticall cōputation three yeares and a halfe signifie the same thing that the 42. monethes and a thousand two hundred and three score daies before vers 10 And they that dwell vpon the earth shal reioyce ouer them and be glad and shall send giftes one to an other for these two Prophets vexed them that dwelt on the earth Here we see how the inhabitants of the earth that is the seduced multitude and blinde people in the time of ignorance do greatly insult triumph ouer the death of the Lords witnesses they do expresse their ioy by sending gifts presents one to another as if they had receiued some great benefites or had heard the most ioyfull newes in the world And the reason is added because they vexed and tormented them meaning thereby that the preaching of the truth the reprouing of their errors Idolatries and manifolde impieties was a dagger a corsey vnto them they could at no hand endure it for the preaching of the Gospel is the torment of the world and the Preachers the tormēters These fewe Preachers thundring against their superstitions and abhominable seruice of Antichrist did vexe euery veine in their heart and inwardly so wound and launce their consciences that they could haue no rest til they had rid them out of the world But now hauing dispatched them and made riddance of them they are very cranke and iocund But after three daies and a halfe the spirit of life comming frō God vers 11 shall enter into them and they shall stand vpon their feete and great feare shall come vpon them which sawe them Notwithstanding the rage and sauage fury of the Pope his followers yet heere is shewed that they could not preuaile as they desired for within three daies a halfe that is when the date of Antichrists raigne was expired and the time come that Popery must be disclosed by the light of the Gospell breaking forth there followeth a great alteration For these two Prophets or witnesses are raised vp again For he saith the spirit of life which came from God shall enter into them and they shall stand vpon their feete This may seeme somewhat straunge but it is not to be vnderstood that they should be raised vp bodily in their persons till the last resurrection but that God woulde raise vp
others endued with the same spirite which should mightily defend both the doctrine cause and quarrell which their predecessors had maintained and sealed with their blood in whom they should after a sort reuiue liue againe euen as Elias did reuiue and as it were liue againe in Iohn Baptist who is saide to be endued with the power and spirit of Elias as it was foretold by the Prophet and as our Sauior himselfe doth auouch Now blessed be God that we liue in these daies wherein we see with our eyes all these things fulfilled For when the Pope his Cleargy had murthered Gerhardus Dulcimus Nauarensis Waldus Nicolaus Orem Iohn Picus Iohn Zisca Visilus Groningensis Armerius Wickliffe Husse Ierome of Prage and many Preachers in Sueuia and one hundred holy Christians in the countrey of Alsatia and many others in all countries and of all conditions of men yet for all that spight of their hearts God raised vp others in their stead as Luther Caluin Zuinglius Peter Martir Peter Viret Melancton Bucer Bullinger and their successors yea the thousands of excellent Ministers and Preachers which are dispersed ouer all Europe at this day In whom all the former witnesses do reuiue and as it were stand vppon their feete againe And now a great feare is come vpon the Pope and his Cleargy and all his fauorites for they did neuer so much as dreame of such an alteration but this is the Lordes doing and it is maruellous in our eyes vers 12 And they shall heare a great voice from heauen saying vnto them come vp hither and they shall ascend vp to heauen in a cloude and their enemies shall see them Here the Lordes witnesses whom Antichrist had murdered are called and taken vp into heauen that they may be crowned with glory and immortalitie hauing in the earth fought so excellēt a fight of faith as they had for euen as Christ their head was taken vp in a cloud into the heauens Euen so his faithfull members are here taken vp in a cloud to raigne with him for euer Moreouer it is here said that their enemies shall see them ascending vp they shall as it were ascend vp in their sight for from the fire and faggot swords and speares of their enemies they went directly vnto God and the very consciences of their persecutors did witnesse so much nay some of them being in horrible convulsions of cōscience did not sticke to vtter it auouching the innocency of Gods Martirs as sometimes Pilat and the Centurion did of Christ But though they had not bene iustified by their enemies yet are they here iustified by a greater testimony for the voice from heauen the voice of God doth iustifie them cleare them accounting them worthy to be called vp from the earth to heauen and receiued to eternall glory For howsoeuer the Pope his Cleargy condemned them for heretikes and scismatikes yet here they are iustified and cleared by a voice from heauen which is more then the voices suffrages and approbations of all men in the world And the same houre there shal be a great earthquake and the tenth part of the citie shall fall and in the earthquake shal be slaine in number seuen thousand and the remnant were sore feared and gaue glory to the God of heauen As hee hath shewed before that the world was very ioyful iocond when they had made dispatch of Gods witnesses but afterward full of feare terror when they sawe what followed So here in this verse is shewed that at the same houre that is about the same time whē they haue persecuted the Saints and see thousands of others raised vp in their stead and as it were out of their ashes or rather out of their blood that there should immediately follow a great earthquake that is horrible commotions seditions tumults and open warres among the kingdomes and nations of the worlde and amongst all people which should liue after the breaking forth of the light of the Gospell as this day we see with our eyes For who now in these dayes dooth not see and feele this Earthquake who knoweth not what stirres there haue bene and are euery where about Religion Who is ignorant that all the warres seditions treacheries treasons and rebellions that are this day in Europe betwixt one kingdome and an other are specially concerning the matter of religigion But marke what followeth Beholde the effect of this Earthquake It is saide that the tenth part of the citie shall fall By the citie here he meaneth the great citie Rome mentioned before vers 8. which is therefore called the great citie because it was the chiefe citie of the Romane Empire and the verie seate of Antichrist Now then the sense and meaning of the holy Ghost is that when there once beginneth to be an earthquake that is broiles contentions alterations questions disputations about religion and that the popish doctrine which had so long preuailed in the world should be called in question yea openly preached against conuicted and cōdemned that then Rome should begin to fall and Romish religion to suffer a great eclipse yea the tenth part that is some part of the citie of Rome I meane the doctrine and authoritie of Rome should be ouerthrowne Now this falling of the tenth part of Rome was fulfilled within some fewe yeares after the broaching of the Gospell by Luther and his immediate successors but since it is gone backe many degrees and hereafter it shall still ebbe consume away by degrees euen till it come to nothing as God willing shal be plainly proued hereafter Moreouer here is set downe another effect of this earthquake which is that thereby shall be slaine in number seuen thousand that is many thousands for the number of seuen is a perfect and vniuersall number as formerly hath bene declared But the sense of this clause is that all such as wil not yeeld to the Gospell after matters once come in question and the light therof breaketh forth but continue still in their blindnesse and hardnesse standing out sturdily against the truth shall feele the heauie iudgements of God vpon them and come to miserable and wretched endes as did here in England Stephen Gardiner bloudie Bonner and many other such open persecutors in other nations and countries as the booke of Martyrs doth plentifully witnesse Last of all it is said that the rest were terrified gaue glorie to the God of heauen that is the elect of God seeing these horrible iudgements vpon the persecutors of the Gospel and hauing their eies opened through these contentions and broiles about religion should repent of their former Idolatries blindnesse and ignorance should yeeld to the truth and giue glorie to the God of heauen as at this day we see thousands doo God be thanked chapter 9 Wee heard before in the time of the Turkes murthering army when the third part of men were slain that the rest repented not of their Idolatrie But
plainly appeare By the tenne hornes of this beast is meant the great power and large dominion of the Roman Empire or as the Angell himselfe doth expound it chapter 17.12 thereby is meant tenne kings that is manie kingdomes which should be subiect to the Roman Monarchie and wherein in verie deede the power and strength of the Empire did consist For by these hornes the Roman Empire did not only push downe other nations but especially dosse against the Church and as it were cruelly gore the sides thereof Nowe then we see that the Roman Emperours both in homes and heads were like their Father the diuel or the dragon By the tenne crownes vpon his tenne hornes are meant his great and manifolde victories ouer other countries and kingdomes The hornes of this beast are said to be crowned not his heads because the Roman Empire hath alwayes more preuailed by power then by policie by strength then by subtilty But the Dragon hath his heads crowned and not his homes because he hath alwayes done more hurt by policie then power by subtiltie then strength One thing in all this is greatly to bee heeded that the holy Ghost in this chapter doth specially speake of the Roman monarchie as the Popes were heads thereof or as it was vnder the dominion of the Popes in their pride when as the Emperours were almost troden vnder foote and not simply and soly as the Emperours were heads thereof Moreouer it is said that vpon the seuen heads of this beast was written the name of blasphemie For besides the blasphemies of Caligula Nero Domitian Dioclesian Iulianus and the other old heathenish and persecuting Emperours which haue arrogated vnto themselues diuine honour wee shall anon heare of the surpassing blasphemies of the Popes against God ver 5.6 and all goodnesse vers 2 And the Beast which I saw was like a Leopard and his feete like a Beares and his mouth as the mouth of a Lyon and the Dragon gaue him his power his throne and great authoritie Here the Roman Empire is described of the likelihood of qualities which it had with the other three Empires going before it For first it is compared to a Leopard for swiftnesse to pray vpon others and also for fircenesse and subtiltie as did the Greeke monarchie Secondly it is compared to a Beare for rapine and rauening as the monarchie of the Medes and Persians Thirdly it is compared to a Lyon for pride and insolencie as the monarchie of the Chaldaeans So then by this description it is verie cleere that this beast signifieth the Roman monarchie because it containeth in it the whole power of the other three Empires and is here described as a compound of diuers beasts yea as a verie monster of monsters hauing the body of a Leopard the feete of a Beare and the mouth of a Lyon Moreouer it is said that the Dragon gaue him his power and his throne and great authoritie Which plainely sheweth that the power and authoritie of the Roman Empire is of the diuell in respect of the euill qualitie thereof that is fraud rapine chapter 17. v. 8. and oppression In which respect it is said to ascend out of the bottomlesse pit as was declared before But the substance of it and the gouernement it selfe was of God For the powers that be are ordained of God as saith the Apostle And I saw one of his heads vers 3 as it were wounded vnto death but his deadly wound was healed and all the world wondred and followed the beast Heere Iohn in a vision seeth one of the seuen heads of the beast almost wounded vnto death There bee diuers and differing opinions of the learned touching this wound of the Empire both when it should bee and howe and by whom Some vnderstand it of the death of Iulius Caesar some of Nero some of the oppression of the Gothes and Vandales some of the great preuailing of Iohn Husse and Ierome of Prage in the greatest part of Bohemia But to let all these passe if wee do wisely consider and weigh with our selues that by a beast in this place is not meant anie lawfull administration of gouernement but a tyrannicall power in persecuting the Church wee shall find that a head of the beast was then wounded when Constantine the Great slew Maxentius and Licinius the two last persecuting Emperours set vp true religion and brought peace to the Churches For hereby the Roman Empire was greatly wounded as touching the tyrannie of it The holy Ghost doth not set downe which of the seuen heads were thus wounded but in generall saith one of them Nowe it is verie probable that he meaneth the sixt head For we doe not reade of anie such wound in the former fiue which were past Neither can it be vnderstood of the seuenth head which was the Papacie because it receiued no such wounde as yet It followeth then that the wound was in the sixt head that is in the Empire But we reade of no Emperour that did so wound the beast as did Constantine the Great And therefore it is verie probable nay an hundred to one that the holy Ghost here pointeth at him But it followeth that his deadly wound was healed to wit by these wicked Emperours which succeeded Constantine as Constantius Iulianus Valentius and others which afresh did set vp Idolatrie and persecuted the Church Nowe vppon the healing of this wound it is said that all the world wondred and followed the beast that is manie nations or the greatest part of the world did submit themselues to the Roman tyrannie For sure it is some kingdomes were neuer subiect to the Empire of Rome as some part of Asia and some part of Africa vers 4 And they worshipped the Dragon which gaue power vnto the beast and they worshipped the beast saying Who is like vnto the beast who is able to warre with him Now is shewed how all the subiects of the Roman Empire did worship the Dragon that is they maintained that worship which he liked and loued that is the worship of idols which the Apostle calleth the worship of diuels And it is said also they worshipped the beast that is they did all with one accord submit themselues both to the religion and authoritie of the beast that is to the Popes as they were the seuenth head of the Empire For as I said before so I say againe the holy Ghost heere speaketh of the Empire when it was in the greatest glorie and exaltation yea when all the worlde wondred and followed the beast yea when all admired the great and large dominion of the Roman empire and said within themselues who is like vnto the beast who is able to warre with him Now the Empire of Rome was neuer so great and powerful as when the Popes were heads thereof I meane when they executed the whole ciuill iurisdiction of the empire besides their Ecclesiasticall power which now did both meete in one For now the
sword Here is the patience and the faith of the Saints Here is shewed that the things spoken of this great beast are very secret and mystical and can be vnderstood of none but those onely whose eares and eies God openeth to heare see and vnderstand that is the very elect of God as for al papists and worldlings their eares eies are sealed and shut vp they cannot vnderstand them but doe stil worship the beast ascribing vnto him diuine power and honor In the 10. verse the iudgement and vengeance of God is denounced against the Romane monarchie both former and latter which as it hath long oppressed the church with cruel bondage and drawne thousands into perpetual captiuity so it selfe also should be cast downe with al the adherents thereof both in this life and that which is to come For as the Romane Empire did tyrannise ouer the world and led millions into spirituall captiuity and bondage so here it is auouched that according to the iust lawe of quittance it selfe should be brought to the same lore And as this beast had murdered many by the sword so he him selfe must be murdered by the sword also As the Apostle saith God is iust and therefore will recompense tribulation to them that trouble his Church Now al this seemeth vnto me to be a cleere prophecy of the fal and final destruction of the Romane Empire which indeede considering the pitch that it was at may seeme a thing strange and incredible and therefore the Holy-ghost stirreth vs vp to attention in the ninth verse as to a thing of great woonderment and admiration for if the Romane monarchie fall the Papacy must of necessity fal with it For the Romane Empire is that beast chapter 17. verse 3. which beareth vp the whoore of Babylon as appeareth in the 17. Chapter of this prophecy where we shal God willing plainely and at large heare of the ioint destruction of them both together It is added Heere is the patience and faith of the Saints That is here is required great patience of al Gods children to waite and carry til the performance and accomplishment of those things and also faith and ful assurance to beleeue that they shal in Gods appointed time come to passe For few doo beleeue these things and therfore wait not with patience for the accomplishment thereof And I beheld another beast comming out of the earth ver 11 which had two hornes like the Lamb but he spake like the dragon Hauing described the first beast which is the Roman Empire now the Holy-ghost commeth to describe the second beast which is the Papacy or the kingdome of the great Antichrist for although hee bee described before in regard of his monarchy that is the ciuill iurisdiction which hee exercised as he was the seuenth head of the beast and head of the Empire yet here he is described after another sort that is according to his ecclesiastical authority and therfore he is called another beast or a beast differing from the former in that he exerciseth an other power besides the power of the heathen Emperours of Rome which is his spirituall iurisdiction in which respect he is called the false prophet This second beast riseth out of the earth as the former rose out of the sea then it appeareth that Antichrist is by his breed a sonne of the earth obscurely borne by little and little creeping vp out of his abiect estate as did the Turke It is here most truly said that the kingdome of Antichrist ariseth out of the earth is the very breed of the earth for assuredly it neuer came from heauen It was first hatched out of couetuousnesse ambition pride murders treasons poisonings sorceries enchantments and such like For al stories do shew that from these roots the Papacy grew to his exceeding height and altitude This second beast hath two hornes like the Lambe Whereby is meant his ciuil and ecclesiastical power or his kingdome and Priesthood which he falsly pretendeth to come from the Lamb and therefore he giueth in his armes two keies and hath two swords carried before him So Boniface the eight shewed himselfe one day in apparrel as a Pope and the next day in armour as the Emperour and the two hornes in the Popes miter are signes hereof But the Holy-ghost here telleth vs that these two hornes are not the hornes of the Lambe but only like the hornes of the Lamb for he receiued not his power from the Lamb Christ but from the diuel that is the dragon with ten hornes Then thus it is the Papacy is the seauenth head of the first beast that is the Empire yet a beast by it selfe with two hornes like the Lamb in respect of his ioint power and authority both ecclesiastical and ciuil in which respect he is called euen the eight and one of the seuen Chap. 17. ver 11. Although this second beast haue two hornes like the Lamb yet he spake like the dragon that is al his words and workes practises and proceedings lawes and decrees are for the dragon of whom he hath his power and throne and great authority So that whatsoeuer he pretendeth in religion and matters of Gods worship as though he would be like the Lamb yet assuredly hee is altogether for the dragon and the diuel he is assured vnto them as al experience doth manifestly witnesse And he did all that the first beast could doe before him he caused the earth them that dwel therin vers 12 to worship the first beast whose deadly wound was healed Here is shewed that this second beast was as mighty and stronge as the first beast and could doo as much as he euen in his presence Whereby is noted the great power and authority of the Papacy in performing as much in the seruice of the dragon against God and his church as euer the Empire of the heathen and those wicked Emperours could doo yea he did much more against Christ and his religion then euer the persecuting Emperours could do euen then when they were at their highest pitch And al this he did in his presence that is in the sight and open view of the whole Empire or whole world And he caused the earth and them that dwell therin that is al Papists and worldlings to worship the first beast that is to receiue the worship and religion of the old Roman tyranny which set vp and maintained Idolatry So then although the power in the Papacy came vnder the name of Christ yet in truth it was the same that the power of the persecuting Empire for the heathen emperours condemned the true worship of God and set vp false worship euen the worship of diuels which is Idolatry and so do the Popes also So then we see that this second beast is al for the first beast that is he leuieth al his power and authority to set vp the worship and religion of the old Romane tyrants and to force al men
giue all glory to him alone and not to any creatures And the reason is yeelded because the houre of his iudgement is come that is the time of the manifestation of the Gospel or lawes of the most high God for so the word iudgement is often taken in the scriptures Here we are to obserue one speciall thing to wit that the Gospel which this Angel flyeth withal containeth the briefe summe of al the doctrine which Luther Caluin Peter Martyr and the rest haue taught out of Gods word agreeth in al points with it For what other thing did they al preach teach and write but that men should turne from idols to the liuing God from fearing glorifying worshipping creatures to feare worship and glorifie God alone which hath made al things What other thing doo all the Preachers of this age publish proclaime in al their sermons but this Feare God and giue glory onely to him Is not this the Epirome and short summe of the doctrine of all the Preachers of England Scotland Germany Fraunce Denmarke and all the rest and therefore I conclude that this Angel must needes be vnderstood of the preachers of this last age which now these fourescore yeares haue founded the Trumpet of the Gospell against all the inuentions of Popery And blessed bee God wee see these thinges fall out in our daies and are eye-witnesses of the fulfilling of them And there followed another Angell saying It is fallen it is fallen Babylon that great City for she gaue to all nations to drinke the wine of the wrath of her fornication Here is set downe the blessed effect of the preaching of this euerlasting Gospel which is the downefall of Babylon For as when the cleere sunne ariseth vppon the earth the thick mists and cloudes are dispersed euen so when the bright beames of the Gospel do shine forth vnto the world Babylon that darke kingdome vanisheth away incontinently And as it is writtē in the eighteenth Chapter chapter 18.1.2 So soone as the earth was lightened with the glory of this euerlasting Gospell Babylon immediately falleth Therefore now before I goe any further my purpose through the assistance of God is to prooue these fiue points out of this verse and that which follweth vnto the twentith Chapter to wit First that Babylon here signifieth Rome Secondly that Rome shal fall and how Thirdly that Rome shal fal finally and come to vtter desolation in this life Fourthly by whom and when it shall be ouerthrowne Lastly the causes of the vtter ruine and ouerthrow thereof But before I go about to prooue that Babylon here is Rome I would haue it carefully obserued what is meant by Rome viz. not the topographie of Rome that is so much groūd only as is compassed within the wals of that City but the regimēt gouerment prerogatiue that is claimed by vertue of that monarchie whereof Rome is the head By Rome is meant the power and authority of Rome or to speake plainelie by Rome is meant the Romane monarchy Further we are here to obserue the reason why the Holy-Ghost calleth Rome Babylon for Rome litterally properly taken is not Babylon in as much as they were two diuers Cities one in Italy the other in Chaldaea But Rome is called Babylon mystically figuratiuely as the Holy-ghost speaketh spiritually and by a kind of allusion For as the old Easterne Babylon did a long time oppresse the church of the Iewes so Rome this Westerne Babylō hath long oppressed the church of the Christians As the Easterne Babylon did many yeeres hold downe the people of God in miserable bondage and seruitude so the Westerne Babylon did a long time keepe the Christian Church in spiritual thraldome and misery In which respectes Rome is spiritually compared to Sodome and Egypt chapter 11.8 To Sodome for filthinesse and to Egypt for idolatry and keeping Gods Church in spirituall bondage and slauery And thus we see the reason why Rome is called Babylon which is not simply and properly but after a sort that is by a phrase of speech or trope which they call a Metonymie or changing of names when that is giuē to one thing which is proper to another for the likenesse of quality that it hath with it or adioined vnto it Now hauing shewed the reason why Rome is called Babylon and what is meant by Rome we are to proceed to the first point which is to prooue that Babylon in this place signifieth Rome which although it bee granted of all sound diuines and auouched in the writings of the best learned both new and olde so as it shal need no great proofe yet I wil ad three or foure reasons out of this booke to make it more plaine and apparant First therefore I doe thus reason out of the seuenteenth Chapter and laste verse chapter 17.18 Babylon is that great City which reigneth ouer the Kinges of the earth but there was no other City which did reigne ouer the Kings of the earth when Iohn writte this book but only Rome Therefore Rome is Babylon For as for Ierusalem it was at that time made an heap of stones The first proposition is auouched by the Angel of God expounding vnto Iohn what is meant by the great whoore chapter 17.1 whose damnation he had shewed him before and by the woman which sate vppon a scarlet coloured beast The woman which thou sawest saith the Angel to Saint Iohn is the great City which raigneth ouer the Kinges of the earth That is to say Rome or the Romish synagogue and malignant Church For the Angel could not speake more plainely except he should haue named Rome then to say thus The woman the great whoore of Babylon is the great City which raigneth ouer the Kings of the earth For if one should say the great City of Englād euery man knoweth that thereby is meant London if one should say the great City of France euery one knoweth that thereby is meant Paris so when the Angell sayth the great city which raigneth ouer the Kings of the earth all that liued in those times knew that therby was meant Rome For Rome was the chiefe City of the monarchie and is put in this booke for the whole monarchie and the religion thereof as hath beene sayd before My second reason is this chapter 17 verse 5. Babylon is the mother of whoredomes and abominations of the earth Babylon is that great whoore with whom haue cōmitted fornication the Kings of the earth chapter 17. verse 2. the inhabitants of the earth made drunke with the wind of her fornication But Rome none but Rome is such a one Therfore Rome is Babylon My third argument is this Babylon is that City which hath had seuen seuerall gouerments But only Rome hath had seuen seueral kind of gouermēts therfore Rome is Babylon The proposition is prooued from the words of the Angel expounding vnto Iohn what is meant by the seuen heads of the scarlet
of the seuenth chapter 17. verse 11 therefore Rome shall go into destruction The assumption is set downe Chapter 17. verse 11. For the Papacy or dominion of the Popes is the seuenth head of the beast in respect of their ciuil power and yet a beast by themselues that is an eight in respect of their ecclesiasticall power Nowe the Angel sayth flatly they shall both together go into destruction that is both the Empire and the Papacy For as the dominion of the Popes goeth downe so also their worship and religion goeth downe with it and for this cause it is expresly set downe in the nineteenth Chapter chapter 19. verse 20 that the beast and the false Prophet that is the Romane Empire and the Papacy were both destroied together Sith then the Holy-Ghost hath spoken it twise for failing that Rome shall goe into perdition and shall goe into destruction I take it to be a very sound consequence that Rome shall fall and shall be destroyed But how shall it fall may some man say or wherein shall it fall I answer that it shall fall in the credite and estimation of her doctrine It shall fall in wealth and riches It shall fall in power and authoritie And in all these it shall fall by degrees as it did rise vp by degrees It shall not fall at once as it did not rise vp at once This is set downe in the sixteenth chapter chapter 16. v. 12 where the fall of Rome is compared to the drying vppe of the riuer Euphrates which was dried vp by degrees Thus it is Euphrates was a great Riuer which did runne very neere vnto the olde Babylon in Chaldaea and it was the wall and fortification of the Citie in so much that Cyrus and Darius the kings of the Medes and Persians laying siege against it could not take it till by policie they digged great trenches and deriued the waters another way and so dried them vppe that the Holie Ghost saith The vvay vvas prepared for them to passe ouer Now as this Euphrates was the strength and fortification of old Babylon so the honour wealth riches power and authoritie of Rome is the verie fortification of it chapter 16.12 But the punishing Angell is commaunded to poure downe the Viall of wrath vppon this Euphrates that is vppon all that vpholdeth Rome or fortifieth Rome and foorthwith it dried vppe that is all the credite power riches and authoritie of ROME did diminish daylie vppon it doeth diminish and shall diminish by degrees vnto the end of the world For the vtter destruction of Rome is not yet come but it is greatly decayed from that it was fourescore yeares ago And if it continue decaying fourescore yeeres mo as assuredly it shall then will it bee brought to a lowe ebbe Since Luthers time wee knowe how the Popes Euphrates hath dried vp but there is yet much water left and it is yet too deepe for the kings of the earth to passe ouer and take it But it shall ebbe so lowe that the kings of Europe shall easily passe ouer and take it as wee shall heare anon But in the meane time we see that it falleth and that it is in falling and the worke of God goeth forward euerie day For now in this age God bee thanked manie kings and princes with great multitudes of their subiects haue their eyes opened to behold that the Romish religion is abominable and that the Papacie is the verie kingdome of the great Antichrist And whereas before they worshipped the beast now they holde vp their hands onely to the God of heauen and glorifie him in his sonne Iesus Christ Now wee see that manie lawes are made in sundrie kingdoms and prouinces to abolish that vsurped power of the Bishop of Rome Manie acts edicts and iniunctions are set forth in sundrie nations and kingdomes of Europe to destroy roote out and deface all monuments of Idolatrie and superstition which Antichrist had erected in all kingdoms Now the Popes which were honoured as Gods in the earth are accounted and adiudged as the most vile and abominable creatures that liue vpon the earth Doth not all this experimentally shew that Babylon is fallen and that Babylon doth fall by degrees It is very palpable we need no further proofe for this second point But heere wee are further to obserue that the Iesuits perceiuing the great decay of Rome and the continuall drying of their Euphrates doe bestirre them to stoppe the leake that it might not drie vp altogether Euen as when men let out the waters of great fish-ponds so as the water waxeth lowe wee see the fishes skip and plunge and take on wonderfully So the Iesuits perceiuing the waters of their Romish Euphrates to emptie and drie vp daily doe mightily take on digging and searching euerie day to open the springs and to find out some fresh fountaines to maintaine their great fishpond and to keepe the waters deepe enough that there may be no safe passage ouer for the kings of the earth to come and take their great Babylon All this doth appeare out of the sixteenth Chapter of this Prophesie where Saint Iohn in vision seeth three vncleane spirits like Frogges chapter 16. v. 13. comming out of the mouth of the Dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false Prophet By which frogges the holy Ghost meaneth the Iesuits and Seminarie Priests which are compared to frogges for three reasons First that as frogges delight in filthie lakes and puddles so the Iesuits delight in the filthie puddles of idolatrie and superstition Secondly as frogges make a great croaking in their marish grounds so the Iesuits make a great croaking in kings courts in Noblemens houses and Gentlemens houses and almost euery where where they can get any entertainment croaking and craking of the Popes supremacie the popes holinesse the Popes blessing the popes keyes the popes power Peters chaire Peters successour Christs Vicar and many good morowes I knowe not what Thirdly as frogs are all of one nature and qualitie delighting in croaking and liuing in puddle so the Iesuits are al of one mind and disposition in euil croaking euerie where to maintaine their Euphrates and liuing dayly in whoredome Sodomitrie and al kind of outragious beastlinesse But that I may more fully perswade the cōscience of the reader that by these frogs are meant the Iesuits seminarie priests let vs seriously weigh that which goeth before and that which followeth after in this text and wee shal discerne it to be verie cleere and apparant First it is said vers 10. that when the fift Angell poured out his viall of Gods wrath vppon the throne of the beast chapter 16. v. 10. by and by his kingdome waxed darke that is the maiestie power pompe credite and estimation of Antichrist beganne to bee diminished obscured and to suffer a great Eclipse which thing was fulfilled shortly after Luthers preaching And presently it followeth
we are therefore it was needfull for the better strengthning of their hope cōfort in afflictiōs that they should know the very time determined but because the Church of the christians liueth vnder most cleere comfortable promises of deliuerance therfore God according to his deepe wisedome would haue our faith exercised in an assured expectation of the accōplishment therof though the precise time be concealed An other reason may bee this the vtter ouerthrow of Rome falleth out to bee but a little before the comming of Christ to iudgement as appereth in this prophesie Now then if wee knew the day or yeere certainely when Rome should fall finally it would giue vs too much light vnto the knowledge of the last day which God in great wisedome hath of purpose hid from the knowledge of all men yea and of Angels I know right well that a certaine learned writer doth precisely determine the vtter destruction of Rome to fall out in the yeere of our Lord 1639. But by the fauour of so excellent a man bee it spoken I see no sufficient ground thereof But touching this matter of the time of Romes finall fall I will deliuer mine opinion and my reasons submitting my selfe to the iudgement of the learned for I would bee loth in this or any other thing to goe beyond my compasse or to passe the bounds of modestie and humilitie and therefore doe refer all to bee tryed by the sicle of the sanctuary I doe therefore thus iudge that the vtter ouerthrow of Rome shall bee in this age I meane within the age of a man my reason is this We of this age liue vnder the opening of the seauenth seale the blowing of the sixt trumpet and the powring foorth of the sixt vial For the first it is manifest because the opening of the seauenth seale containeth all things that shall fall out to the end of the world as hath beene shewed and proued before For the blowing of the sixt trumpet that also is plaine because vnder the blowing thereof the little booke was opened and the gospell preached as wee see in this age For the powring downe of the sixt viall of Gods wrath that also is most cleere because thereupon the great riuer Euphrates drieth vp and the Iesuits are sent out to sollicit the kings of the earth to battaile against the Church as wee see fulfilled in these our daies Then I reason thus Rome must fall downe finally in that age wherein the little booke is opened and the euerlasting gospell preached but in this age the little booke is opened and the euerlasting gospell preached therfore in this age Rome must fall downe finally And againe I reason thus Rome must fall downe finally in that age wherein the riuer Euphrates that is the fortification of Rome drieth vp and the Iesuits are sent forth to stop the leake thereof but all this falleth out in this age as wee see with our eies Therefore in this age Rome shall fall downe finally The reason of the proposition is because in this age the popish armies shall come to Armageddon Moreouer this I say and not I but the Lord when the seauenth Angell bloweth the seauenth trumpet then commeth the end of the world But the sixt Angell hath sounded the sixt trumpet long agoe as appeereth by the effects Therefore it cannot be long ere the seauenth Angell blow But Rome must fall downe finally before the seauenth Angell blow as hath beene shewed before Therefore the vtter fall of Rome cannot bee long deferred I doe not determine either of day month or yeere because it is not reuealed But I guesse at an age because the holy ghost pointeth vs vnto an agent But all these things I set downe for the comfort of Gods Church not desiring to vnderstand aboue that vvhich is meet to vnderstand but to vnderstand according to sobrietie Now it resteth to speake of the last maine point vvhich is the causes of Romes vtter ruine and ouerthrow chapter 14 8. Chap. 18.3 Chap. 19.3 Chap. 17 2. vvhich first of all are set downe foure seuerall times for falling to be because she made all nations drunke with the wine of the wrath of her fornication They which outwardly make others drunke or commit fornication vvith others are vvorthie to be seuerely punished How much sorer punishment are they vvorthie of vvhich doe the same spiritually and therfore vvoe be to Rome An other cause of the destruction of Rome is for that she hath shed the bloud of all the Prophets Martyrs chapter 16.6 Chap. 18.24 and Saints as it is vvritten In thee was found the bloud of the Prophets and of the Saints and of all that were slaine vpon the earth What is he vvorthie to haue that is a most cruell bloudsucker nay vvhat is he vvorthie to haue that shal murther a kings children yea that shall murther his eldest sonne and heire apparant to the crowne But Rome hath murthered thousands of the king of Heauens children Yea Rome hath murthered the great heire of Heauen and earth I meane the very sonne of God For Christ vvas put to death by the Romane power and authoritie and by a Romane Iudge chapter 11.8 as before hath bene shewed Therefore let all men iudge vvhat Rome is vvorthie to haue Moreouer S. Iohn telleth vs that Rome with her enchantments hath deceiued all-nations chapter 18.23 Then let the matter be referred to the iudgement of any indifferent man to determine and set downe vvhat punishment sorcerers and enchanters are vvorthie of especially spirituall sorcerers and enchanters Besides all this the holy ghost saith chapter 18.2 that Rome is the habitation of diuels and the hold of all foule spirits and a cage of euery vncleane hatefull bird What think you is like to come of an habitation of diuels What trow yee vvil be the end of a shoule of foule feends a company of most vgly mōstrous helcats What is like to become of a cage of Howles Rauens and Vultures Yea a nest of Vipers Toades Snakes Adders Cocatrices all the most stinging serpents and venemous vermin in the world What wil be the end of pild Priests filthie Friers maungy Monks roguing Iesuits Are not these a cage of vncleane birds What doe they studie what doe they plot what doe they practise euery daye but seditions periuries murthers cōspiracies treacheries treasons all maner of villanies If I had no other reason to persuad me that Rome shal fal come to a miserable end yet this onely would make me so to think that these villanous Iesuits do teach conclud in their cursed conuēticles y t it is not onely lawful but also meritorious to murther any christiā prince y t is not of their catholike religiō oh mōstrous villains ô most hideous helhoūds haue not these monsters suborned diuers desperate caitiffes to embrue their hands in the bloud of christian princes How many haue beene their plots now desperate