a two-fold power and jurisdiction both Civill and Ecclesiasticall not in earth onely but in heaven also what he bindeth in earth is bound in heaven and whom he will he can release from the paines of Purgatorie and place them in heaven Therefore in token of this his power he is armed with two swords which thing was plainely signified by the two Hornes which he had like the Lamb. But though the Beast would be the Lambs equall and resemble him in power yet his voyce bewrayes him to bee but a counterfeit and a dissembling hypocrite he speakes like the Dragon he pretendeth property to that which is not his own and exalteth himselfe against those unto whom he should submit and giue honour Even as the Dragon said of the Kingdomes of the world All these are in my power I giue them to whom I will So likewise saith this Luk. 4. 6. Beast his Vicar the Prelate of Rome The Empire and Kingdomes of the earth are in my power and at my disposition and to me it belongeth to depose and set up Emperours and Kings at my pleasure as shall bee behoofull for the peace of the Church And thus may the Beast in this bee knowne by his voyce likewise in divers other particular blasphemous speeches and divelish doctrines Further it is said of this Beast That he exerciseth all the power of the first Beast before him and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to Vers 12. worship the first Beast whose deadly wound was healed In that this Beast is said to exercise All the power of the first Beast before him thereby was signified That what the first Beast could doe by her motherly authority and power under the usurped title and name of the holy Church the same could this Beast doe by the authority power of his fatherhood under the title pretence of Christs Vicar Peters successor universall Bishop c. But that this Beast may yet further be discerned it is said of him That he caused the earth and those which dwell therein to worship the first Beast c. By causing the earth to worship the first Beast was foreshewed that the Pope would exact of the earth the tenth part of the fruits therof for the maintenance of the holy Church this is indeed to worship For as the paying of Tithes in the time of the Law was a part of the true outward worship of God so this is the worship of the Beast And further by causing the Inhabitants of the earth also to worship the first Beast was shewed that he would carefully see due homage service and obedience to be yeelded and performed to the holy Church so that though the Prelate of Rome as a sonne of perdition did exalt himselfe aboue measure yet still doth he maintaine the power and dignity of the Catholick Church the estimation of her Motherhood must still bee maintained her voyce must still be heard and obeyed not to come when she calls is contumacie and contempt not to be indured they that dare so farre to despise her authoritie as not to obey her Paritors Processe are by her doome to bee accounted cursed children and worthy of no lesse censure and punishment then to be struck with that terrible Thunderbolt of her Excommunication the violence whereof is such as who can indure it Who will not rather ride runne dance attendance crouch kneele pay pray or doe any thing else which Maister Officiall or his Register wil enioyne them then undergoe so heavy a burthen as the censure of Excommunication Thus will the Pope haue the magnificence of this Diana to bee maintained The earth and those which dwell in it must yeeld unto her the Tithe of all their increase as also Mortuaryes Offerings and many other Church duties which she requireth of them for she is a goddesse and must bee worshipped And this diminisheth the Popes glorie never a jot the two estates of the Whoore and false Prophet can well agree and stand together as father and mother in one family and therefore the second Beast as father of all wil haue the first Beast worshiped that is obeyed maintained in glorie as mother of all And further obserue in that the Pope hath executed all authoritie of the Catholike Church thereby is confirmed the truth of the exposition that the first Beast was the Catholike Church and the second Beast the Pope as hath beene before observed And he doth great wonders so that he maketh fire to come downe from Vers 13. heaven on earth in the sight of men First by the wonders which he did was foreshewed what wonderfull things the Prelate of Rome that false Prophet should bring to passe as namely under the title of the servant of the servants of God which indeed all Ministers of the Word and other Church Officers ought to be to creep up and exalt himselfe aboue Emperours and Kings and all other estates in the earth which being considered is indeed a thing wonderfull for first the Prelacie and Clergie in respect of the pretended holines of their Orders were exempted and freed from being subiect to any secular jurisdicton and power the meanest of them might not be produced before any secular ludge for any crime or offence how Vide Consilium Matis Can. 9. 10. havnous soever yet unto this Beast they must be obedient in all things as servants to their Lord upon him they must depend with all observation as children upon their fathers And as for Emperours and Kings and other worldly States it is plaine to bee seene that though they stand highly upon their titles and dignities not to haue them empayred or in any thing diminished which is a thing which they will withstand to the shedding of aboundance of bloud yet to be made such vassals to this Beast as to hold his stirrop to leade his horse by the bridle to kisse his feete they thought it no abasement but an honour And notwithstanding that very many of that beastly ranke haue been notorious wicked men and abominable livers yet haue they the craft so to delude and besot all people of all degrees in the world as to bring them to beleeue that the truth is so infallibly annexed to that seate of the Beast that it is not possible for him to erre in iudgement yea he made the world to beleeue it as an Article of faith that his determination and iudgement of any controversie or point of doctrine is a more indifficient and infallible rule of faith then is the holy Scriptures That these and the like grosse doctrines are beleeved and received are great wonders Further He maketh fire to come downe from heaven on the earth in the sight of men c. By fire in this place was fore-shewed the punishment which should be inflicted on the Saints which was burning with fire And in that the fire was sayd to come from heaven thereby was foreshewed that the Iudges of the earth Who
thorough Gods helpe shall make manifest and apparant But before I doe proceed I desire the Reader to observe that I doe not condemne all use of Counsells or Synods but doe hold that diverse men of divers churches may lawfully be assembled together to consult and advise of matters concerning Religion and the worship of God for their instruction and better information of their Iudgments and so a good holy use may be thereof But that any counsells have such power over the churches of Christ as to impose upon them thrir commaundements for doctrine and to vsurp the goverment of the Churches and to rule and reigne over them by their lawes and canons and prescribe rules and formes how God wil be worshipped as these generall counsells have done that I doe deny as being contrary to the perfection of the holy * 2 Tim. 3. 17. Deut. 4. 2. Revel 22. 18. Scriptures and the practise of the Apostles and Elders of the Church of Ierusalem who being assembled togither did professe it to be †Act. 15. 10. a tempting of God to lay such a yoke on the disciples necks as the observing of the Iewish ceremonies which being unlawfull to doe it is much more unlawfull to devise and impose any other and therfore the said assembly of the Apostles and Elders concluded to lay no greater burden vpon the disciples then to absteyne from such necessary things as either were simply evill in themselves as fornication or els evill in respect of Act. 15. 18. 19. c. offence as meats offred to Idols blood and things strangled Now to proceed First it is sayd of this Beast That he did rise up out of the sea By his rising up was foreshewed that the Antichristian policie should arise from a poore and meane estate to great riches and honour in the world which we and former generations have seene to the vttermost fulfilled For dayes there were when the Churches of Christ both Ministers and people were hated despised and persecuted in the world syoyled of their goods made gazingstocks and wonders and afflicted with all kinde of crueltie as histories both sacred and humane doe abundantly specifie and declare The Apostle Paul saith of himself his fellow brethren the Ministers of the Gospel that they were as men appointed to death and in the account of the world as the filth refuse ofscouring of all things But since this beastly generation hath succeeded the church and under the titles of Ministers of the Gospell and the Bishops over Gods people have found meanes by little and little to rise up and to exalt themselves over the Nations and to bring the multitudes and peoples and Nations and Tounges under their Iurisdiction rule and Reu 18. 3. 2. Thes 2. 7. Dominion and they have so risen up that they are become the great men of the earth and are waxed rich through the abundance of their delicacies This mistery of iniquitie was working in the Apostles tyme for there were then crept into the church those that desired worldly pompe and promotion and were not contented with the portion of the Lordes heritage but their ambicious desires could not then be satisfied there was a lett in the way that hindered it which lett being removed their purposes soone after tooke effect fitly therefore is this generation said to rise up in respect of those whose successors they boast themselues to be The former hold no certaine dwelling places but were exposed to hunger thirst cold nakednesse buffetings c. But these latter have their Lordly Houses warrelike Castles Prince like Pallaces they have their rents revenues and abundance of riches in great excesse they are pompously arayed in stately robes and rich apparell they rule like lords over the people have power to afflict all that will not beare the yoke of their Dominion thus is this generation risen up and exalted as all may see that list to minde it The place from whence this Beast is sayd to rise up is the sea The Naturall Sea we know is the gathering togither of many waters Gen. 1. 9. 10. A like thing must that be out of which this Beast was to rise But in the 17. chapter Multitudes and nations peoples and Toungs are resembled by waters therfore the gathering together of such into one body politike may rightly be resembled by the Sea Thus then the trueth standeth By the rising up of this beast out of the Sea was foreshewed That those many waters that is the people and multitudes and Nations and Toungs not onely under the Romane Empire but most nations and people of the world being gathered into one sea or ecclesiasticall State should breed and bring forth this Monster For they being of two contrary sorts the seed of the Serpent the seed of the Woman children of the kingdome and children of the wicked vnto the one sort the word of God in the administration therof is the savour of life unto life unto the other sort it is the savour of death unto death The one sort feare God and wil obey him rather then man The other feare and reverence the arme of flesh more then they doe the living God These as light and darknesse being contrary one to another the one being of Christ the other of Belial how therfore should they in things concerning God and Christ Faith and Religion agree together Those which be of God cannot but witnesse against those that be of the world because their deeds are evill Those which are of the world are heady high minded proud boasters wise in their owne conceit and therfore scorne to be rebuked and hate to be reformed These being together in the world as Wheate and Tares in one Field and as Sheep and goates in one Flocke the true end of the administration of the word of God had beene to call and separate the one from the other the precious from the vile beleevers from insidells But notwithstanding this generation thought it to be wisedome to take a contrary course namely to bring all people of all sorts to be one Church and likewise unto vniformitie in Religion And because it could not be effected by the power of the Word of God that sword of the spirit they procured the helpe of worldly governours to bring it to passe by their power and cōmaund By which devise and policie these many waters that is the Nations and people have beene gathered into one Church and eccleasticall body politike here represented by the Sea and have been brought to use all one order of worship service and government But this conformitie not being procured thorough love but constrayned by feare was but an humane devise and worldly policie and no divine Institution And therfore could not be upholden maynteyned and continued by the word of God and the administration of a serviceable Ministerie but by the over-ruling power of a Lordly Prelacie whereupon it was thought meet that Synods or Counsells of
the chiefest of the Prelates and Clergie of diverse dominions should be gathered togither to make lawes and canons which all men should be constreyned by penall lawes to observe and yeild obedience unto that so peace and vnitie might be preserved and kept amongst them And in short time it came to passe that whatsoever these Synods or Counsells did agree upon and set downe how false soever was to be held canonicall and those that contradicted the same were therfore cast out and condemned as Heretickes This was the manner the occasion of the rising of this Beast out of this turbulent Sea And here by the way observe That * Every good giving and perfect gift is from above Iames 1. 17. from the father of lightes But this beast is from the Sea beneath not from above and therfore not belonging to the kingdome of Christ but an adversary and enemie thereof Of this Beast it is sayd that he had 7. heads a thing which is monstrous in nature And therfore by this was foreshewed that the dominion represented by this Beast should be a monstrous dominion Concerning these heads let this be considered That the whole state or societie of the Antichristian Sea is of two sorts of people the one sort they call the Clergie the other sort the Layetie Of these the Clergie are as heads and guides to direct and goe before And the Layetie as the body or rather the tayle to follow after Agayne by the same policie their clergy are sorted into 7. orders or degrees namely to speak in their language 1. Ianitores seu ostiarij 2. Lectores 3. Exorcistae 4. Acolithi 5. Subdraconi 6. Diaconi 7. sacerdotes These are the 7. orders of the Antichristian Clergy As for Popes Cardinalls Patriarchs Arch Bishops Bishops Arch deacons c. they are titles of dignitie and not of orders For the Pope is but a Preist concerning his orders and when he stands at the Altar and sayth Masse he doth that as a Preist and not as a Pope and so of all other degrees This considered it way well be saide of the Antichristian Sinagogue and State that it is as a Monster with 7. heads As for the Ministers which God hath ordeyned to be in his Church they are first Apostles secondly Prophets thirdly Teachers c. 1 Cor. 12. 28. c. See also Rom. 12. 6. 7. 8. Ephes 4. 11. 12. 13. And these onely were given for the gathering together of the Saincts for the work of the Ministery and for the edification of the body of Christ Not some to have a bunch of keys with a charge of the doores of this or that Temple or Cathedrall Church Another to have a booke to read to the people things which neither he nor they did understand A third to have a booke of Coniurations or Charmes with charge to read them or say by heart to such as were distracted of their witts or possessed with divills and to put their hands vpon them A fourth to have a Taper or wax candle with a candlestick to carry before the preists and deacons in doeing their service A fift to receive of the people oblations and offrings and to deliver them to the Deacon to carry to the Altar To reade the Epistle and to stand by the Preist while he was saying the Masse A sixth to be the Bishops spye and intelligencer to informe him of such as be irregular and observe not their orders To read the Gospell attend the preist at the Altar c. A seventh to consecrate the Hoast as they call it and then to offer it as a sacrifice propitiatory for the quick and dead These are not they which God hath given to be in the Church But these are they wherof the Antichristian clergy consisteth for whosoever is one of that clergy is one of these 7. orders be he Pope Prelate or els whatsoever and to note and foreshewe this point of policie this Beast which Iohn saw had seven heads If any shall think this to be a vaine frivolous and straunge interpretation to understand by the 7. heads of the beast these 7. orders of the Clergie as thinking those heades to betoken things of greater note and importance Let such consider what account and reckoning is made of such persons as have received the Sacrament of Orders and holy tonsure in the kingdome of the Beast and they shall find the interpretation not impertinent but very agreable For a time there was since the writing of this prophecy * when the meanest shrimpe that was within these holy orders as they call them was held to be of that dignitie that Vide Concil Matisconen secundum Canon 9. 10. the chiefest and worthiest secular Iudge in a kingdome was held vnworthie to judge or censure them for any trespasse or fact how notorious wicked and manifest soever because they had received holy Tonsure were therby consecrated and set a part unto God to be his portion and heritage to pray for the people and therfore were exempted from all secular jurisdiction and power such was their dignitie accounted to be and still is where that kingdome prevayleth and hath the dominion yea even in this land that quarrell hath cost the King his Crowne as is to be seen in the Historyes of the Reigne of King Iohn and not his Crowne onely but his life also Now if the meanest of them be above the dominion of any King or secular Iudge and secular Iudges be the heads of the people whome God hath appointed to beare rule over them well may these be said to be as heads in the kingdome of the Beast wherin these shavelings are holden to be so holy and high in dignitie and degree As this Beast which Iohn saw had 7. heads so likewise it had 10. hornes whereby was foreshewed that as the kings of the Medes and Persians were shewed and represented to Daniel by the 2. hornes of the Beast which he saw in his vision so the kings of many kingdomes should be as guarders and defenders of the Antichristian kingdome and state And that this scripture hath beene fulfilled to the vttermost by the kings of the Nations is so manifest that none can be ignorant of it that are of judgment and experience And it was just with the Lord to make the Kings of the earth vassels to this Beast because they received not the love of the truth but tooke pleasure in unrighteousnesse they would not forsake their sinnes to liue godlily righteously and soberly as all must doe that will attaine salvation but they would liue after their lusts and for their sinnes they would make satisfaction by building of Churches and Monasteries c. and endowing them with lands rents and other revenewes by meanes whereof those which traded like Marchants in those many waters the kingdome of the Beast grew rich and wealthy and became the great men of the earth Furthermore Iohn saith of the Beast which hee saw that it was
and being so transubstantiated to offer it vp vnto God a sacrifice propitiatorie both for quick and dead Thus the wounded head of Priesthood was cured and revived and so became the worlds wonder as now it followeth to bee declared according as Iohn here witnesseth And all the world wondred after the Beast That is The people of the Nations hauing this Priesthood set over them and commended unto them to bee of such power and dignitie as that they could make them a visible God not onely to behold with their eyes and looke vpon but also to eate and that their maker and redeemer to their everlasting salvation And being so effectually deluded as that they beleeued these lyes hereupon they wondred and followed the Beast Well might they wonder to see bread and taste bread where was no bread and to see wine and taste wine where was no wine for so were they made to beleeue and to eate flesh and drinke bloud and yet neither to see nor taste flesh nor bloud this was a wonder to wonder at and who would not follow him for a guide that had power to worke such wonders But they did not onely follow the Beast as the Iewes did Christ when they saw his miracles But they worshipped the Dragon which gaue Ver. 4. power vnto the Beast and they worshipped the Beast saying who is like vnto the Beast Who is able to make warre with him To worship is to heare and obey and by worshipping the Dragon was shewed that they wholly addicted themselues to be directed and ruled by the Beast whom the Dragon used as his instrument to worke his will and to whom he had giuen authority and power to that end thus orginally they worshiped the divell Secondly they worshiped the Beast as being the instrument of the divell and they became subiects in all things obedient unto the Beast as being of such holinesse and truth as that it could not erre nor deceiue others and of such power as what they loosed on earth was loosed in heaven and what they bound in earth was bound in heaven therfore such a power as had no match or peere so that they boasted and said of it Who is like unto the Beast As David considering the power Psal 71. 77. and wonderfull works of God saith Who is like unto the Lord So doe the Nations boast of this Beast saying Who is like unto the Beast And further they sayd of him Who is able to make warre with him As if they should say This our holy Mother hath power to excommunicate and deliver to Satan all of what estate condition and degree soever they be that will not heare her voyce beare her yoke and be ruled by her Who therefore is able to make warre with her that is make his party good against this our holy Mother Of such admiration was this Beast in the earth thus hath the world thought and spoken of her And moreover there was given unto this Beast a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies and power was given him to make 42. moneths Ver. 5. As the mouth is the meanes and instrument whereby men do declare their mindes so this Beast had a mouth to declare and utter her minde by which mouth was signified a Ministerie of false Prophets and lying Spirits namely Doctors Schoole-men Monkes Frvars and all sorts of their Preachers who teach for doctrines the commandements of the Beast and declare and utter the minde and will of the Beast as being equall to Gods Word this their Canons Lawes Books and Monuments do manifestly witnesse The effect of that which this mouth uttereth is noted to be great things and blasphemies They boast of this Beast that she is the holy Catholick Church Militant the Mother of all true beleevers the chaste Spouse of Christ the Pillar and ground of Truth that it cannot erre c. And that all which will haue God to be their Father must haue her to be their Mother Finally that out of her lap and communion there is no saluation These and many other such great things speaketh the mouth of this Beast which are indeed great things and being so spoken are great blasphemies For is it not great blasphemy to call that Holy which is most abominable To call her the Mother of all true Beleevers which is the Mother of fornications and of all abominations To call that the Pillar and ground of Truth which hath corrupted the earth with her errours and fornications and caused all Nations to drinke of the wine of the wrath thereof To say there is no saluation but in her followship whose end and iudgement is to go to destruction Beware of false Prophets and teachers of lyes for such are the mouth of this Beast And it is further to be minded that it is said of this Beast that the mouth which she had was given her for had this Beast no more to maintaine this mouth then she hath of her own by discent and heritage she could not haue so many to speake for her as she hath But Emperors and Kings Princes Nobles and other great sinners became benefactors to this Beast giving unto her Lands and Tenements rents revenewes to maintaine this mouth to utter great things and blasphemies and more then this Power was given him to act or make two and fortie moneths For the better understanding of this point let this be considered In the Antichristian Kingdome they haue a rule how to proceed in every cause but not given them of God but of their own making which they commonly call the Canon Law concerning vvhich Law here we may learne by vvhom it vvas made how long it was in making These makers usurp the name of the Church of Christ but the true Church is the Kingdom of Christ and being the Kingdom of Christ it hath him onely for lawgiver they therefore which under the title of the Church presume to make lawes are fitly worthily resembled by a Beast For what is more unreasonable then for those whose greatest dignity glory happines consisteth in hearing obeying administring of Gods Word to fall from this and Lucifer-like to exalt oppose themselues against their Maker as though they were vviser iuster then God to adde unto his Testament vvhich is sufficient to instruct us in all vvisedome to make the man of God perfect in every good work and to take from the same 2. Tim. 3. 17. Testament at their pleasure vvhich is not lawfull to do to any mans testament vvithout great offence and injustice as the Apostle sheweth Gal. 3. 15. yet this is the way wherein those great doers the authors of the Canon Law haue vvalked It is said of those Actors that Power was given them c. Where first vve may obserue that of themselues they had not this power for then it could not haue been said to be given them but given them it was it is therefore to be
ugly in forme and horrible and monstrous in nature Who can indure to heare that Power that Throne and that authority which they beleeue to be of God to be said and affirmed to bee of the Dragon that old Serpent the Diuell and Satan Who will beleeue that a righteous God would giue way to his enemies the workers of iniquitie so farre to prevaile and so long time as for many hundred yeeres together to delude the Nations to bring them into bondage and to keepe them in slaverie And that a few poore despised people of no reckoning in the world here one and there another should see more and be wiser then all the great Clarks wise Counsellours mightie Princes and all the Nobles of the earth Who I say hath an eare to heare these things and not bee moved to fret in himselfe and to gnash his teeth at the hearing of them Yet notwithstanding all this and more let him that hath an eare heare for times and seasons will change a time will come as the verse following doth declare when these great workers of iniquity shall bee subdued and troden under foote He that leadeth into captivitiae shall goe into captivitie he that killeth with Vers 10. the sword must bee killed with the sword here is the patience and faith of the Saints Here is shewed the iustice of God who will recompence unto the wicked according to the workes of their hands as they haue measured unto others it shall bee measured unto them againe they shall reape the fruite of their unrighteousnesse to the full Therefore the Saints and servants of God should here learne with patience to beare the Crosse because the Lord will take their parts and avenge their bloud upon their enemies and those which with patience rest upon the Lord are here recorded for Saints Here is the patience and faith of the Saints As if it were said those which patiently indure affliction for the truth and commit their cause unto God resting faithfully upon him are thereby tryed and made manifest to the world to bee the Saints and Servants of God that in sure hope of a time of refreshing chuse to endure captivitie and the sword rather then they will to haue peace with the world together with the world worship the Beast Thus much concerning the first part of this Chapter and of that power and promotion which the Prelates and Clergie crope up unto before the exaltation and supremacie of the Pope The mysterie of whose iniquitie is next to be considered To God be glorie for ever Amen The second part of the 13. Chapter of the Revelation beginning at the 11. Verse VERSE 11. And I beheld another Beast comming up out of the earth and he had two hornes like a Lambe and he spake as a Dragon AS in the former part of this Chapter the Prelacie and Clergie in generall who under the title of the Catholike Church Militant exalted themselues to work iniquitie and bring the Nations into captivitie and bondage to their traditions were resembled by a seven-headed Beast so here after much striving amongst themselues who should be the chiefe and greatest not being content with their former riches honour and earthly promotion but aspiring higher at last the Prelate of Rome in particular attained to this title and dignitie to be Christs Vicar Peters successor and universall Bishop and under that Title pretended a fulnesse of power and supremacie over all persons and causes and therefore is here resembled and fore-shewed by a Beast c. First whereas it is said of this Beast that it came up out of the earth thereby is signified that the high degree and dignitie whereunto the Prelates of Rome haue aspired and exalted themselues is not from heaven it is of the earth earthly it is a plant which our heavenly Father hath not planted and therefore shall in the end be rooted out Concerning the comming up of this Beast it is to be minded that the Ministers of the word of God of which ranke of men this Beast boasteth himselfe to be the cheife if they were in their right kinde should be as the Starres of heaven lights and guides unto others But at the opening of the * Rev. 6. 13. sixth Seale Iohn saw the Starres fall from heaven to the earth as a fig tree casteth her greene figges when she is shaken of a mighty winde whereby was signified that the Ministers of the word of God would in time degenerate and goe out of kinde they would contrary to the Apostles rule set their affections on earthly things they would for filthy lucre make Marchandize of the people and Word of God they would gather riches and grow wealthy by the wages of unrighteousnesse and so become the great men of the earth all which is fulfilled and come to passe as all may see that are not wilfully blinde Among the rest of the fallen Starres to one was given the key of the bottomlesse pit Rev. 9. 1. whereby was signified that power and preheminence should be given to one of the fallen Starres aboue the rest which thing was effected and came to passe when Phocas being Emperour he promoted Boniface then Prelate of Rome to be universall Bishop and to haue power and jurisdiction over all other Bishops Which thing vvhen Phocas had done this Abaddon King of Locusts with the rest of the brood of the bottomelesse pit that succeeded him who had the opening and shutting of Purgatory at their pleasure so prevailed in time that they exalted themselues aboue Emperours and Kings which thing they could never haue done had they not first besotted the Nations in blinde devotion to impoverish themselues to feed these Locusts under the title of the Church and in hope of meriting thereby and to be released from their sinnes and from the supposed paines of Purgatory For had the Pope that Prelate of Rome been as destitute of worldly wealth and as well furnished with spirituall grace as Peter and Iohn were when they went up into the Temple to pray Acts 3. 1. 6. and healed the lame man he had never set his foote upon the Emperours neck For as much therefore as the Romish Prelate from a meane and lowly estate and degree in the world hath crept up and been exalted aboue Kings and Emperours and seeing worldly wealth and riches haue been the meanes whereby he hath got the preheminence very significantly was this upstart resembled and prefigured by a Beast comming up out of the earth Againe it is said of this Beast that it had two Hornes like the Lamb By Hornes in the Scripture is usually signified power and authority and by the Lamb is meant Christ Iesus who had all power in heaven and earth given to him Math. 28. 18. So that hereby was shewed that the Prelate of Rome would challenge and usurpe great power and authority which he perswadeth the world doth belong unto him as being Christs Vicar and under this pretence usurpeth
they shal be therefore indited araigned judged and condemned to death as being in their estimation Hereticks Schismatickes disobedient and rebellious persons contemners of God and of the Church yea as the filth and ofscowring of the world and unworthy of the societie of men And he causeth all both small and great rich and poore free and bond to receive a marke in their right hand and in their foreheads This Image challenging worship to be performed unto him of all people of all sorts and degrees according to the authoritie given him by the Pope was by some contradicted and despised wherfore the Image in policie for the better triall of those that were his trustie subjects and slaves ordeyned that all his Ministers should receive a marke at the receiving whereof they should vowe and sweare to be of his dominion under his Banner to fight against Christ and his Saincts What this marke is and what is the manner of giving and receiving of it is now to be declared The ‡ For proofe of this looke no further then in the 36. Canon of the Church of Eng. made An. 1603. Prelacye and Clergy being as hath been before shewed assembled with authority to make lawes did ordeyne that every Bishop in his diocesse should carefully observe that none should preach or execute the function of a parish Parson Vicar or Curat in any parish but he that would sweare to observe their Lawes Canons and thereupon should receive the Letters of Orders of the Bishop of the Diocesse which Letters of Orders signed and sealed by the Bishop is the Marke of the Beast here mentioned and doth testify in the behalfe of the Bearer therof that he is their sworne servant under holy orders either a Priest a Deacon or half Preist c and that he is a man found capable meete for the cure and charge of soules and therfore to what parish soever these tryed Lads are sent to doe service upon sight of this Marke they must be received without any opposition upon penaltie of the Law upon those that shall refuse them Here may be objected that this Marke is onely received by the Clergie and not by the people of all sorts rich and poore bond and free according to the Text. I answer that all persons which receiue these false Priests doe likewise receiue and submit to that authority which sent them and also the Marke by which they are sent as is evident when a Priest commeth to take possession of a Parish to which he is by the Bishop appointed he is not received upon his word nor because he tolleth the Bell and putteth on the Surplice and useth other Ceremonies inioyned him by the Prelate But shewing the fore-said Marke of the Beast they receiue both him and it and communicate with him Thus all both small and great rich and poore bond and free that receiue and submit unto their appointed Priest receiue a marke in their foreheads or in their right hands by receiving and submitting to him For as our Saviour Christ saith of his Apostles and Ministers He that receiveth you receiveth me he that heareth you heareth me Luk. 10. 16. Joh. 13. 20. So those that receiue heare and ioyne in fellowship with these false Ministers doe heare receiue and ioyne to the false power which sent them and the marke by which they are sent Whereas it is said that they received this marke in their foreheads or right hand thereby was shewed that this marke should be an apparant testimony that they were servants of the Beast and that they were of that Band which had ioyned hands and made a league to walke in the wayes of destruction Further it is said Vers 17. And that no man might buy or sell saue he that had the marke of the Beast or the name of the Beast or the number of his name Here are propounded three conditions and whosoever had not one of them thereby to be knowne to bee of that Kingdome might not buy or sell or haue any thing to doe amongst them For the better understanding hereof let us minde that although these three Beasts in respect of their severall power and jurisdiction did differ one from another The Catholike Church being the chiefe and the Pope inferiour to her and the Image of the Beast as it were a servant or handmaid inferiour to them both yet notwithstanding they were one body being ioyned and knit together by the power of the Dragon and haue so farr prevailed over the Nations as that they haue brought all both small and great rich and poore bond and free to be in subiection to their kingdom which beareth the name of the holy Catholike Church or Sea of Rome but the Holy Ghost calleth it * Reu. 14. 8. Babylon the great Citie for as the materiall Babylon was a Citie which dwelled †Esa 51. 13. upon many waters which caused her to abound in riches and treasure so this mysticall Babylon this great Citie of Rome I meane the Ecclesiasticall State is said also to sit upon many waters which the Holy Ghost expoundeth to be People and Nations as in the 17. Chapter and 15. verse The waters on which the Where sitteth are Peoples and Multitudes and Nations and Tongues And these waters haue been the meanes of the flowing and increasing of the wealth and riches of this Citie so that their Marchants that is the Prelates haue grown rich and become the great men of the earth by traficking in them also the Ship-masters which are the Parish Priests and all Ship men and Marriners which are the inferiour guides and Ecclesiasticall Officers haue gathered crummes and waxed rich thereby and therefore at the destruction of this great Citie shall stand a farre off and howle to see the desolation thereof and their owne gaine taken away for from thence-forth no man will buy their commodities any more Here note that these foresaid spirituall prrsons are the sellers and the Lay-people are the buyers and the wares which are bought and sold in this kingdom are all called spirituall as pardons for sinne and indulgences of divers sorts which is a speciall commoditie and bringeth in aboundance of treasure also their Pistling Gospeling Canting Homeling Massing which must bee maintained with the Tithes or Tenth of all things which they usually call the maintenance of the Ministery also the Sacrifices unacceptable to God and well-pleasing to the divell which are dayly offered at their Altars and at divers Images of Saints also the body of their Maker and Saviour besides Marrying Baptizing of children Churching of women Houseling the sick burying the dead these and many such like are the spirituall wares sold in this kingdom which haue particular prizes set on them Now so it is that these wares are priviledged that none may either buy or sell them saue he that hath the marke of the Beast or the name of the Beast or the number of his name What the Marke of
the Beast is hath been before shewed Secondly the name of the Beast is to be considered For the manifestation whereof let us consider and minde that those which did preach and professe Christ and his doctrine are said to haue and to beare his name The Lord Christ Iesus said unto Ananias in a Vision concerning Paul That hee was a chosen Vessell to Acts 9. 15. beare his Name before the Gentiles and Kings and the children of Israel By the name of the Lord here was meant that Paul should preach the doctrine of Christ and those that beleeved by his Preaching were said to beleeue in the name of Christ and were therefore baptized into his name and called Christians †Acts 11. 26. The Disciples were first called Christians in Antioch Also the disciples and followers of Christ are said to haue the Lambs Fathers name written in their forehead According to this is the meaning of the name of this Beast which the Holy Ghost setteth down in a mysterie in the 17. chapter and 5. verse Babylon the great the mother of Harlots and abominations of the earth But the Papists call it not Babylon the great but the great universall or Catholick Church not the mother of Harlots but the mother of all true Beleevers not the mother of all abominations of the earth but the Pillar and ground of Truth that cannot erre This is the difference betwixt the name which God giveth them and which they take and attribute unto themselues But let them speak the best of themselues and let us consider and answer them in their own language they call themselues the Catholick Church and their professed vassals and subiects are therfore called Catholicks and whatsoever they bee that do either preach or professe the Catholick faith that is beleeue as this Catholick Church beleeveth that it is mother of all true Beleevers that it cannot erre c. they are Catholicks such persons wheresoever they liue if they thus beleeue although they never receiued the marke of the Beast nor can receiue it yet this profession is enough to entitle them in the right of buying or selling these foresaid wares such persons haue the name of the Beast and therefore they may buy pardons of the forgiuenesse of part or all their sinnes and use any of these things which they suppose necessary for their soules health but indeed destruction yea after their death they may for a summe of mony given to the foresaid Marchants by their charitable successors be released out of Purgatorie thus by their owne description wee haue found out the name of the Beast and who they are that haue received it The third condition is the number of his name as the Beast had one generall name which the Catholick Church whereby he was known from all other States and Kingdomes in the world so it hath a number of names belonging to the particular parts and members thereof to distinguish one from another as in the 17. Chap. and third verse The Beast was full of names of blasphemy As the true Church which is that body whereof Christ Iesus onely is the Head is compleate and furnished when it is coupled and knit together by every ioynt and member which Christ Iesus hath given for the furniture thereof namely Apostles Prophets 1. Cor. 12. Ephe. 4. 11. Evangelists Pastors and Teachers So this false Church being furnished with those parts and members which that great red Dragon hath invented and set up under the title of Ministers of Christ to worke upon the children of disobedience namely the Pope Patriarches Cardinalls Arch-bishops Bishops Deanes Arch-deacons Abbots Priors Prebends Canons Chancellors Commissaries Registers Doctors with the rest of the selected Synode or Councell so I say this Church or Beast being furnished with these his parts and members is an intire body and these members are the full number of his name that is they are the number of whom the Catholick Church consisteth and from them all inferiour power and offices of Ministerie as Monkes Fryars Parsons Vicars Curats and Iesuits are derived This I understand to be the number of his name and this exposition agreeth with that in the verse following where it is said let him that hath understanding count the Number of the Beast By the number of the Beast what can bee understood but the Number of the particular parts whereof he consisteth And where it is said For it is the number of a man What can bee understood but that it beareth the resemblance and likenesse of a man as followeth to be declared Thus wee see who may buy and sell in this Kingdom and who may not Here is wisedome let him that hath understanding count the number of the Vers 18. Beast for it is the number of a man and his number is 666. Here is shewed first what is required in searching out this mysterie and that is wisedom and understanding not such as is from beneath but from aboue which commeth down from the Father of lights from whom commeth every good and perfect gift hee it is that giveth wisedome to the simple and the understanding of his secrets to those that feare him which should teach those that desire to know the Mysteries of his will to labour to be such as to whom he hath promised to reveale them then whatsoever we aske we shall receiue of him for to such hee giveth liberally and upbraideth not Secondly here is shewed a direction how to imploy a mans wisedom in finding out this Mysterie and that is by counting or reckoning the number of this Beast Thirdly a reason why the number of the Beast is to be counted Because it is the number of a man that is it agreeth with and is answerable to the parts of a man and so is the more easily to be found for as wee know the true Church of Christ is compared in the Scriptures to the naturall body of a man as in 1. Cor. 12. 12. For as the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many are one body so also is Christ Jesus And in the 27. verse the Apostle speaking of the church of Corinth hee saith Yee are the body of Christ and members in particular c. So in the Ephes 1. 22. 23. Christ is given to be head ouer all things to the Church which is his Body Thus as the true Church is called and compared to a body so the catholicks affirme that they onely are that church and that body and that the particular parts and members of their church are the full number thereof Now whereas they say they are the church let us say they are the Beast and whereas they say their particular parts and members make up the number of the Church let us say their particular parts and members make up the number of the Beast and so we finde the true interpretation of this Scripture Further here is set downe the number