omne volubilis aevum so are the most industrious actiue and vnwearied Iesuites Fourthly Rivers are full of windings so Iesuites like the Serpent are full sly of insinuations by meanes whereof as Rivers they traverse the greater tract of ground the more easily Fifthly Rivers vsually run along the fartest soyles and fairest meadowes and do not Iesuites so Sixthly Rivers in their spring are but weake but being suffered to run along by their strong and swift current beare downe all obstacles that come in their way so Iesuites at their first arrivall when the Sluces or Sinque ports are not well stopt are but weake in the beginning but in tract of time they grow impetuous and intollerable Seventhly Rivers cannot brooke the abundance of rain-waters from heaven but being troubled therewith by the stirring of their owne mud they discontentedly swell over their bankes and so cause inundations on every side No more can these Rivers of Rome brooke the plentifull showres of the heavenly raine of the Gospell but their muddy malice being troubled therewith the more it raineth the more they swell and no bankes can containe or content them but over they will to bring a deluge ouer all In a word Rivers are pleasant haue a gentle gliding motion but if a man will commit his small vessell to the guidance and convoy of the streame it will inguâ—â—h him at length into the all-devouring Ocean And such is the pleasant and plausible current of Iesuiticall perswasions and faire motions that if a man will pin his soule vpon his sleeue he will carry it hand smooth into the bottomlesse gulfe of the infernall Lake But herein vnlike to Rivers For first Rivers though they come from the Sea yet passing through the narrow veines and secret pores of the earth they put off all their brackishnesse but these as they come from a Sea of blood so they run blood Secondly Rivers refresh all places and the weary travailour especially but these are bainfull wheresoever they come and so farre from refreshing the weary Pilgrim that is bound for the heavenly Hierusalem that they poyson the soule of him that drinkes of them sending him downe to the Mare mortuum the Lake of Sodom Thirdly Rivers are many wayes commodious to the parts they runne by importing necessaries and exporting superfluities but these are no way commodious only bringing in false wares or Babells toyes for which they carry away the riches of the land and that which is most precious of all poore seduced soules of men In a word Rivers breede and feede plenty of good fish for the vse of men but these are full of netts to catch and bainfull intoxicating baites to kill all the fish that come within their Channell The summe is the pouring out of this third Viall is to discover the deadly and dangerous doctrines which of all other Romes Emissaries Iesuites doe broch and vent in all Countries Yea the confirmation of this Ignatiâ—n or Igniferian Order the Divells last brood as King Iames calls them by Pope Paul 3. in the time of the Councell of Trent doth plainly point them out for those speciall Rivers here which deriue their bloody waters immedatly from that bloody sea Their doctrines are bloody in a twofold respect First in that they cause and procure infinite blood-sheds in the world not sparing the sacred blood of Kings and Princes and of all Gods Saints and servants Secondly in a spirituall regard by killing the soules of those that drinke in these bloody waters in stead of the pure fountain-water of the word of God And this is specially that blood here meant It is no lesse mortiferous then that of the Sea in the former Viall whereof every living soule therein dieth For what other doctrines doe the Iesuites bring but such as are agreeable to those of Trent all blood Though they smooth it over never so artificially yet all is but Babylons cup of poyson and of all abominations only ministred and served in in glistering gold of gloseing glosses For this cause is added here an acknowledgement of Gods iustice vpon those that drinke of this blood to wit all Papists Thou are righteous O Lord c. because thou hast iudged thus for they shed the blood of Saints and Prophets and thou hast giuen them blood to drinke for they are worthy God is still the same righteous God that ever he was and will be to the end notwithstanding the prevalent impotent spirit of all-daring Atheisme wherewith the world is now towards the end possessed wherein is verified that of Saint Peter 2 Pet. 3.3 c. When shall come scoffers walking after their owne Iusts saying where is the promise of his comming Well howsoever the daft world little discerne or dreame of it the righteous God is still a pouring out the Vialls of his wrath vpon the vessells of wrath fitted to destruction Marke it well Gods righteousnesse is here magnified for revenging the innocent blood of his Saints cruelly and prodigally spilt by their bloody persecuters those of the Church of Rome mainely which being made drunke with the blood of the Saints and of the Martyrs of Iesus as Chapter 17 therefore they haue blood given them to drinke for they are worthy So righteous is God to recompâ—nse blood to the bloody As Qâ—eene Tomyris having in a bloody field vanquished Cyrus and slaine him she chopt off his head and putting it into a Vessell full of blood for Cyrus had formerly slaine her sonne she said Now satiate and glutt thy selfe with bloud which living thou didst so much chirst after The like may the spowse of Christ say to Rome and her followers who for their cruell massacring and marryring her innocent sonnes haue now blood in bowles yea whole Rivers given them to drinke for they are worthy But he that will discerne the fearefull plague vpon all Papists must with Dauid goe into the sanctuary of the Lord he must be an Angell from the Altar he must haue a spirituall eye to discerne it For doth any Papist so much as once dreame that he is a drinker of blood That all his religion and the practise of it all his adoring of or before his gaye pictures and images all his invocating of his bead-rowle of Saints all the Masses he heareth all his or her turning over their devoute beads all their Ave mariâ—s and Agnus Dâ—â—es all their shrifts confessions and absolutions all their whipping chere in Lent when they let themselues blood all their confidence in the Popes pardonâ— all their falling down at the tinkling of the bell when their little God almighty is solemnely caryed abroad all their trust in selfe-merits and distrust in Gods mercyes as they are inioyned and a rabble of infinite more pretty knacks so pleasing and plausible to flesh and bloud which at the ripest age hath not overgrowne the state of little children being altogether affected with all such baby play as their mother Babell hath invented for her children
the imitation of their inveterate hatred to the truth of the Gospell and to those that preach and professe it they become thereby guilty of all the blood of those Martyrs who were slaine for the selfe same faith and truth which we of the Church of England at this day professe and avow and consequeâ—tly ye are found to be worthy to drinke the most bainfull blood of Romes deadly doctrines the fearfullest plague that ever could befall you to your eternall perdition without speedy repentance and conversion to the truth Nay which my pen trembleth to set downe Papists are found to be copartners with the Iewes in crucifying even of Christ himselfe whom they so persecute in his truth and in his members for which cause saith the royall Paraphrast they are partners with Iudas in the death of Christ. Read for this purpose the 11. chapter of this booke together with King Iames his Paraphrase vpon it Nor can any Papist though never so full of subtile shifts shift this Scripture off from himselfe and all those of the Church of Rome There is nothing more cleare no not the Sun when it shineth brightest in the Summer Meridian then that the Pope of Rome is that Beast Rev. 13. and the Church of Rome that Babylon drunke with the blood of the Saints and of the Martyrs of Iesus Chapter 17 all Iesuiticall sophistry cannot avoid it And if Papists durst but looke vpon this Scripture it would make their haire stand on end to see in what a deplored state they are 〈◊〉 vpon them mainly the Beast-marked his Image-worshippers all these seaven Vialls one in the necke of another poure forth their plaguâ—s never ceassing till they haue fulfilled the wrath of God in the finall and fatall ruine and desolation of that whole Synagogue of Rome which now approacheth and hastneth on apace It is added And I heard another out of the Altar say Euen so Lord God Almighty true and righteous are thy iudgementâ— These wordâ— are a confirmation of the former This voice is but inculcated and ingeminated to rowse vp the Infidell and Atheisticall world to take notice of Gods truth and righteousnesse of his truth concerning all those Prophecies in his word denouncing destruction to the enemies of his Church which we haue in a good part seene and for the rest shall be no lesse certainly in their due time accomplished also of his divine exact vnpartiall justice by recompensing legâ— Talionis like for like like punishments and judgements for like sinnes like spirituall thirst after the blood of the Saints who follow the truth to their salvation with like spirituall drinke of the bainfull blood of pestilentiall doctrines and lies which all Papists drinke in to their damnation But why Another from the Altar Surely I cannot conceiue the reason hereof vnlesse it be this We all know what infinite havock the Church of Rome hath of a long time and dayly doth make of the blood of Christ vpon their Popish Altar Haue they not even stopped and dryed vp that fountaine of his blood set open for Israel and Iuda for sinne and for vncleanesse haue they not robbed the poore people of the Sacramentall Cup which should bee a fresh memoriall and effectuall application of that sinne purging blood to every faithfull receiver Haue they not hereby evacuated that covenant of the New Testament which was ratified and sealed with the blood of Christ without which is no remission Haue they not thus torne away the seale from the Testament of grace Haue they not in stead thereof erected a new vnbloody sacrifice of a fantasticall inchanted body which they notwithstanding moâ—â— blasphemously and senselesly call their Propitiatory sacrifice for the quick 〈…〉 and a 〈…〉 all soreâ— Doe they not thus account the bloud of the covenant which should sanctifie them an vnholy thing Doe they not thus trample vnder foote the Sonne of God And â—hat even then when they would seeme most of all to elevate him in their fained Host vpon their Altar Their very Alltar as holy as they would make it 〈◊〉 be â—o deeply stained with the guilt of Christs bloud spilâ— vpon it Therefore here is one sent from the Altar of God even from Iesus Christ our only Alâ—ar on whom we offer vp the Calues of our lips who mightily magnifieth the truth and iustice of Godâ— in giving spirituall deadly blood to them to drinke who haue â—pon their Idoll-Altar taken away and disanulled that only Propitiatory blood of Christ. which he hath left to his Church for every faithfull man to drinke spiritually by faith to the consolation of his conscience the confirmation of his faith and the salvation of his soule Thus iust and true is God every way at every turne to meet with his enemyes and to pay them home with their owne coyne The Fourth Vial powred out Our Country-man M. Brightman in his Commentary comming to this fourth vial saith Hactenus â—â—c ipsa tempâ—ra in quibus praesâ—â—tes vâ—â—mus Ad â—anâ— enim â—â—que 〈◊〉 nostra sâ—cula processâ—runt reliquâ— quatuor sunt nobis expectand◠〈◊〉 diffâ—ciâ—â—â—r est indagatio Hitherto saith he come these tâ—mes wherein we nâ—w liue For even vnto this Vial haue our ages reached the other foure behind 〈◊〉 to expect whereof 〈◊〉 disquisition will be more difficult So he Yet himselfe not only attempts the opeâ—ing of the subsequent vials but â—â—imates and excites 〈◊〉 faithfull Ministers to imploy their best paines and studies therin as in a work most behoâ—â—full for the Church of God in these lâ—st times But that he should say he lived not to see this fourth Viall powred out 〈…〉 somewhat strange Was it because living 〈…〉 the Cataracts of Nâ—bis â—â— could not heare the noyse of it Or because his eye was so neare the object as he could the worse discerne it Or as Paules eyes at his conversion were so 〈◊〉 with the glorious light that for a time his sight was wholly suspended So haply Mr. Brightmans eyes overcome with the Sunnes bright beames shining so full vpon him whereon this fourth Viall is powred could noâ— discerne what it meant or transported with the beauty and glory thereof as Peter was with that excellent glory in the Mount in saying Thus farre are our times come wist not what he said And as it is vsuall we can better and more safely behold the Sun wiâ—h ouâ— backes towards it in a vessell of cleare settled water then by daring to looke or staâ—e vpon that goodly glorious body with opposite and open â—ace And many times for want of due consideration in making a right vse of the resplendent prosperity of things present either by too much doting vpon it or by vnkindly envying of it or by some discontented humour in a fickle affectation of change â—e come to loose the due estimate and so the true fruitâ—on of them But to our fourth Viall Indeed I must acknowledge that for a few dayes I was not a little puzzeled and
Alexander Farnesius his nephew of his base sonne Petrus Aloisius Guido Asâ—anius Fran. Fâ—rza another Nephew of his base daughter Constantia the one sixtene yeares of age the other 14 two tall striplings I wis his fatherhood creates for Cardinals answering those that obiected their tender yeares that himselfe now in his decrepite agâ— would easily recompense in his olde yeares what was therein wanting to them And so to this goodly issue came all this solemne Reformation But perforce at length all is devolved vpon the Councell of Trent an Assembly of many learned Doctors sufficient if any to invent some salue for Babylons sores And they say pretily to it for in that Councell you shall find no lesse then eleven or twelue very solemne and formall Decrees de Reformatione And when all is done nothing is Reformed Thus is verified that of the Prophet Ieremy Wâ— would haue cured Babylon but shee would not be cured Nay to shew her case is desperate that Councell comes with her Index expurgatorius wherewith to expunge and purge out all such bookes as either descry the nature of her diseases or prescribe remedies for the same Thus to this day from the time of Luther we see grievous sores stick close to that whole Pontifician body Although the corruptions of the Church of Rome were not altogether vndiscovered before Luthers time God still raising vp some from time to time to cry out against Babylon as Iohn Wickliffe in his workes writt against her manifold errors and abuses for which they merited the fire at the Councell of Constance but they never came so to be ransacked and ript up as by Luther and since his time He began to search their sores to the quick and laide them open with a witnes that it is impossible so much as ever to drawe the least skin over them to hide or cover them much lesse to cure them As for the bodily sores which fell vpon those of the Church of Rome vpon the pouring forth of this first Viall I list not to touch them Erasmus complaineth of Luther for two things that he touched too much the Bishops Myters and the Monks bellyes And surely a â—rievous sore fell vpon many of them in this kind maâ—y a Bishop lost his Miter and many a Monks fatt belly â—egan now to pinch for it Nor are we willing to touch â—hose Cardinals sore backs being beaten and pitifully 〈◊〉 vp and downe the streets of Rome by the Caesareanâ—ouldiers â—ouldiers who then had surprised it while their head â—as beating his braines how to get out of prison where 〈◊〉 was now pent and all this done within the time â—f the powring out of this Vial. I list not I say bee a â—aile in such sores Enough is said to cleare the powring â—ut the first Viall both when and how by whom and â—pon whom it began to be poured The second Viall powred out out And the second Angell poured out his Viall vpon â—he Sea and it became as the blood of a dead man and â—uery living soule died in the Sea As in the former Viall we haue seene Romes spirituall â—ores so here we are to search for spirituall seas It is vâ—all in Scripture to which for interpretation this Proâ—hecy all along sends vs to shadow out the doctrins of 〈◊〉 word of God by waters As Eze 47.3 4 5. The waters 〈◊〉 the Sanctuary by degrees became a huge OceaÌ„ Esay applies and expounds it Chapter 11.9 speaking of the light of the Gospell in Christs time he sayth The earth shall beâ— full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters couer the Sea So Abac 2.14 And Esay 55.1 In Exod. 15. Yee haue 12. fountaines typing the doctrine of the 12. Patriarchs and 12. Apostles Now as seas are in the good part taken for the doctrines of Christ in the forecited places so here in the evill part for the corrupt doctrines of Antichrist At the blast of the second Trumpet the third part of the sea is turned into blood here the whole Sea Which notes the difference betweene the state of Romes doctrines before the Councell of Trent while as yet they were in their growing and as now they became in and after the Councell of Trent Before the Councell of Trent there was some fresh water to be found in the doctrines of that Church some truth some meanes of â—alvation left for those that could search and find it out and follow it seperating the fresh and cleare water of truth from the blood of her abominable idolatries and other impious doctrines while as yet the rule of faith to wit the Scriptures remained intire but in and after the Councell of Trent wherein the Rule of faith is altered humane Traditions and inventions comming in for an equall share with the Scriptures and shouldering them for the wall and driving them into the very Kennell now the Sea is turned altogether into blood In this Councell the whole doctrine of the Gospell is turned vpside downe The iustifying and saving faith is vtterly excluded abandoned and accursed Iustification by workes takes place The Masse a new propitiatory vnbloody sacrifice for all sinnes for quicke and dead foysted in for Christs onely sacrifice once made yea humane satisfactions in stead thereof All Idolatries are ratified The Sacramentall Cup the liuely resemblance of Christs blood shed for our sinnes without which is no redemption no lifâ— in vs is for ever most sacrilegiously cut off from Christs sacred institution No man must read the Scriptures but the sworne vassalls and that according to the sense of the Church of Rome whose Oracle is the Popes brest and that variable as may best sute to the present occasion and commodity of that Church The vulgar Latine Translation though in comparison but a blundered streame is preferred before the pure originall fountains the Hebrew and Greeke though it containe many absurdities and falsities which may not be corrected The Index Expurgatorius established in that Councell is to quench all truth Therein mans free will is established and Gods free grace abolished Predestination and Election vndermined and overthrowne And the â—ike Thus is that Sea altogether blood yea as the blood of a dead man corrupt filthy gore whereof every living soule in that Sea dieth So that vpon the powring out of the second Viall vpon the Sea of Romes doctrines â—oncluded vpon in the Councell of Trent they are beâ—ome altogether mortall and deadly bainefull to the â—oule yea whereof every living soule in that Church diâ—th This began euidently to appeare by the Learned Chemnitius his Examen and other learned Ministers of â—he Gospell since that time by whose preaching and writings and opening of the word of God that Church 〈◊〉 convinced to be now altogether Apostaticall as King â—ames calls her For in that Councell she hath altogeâ—her denied the faith and that with Anathema so as she 〈◊〉 become worse then an Infidell vtterly excluded from â—ll communion with Christ for
without the true and â—â—ving faith in Christ no vnion with him and so no â—ommunion No salvation then henceforth I still â—eane and note it well from the Councel of Trent and â—ownward hitherto no salvation in the Church of â—ome every living soule therein dieth The Sea of hir â—â—ctrines is become like the Asphaltite or Mare mâ—rtuâ—â— or dead Sea wherein every living creature dieth â—his is then another of the spirituall Aegypts plagues So that this second Viall was not powred ouâ— â—â—ill the Councell of Trent not before The Councell of Trent putting a maine bounder and odde betweene the state of the Church of Rome before and after it Before the Councell of Trent there was some fresh-water for our fore-fathers to refresh their leane and languishing soules and to waft them to heaven while as yet the rule of faith remained intire and the faith of Christ was not vtterly destroyed and cashered but after that Councell all is turned into blood yea as the blood of a dead man not a drop of fresh-water to be looked for but a dead lake of most abominable corruption and stinking putrifaction Let them therefore no more obiect to vs our forefathers what became of them before the Reformation Surely if any thing but good befell them they might thanke the Church of Rome for it if they perished it was through the blood they sucked from that Strumpetts breasts Nor are we answerable or accountable for the salvation of our fore-fathers If they were led by dumb idolls If they perished in the Religion of Popery therefore must we Doth not the iealous God visit the iniquities of the idolatrous fathers vpon the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate him But blessed be God who hath long agoe pulled vs out of that bloody Sea wherein they were plunged Yea blessed be God who before the Councell of Trent before that Sea was altogether turned into bainfull blood God provided a remedy for them and vs one Vial was powred out by the preaching of the Gospell to giue men warning to fly from Romes plagueâ— sores And fifteene yeares before the conclusion of that wicked Councell was the pure fountaine of the Gospell restored in England in King Edward the sixt his dayes and foure or fiue yeares before the end of it the Gospell was reestablished in the blessed reigne of the 〈◊〉 renowned Queene Elizabeth Never 〈◊〉 vs then with our fore-fathers we hope that before the Councell of Trent God provided for them some freshwater as he did for the Israelites in Aegypt while the cursed Aegyptians had nothing but bloody waters to drinke But in the meane time O all yee Papists weepe not take not care so much for our forefathers as for your owne soules You are as poore fishes inclosed in the dead Sea in the Sea of Romes doctrines where you drinke in nothing but as the blood of a dead man whereof every living soule that drinketh thâ—â—eof dyeth Your case now is desperate infinitely worse then that of our fore-fathers before the Councell of Trent Oh that you had so much life left yea some dropp of humane sense and reason as to perceiue your ruefull condition That you perceiue it not is it not a cleare proofe of this Prophecy that every living soule in that Sea dieth Are not those dead fishes that discerne not betweene stinking blood and fresh water yea betweene the brackish Sea and the sweet Rivers But I wonder most how you living in this Church of England where the fresh Rivers of life doe flow that ever you would preferre the bloody Sea of Rome before them But I reade of the Mare mortuum or dead Sea of Sodom that if a Lanterne without a light in it be cast vpon it it by and by sinketh downe and is seene no more but a Lanterne with a light in it fleeteth aboue and sinketh not How true this is I dispute not But I am sure it is the liuely Embleme of a Papist who hath put out the light of his reason and vnderstanding or of the foolish Virgin who hath a Lampe without Oyle much more without light You reiecting the Gospell there is no light in you and so it is no marvaile if cast vpon the Asphaltite of Romes corrupt and bloody doctrines which Citty is called spiritually Sodome Chapter 11.8 you sinke ever head and eares and drinke your bane Whereas if you did but nourish the light of reason and of Gods word in your soules you should never sinke into the dead lake being sustained by the heavenly light This is that light which preserveth Gods elect fishes from the mortall and mortiferous Sea of Rome whereon though perforce they be cast yet are they not swallowed vp of it But you will object or some for you Is there no salvation no spirituall life to be found in the Sea of Romes doctrines No salvation within the verge and bosome of that Church For answere ye may beeliue the Scripture here It plainly saith that that Sea is become as the blood of a dead man so that every living soule therein dieth And what is more plaine then that the Church of Rome according to the conclusions and Canons of Trent is this bloody corrupt seaâ— They haue expressely denied the faith they haue excluded the word of God as the onely rule of faith as we haue shewed and what salvation then is left in that Church God forbid you will sayâ— God forbid But that will not serue the turne You must come out of Babylon as the Scripture exhorts you that ye be not partakers of hir sinnes and punishments The Iesuites indeed are clamarous in your eares No salvation out of the Church And herewith they dazle your eyes while you want iudgment to put a difference betweene the Church of Christ and the now Church of Rome Out of the Church of Christ there is no salvation That is most true But the Church of Rome is now no true Church of Christ. Why so She denieth the faith of Christ she denieth salvation and iustification by the faith of Christ. Now that Church which denieth the only meanes of salvation by Christ is no true Church of Christ but such as wherein salvation is not to be expected But the Church of Rome denieth the only meanes of salvation by Christ yea accurseâ—h it to wit the iustifying and saving faith of Christ. Therefore the Church of Rome is no true Church of Christ but such as wherein no salvation is to bee expected But you obiect againe As for vs we doe not know or are acquainted with the particular doctrines of the Councell of Trent we are not learned to define or disstinguish betweene Faith Faith it suffiseth vs to beleeue as the Church beleiveth and if we erre through ignorance we hope that will not altogether preiudice or hinder our salvation And some of the Church of England and those no small ones haue said that they doe not deny salvation at least to
sends a feare and terrour vpon the hearts of his enemies confounding them with amazement and causing them to fly when none pursueth The second instrument of Babylons ruine is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thunders This is another effect of the troubled ayre whereon this Viall is poured This is called Gods terrible voice Psal. 29. Wicked men even the proudest and wickedest are appalled at the thunder The Emperour Domitian that would be called a God when it thundered would run vnder the bâ—dd By thunder God hath made mighty havocks of his enemies as vpon Aegypt Exod. 9. â—3 vpon the Philistins at Samuels prayer 1 Sam. 7.10 Read Iosephus on this story Of the mighty enemies by whom M. Aurelius Antoninus was straightly besieged but he having some Christians in his Army whom he intreated to pray to God for his deliverance at their prayer God sent such refreshing of raine for his thirsty army and such terrible thunder vpon his enemies to their discomfiture that thereupon he called the Legion wherein those Christians were Fulminatrix Legio and withall sent out Decrees of relaxation for the persecuted Christians We read how Anastacius the Emperour a Persecutor was smitten with a thunderbolt when affrighted he ran seeking a place to hide himselfe In the tenth Century we read of many examples of terrible thunders And ever with thunders come lightnings whereof especially hotter Clymates can tell vs terrible wonders if they were not there so frequent The next instrument of Babylons ruine is an earthquake yea a great earthquake such as was not since men were vpon the earth so mighty an earâ—hquake and so great And an earthquake is another symptome and effect of the ayre We read of terrible earthquakâ—s In Neroes time three Citties in Asia were overturned with one earthquake in Vespasians time three Citties in Cyprus In Iulians time earthquakes were so rife and so ruefell as there was no safety within dores or without In Valentinians and Valeus his time there was an vniversall earthquake over the world whereby the Sea was turned into dry land and dry land into Sea plaines made mountaines and mountaines plaines In Tiberius his raigne 13. Ciâ—ties in Asia ruined by an earthquake Once in a great earthquake the Pope himselfe was driven to fly hide himselfe in the openfield vnder a shade of thinne plankes of firre erected of purpose least falling on his head it might oppresse him But here is such a terrible earthquake such as never men saw which shall shake down all the foundations of Babylon to the very ground yea into hell it selfe For hereupon in the next place the great Citty is divided into three parts and the Cities of the Nations fell c. Here two things observable first the disposition of the state of Babylon here shadowed vnder the great City divided For great City here notes the whole state of Antichrists Kingdome As the City of God whereof Saint Augustine writ signifies Gods Church so the great City here applied to mysticall Babylon imports the whose state thereof And the division of this great City alludes to the state of Ierusalem which was divided into three factions when it was besieged by Vespasian This division was an evident forerunner of that apostatized Citties vtter ruine And Division in a state eveâ— draws on destruction Insomuch as Vespasian being pressed by his Soldiers to assault the City because of the Iewes intestine divisions and mutinies he answered we shall not need God is fighting for vs and preparing an vnbloody victory It was a fearfull curse vpon Simeon and Levi Divide them in Iacob and scatter them in Israell Gen. 49. Abimâ—lech that cruell vsurping Tyrant needed no other revenger of his bloody massacres of his brethren but that curse pronounced by Iotâ—am namely dissention betweene Abemeloch and the Sichâ—mites Iudg. 9.23 Read for this purpose Iudg. 7.22 Also 2 Chron. 20.23 And 1 Sam. 14 15. And saith Christ A Kingdome or house or City divided against it selfe cannot stand Thus is this great City divided into three parts and can it stand No for it thereupon followeth And the Cities of the Nations fell That 's the first effect of this division The Cities of the Nations are Babylons confederate Cities Kingdomes which though they haue the name of Christians yet they are no better then the Heathen or Gentiles or Nations For so are the people called whom she hath bewitched with her sorceries chapter 14.8 Babylon made the Nations drunkâ— and Chapter 18.3 All Nations haue drunke of the wine of the wrath of her fornication and the Kings of the earth haue committed fornication with her c. and verse 23. By thy sorceries were all Nations deceived So that the Cities of the Nations here are aâ— it were the suburbes of Babylon they by division fall God shall cast a bone that shall make Romes confederates to fall together by the cares and so destroy one another They shall fall by division And this division is triple according to the three great Monarchies that support the Beast The Empire Spaine and France Secondly there followes Babylons ruine which iâ— meant not only of Rome but of the whole Papall Hierarchy or Kingdome of the Beast It is said here that Babylon came in remembrance before God to giue vnto her the cup of the wine of the fâ—â—â—â—nesse of his wrath Gods remembrance in Scripture is some times taken in the good as Lord remember me when thou commest into thy Kingdome here in the evill part Babylon that said in her heart I sit a Queene c thought that God had forgotten her No. God will now remember her for all together to giue her the cup of 〈◊〉 fury to drinke a just recompense of the Whoores drunkennesse with the blood of the Saints All that are versed in the Scripture know that it is vsuall with God to set forth his judgements by the type of a Cup of fury Read Psal. 75.8 Esa. 51.17 Ier. 25.15 This Cup of fury then signifieth a ful mixture of all fearfull â—udgements which in the time of this seventh and last Vial are to fall vpon Babylon to avenge the Cup of her filthinesse of abominations chap. 17.4 And to show the inevitablenesse of her judgements it followeth And every Island fled away and the Mountaines were not found Islands and Mountaines are places of refuge Ezech. 39.6 I will sâ—nd saith the Lord a fire on Magog 〈◊〉 among them that dwell carelesly in the Isles Mâ—n dwell more carelesly in Isles then elsewhere as being places of refuge And Esa. chapter 2. verse â—â— To goe into the 〈◊〉 of the Rockes But here all Islands and Mountaines fly away in Babylons destruction there is no refuge for 〈◊〉 Strange The case is altered 〈◊〉 that is so full of Sanctuaries for all kind of Malefactors hath now never a Sanctuarie not one poore Island or Mountaine to fly vnto they fly from her and are not 〈◊〉 It followeth v. 21. In this verse is contained the