And on the Dragons part were Leaders and Chieftaines diuus Tiberius diuus Caligula diuus Claudius diuus Nero and the rest of that most filthy and execrable traine So great was the multitude and number of souldiers that none of what degree sex age or condition soeuer but must be prest for the one side or for the other the valour and vertue of the souldiers exceeded all praise few subdued many the weake ouercame the strong a handfull of Christians a world of infidels The cause was great and higher then the heauens whether God or Belial Christ or Iupiter Christianisme or Paganisme were more venerable for antiquitie maiesticall for amplitude more constant for continuance and in all other respects of wisedome honour and maiestie more worthy to be embraced and adored of the sonnes of men which was for life contended by the Dragon his Angels and assects and was for life withstood and disapproued by Michael and his Angels and their followers The issue of this contention followeth Verse 9. But they preuailed not neither was their place found any more in heauen AS the battell was great so was the victory glorious for though the Dragon with his sapient Senates his prophane Angels and his vncleane abbettors intended all their forces mouing as it is in prouerb heauen and earth to make roome for the abomination of Iupiter and to keepe vnder water the euerlasting Lord and Prince of the Couenant as among the many monuments of time is sufficiently proued and maintained by Orosius and by him to whom he wrote in his booke de Ciuitate Dei yet the Spirit foreseeing the Dragons folly and how in vaine he kickt against the spurre in scorne of his presumption saith But he preuailed not and concluding affirmeth that the possession of heauen so long time vsurped by incestuous murtherers and execrable curtizans gods and goddesses of their owne forgeing must be resigned now to the true Lord and owner of all who hath taken his place at the right hand of the Father and hath deposed for euer from their vsurped titles of deitie all gods and goddesses phantasmes made of wormes created and diuified by the inuentions relations consecrations and canonizations of the Dragon his Taile and successors as the Spirit discouereth in saying Neither the place of them was found any more in heauen Verse 10. And that great Dragon was throwne downe the old Serpent called the Diuell and Satanas which seduceth the whole world and he was cast into the earth and his Angels were throwne downe with him ANd the great and prophane power of the Romane monarchie which had so long time oppressed and corrupted the earth was now at length detected and thereupon disseized of and from her vsurped claime of heauen for euer as the Spirit discouereth in saying And that great Dragon was throwne downe And for that the diuell did corporally dwell as it were in her spreading the beames of his wickednesse at full in all idolatrie impietie and presumption against God and in all oppression iniustice and immanitie towards man the Spirit crowneth her with the cognoments of her sire calling her for her malice to the truth a Serpent for her crimination of the Saints a diuell and for hostilitie to God and his Saints Satanas speaking therein after the maner of the Lord himself who calleth his trecherous steward a diuel thogh he were a man because the fulnesse of Satan did dwel in him filling his heart with such a perfect hatred of his innocent Lord lamentable loue of his guiltie penie that he sold Canaan for Egypt heauen for hell God for siluer And because the impietie of gouernours is not onely their owne decay by euill doing but also by enforcement and euill example the ruine of their people the Spirit layeth the seduction of the whole earth to the charge of the Dragon for the ruling it after the leuell and prescription of Rome saying which seduceth the whole world and thereupon giueth iust iudgement and sentence of death against him namely that as in his beginning he crept out of the earth and by the scale of his wickednesse ascended so high as to presume to thrust his haughtie head into heauen and build his neast aboue the starres as did his antecessors Assur Beltassar Darius Alexander and the rest of their compeeres so by a like power of sword and crueltie he shall shortly returne to his friends again and be made euen with the earth from whence his stocke and first estate was borrowed and the power of his Cesars councell of his Senators sophistrie of his Sorcerers which with such indurate and obstinate mindes stood for the honour and worship of diuels should be no longer able to vphold the reuerence of their Iupiter Capitolinus who was now deteced for a rogue and by the voices of Michaels Angels as by whips and pasports was sent home againe to the place of his birth namely the earth from whence his mortall and vile genealogie was taken and with him also were Cesars vndiuified and for all their Senates proud relations were made to take vp the graue for their latter end and shame for their fame and wormes for their heritage as the Spirit foretelleth saying And he was cast downe vnto the earth and his Angels were throwne downe with him Verse 11. And I heard a great voice in heauen saying Now is made saluation and force and kingdome of our God and the power of his Christ because the accuser of our brethren is cast downe who accused them before the sight of our God day and night NEither was this famous victorie obtained in a corner or spoken in the eare but as the Spirit reporteth so valorously gotten and so audibly proclaimed that all the world heard the report thereof witnesse the records of those times at which the holy Ghost pointeth in these words And I heard a loud voice in heauen saying and sounding the victorie of Christ and Christianisme against the Dragon and his Angels his sorcerers and their prophane and idolatrous paganisme in these deuout diuine notes Now is made saluation and force and the kingdome of our God and the power of his Christ and yeeldeth a reason of this so pious and triumphant ioy because the folly and fury of the Dragon and his Angels which so continually accused the Saints and seruants of God for pestilent fellowes mouers of sedition maintainers of sects polluters of the Temple teachers of new gods enemies to Cesar wordsowers babblers blasphemers is now vpon setting and going downe for euer Which death and downfall of their spirituall whoredome the holy Ghost discloseth in saying because the accuser of our brethren is cast forth And for the greater comfort of the Church and iudgement of her enemies concludeth that there is a perfect courtroule kept as wel of the sufferings of the Saints as of the slanders of their foes so openly committed in the face of the Court and before a Iudge of so cleare a sight and eternall
notwithstanding with the Prophets of God and therefore is called Propheticall as Ezekiel a day for a yeare and Daniels Ezek. 4. 6. Dan. 9. 24. seuentie weekes are weekes of yeares euery weeke containing seuen yeares as throughout this prophecie Also the months are months of yeares to euery month accounting thirtie yeares From whence we conclude Antichrists three yeares and a halfe both here and in Daniel deciphered by a time times and half a time to be yeares of yeares euery yeare containing twelue moneths of yeares which amount to 360 yeares and multiplied by three and a halfe do in the totall amount to 1260 yeares And to the end the world may take better notice of these his two testifiers and preseruers of truth the Lord commendeth the knowledge of the parties by the description of their garments in saying they are cloathed in sackcloth thereby not onely disseuering their testimonies from all the soft and courtly commentaries of flesh and blood which for the most are raised with infected matter and vested with affected stile but also teaching vs that no man can retaine to the Lord before whom they minister vnlesse he serue in the same liuery that they doe and can turne ouer the leaues of his life and pilgrimage in fasting and sackcloth and true repentance as these his seruants the Prophets and Saints haue done Verse 4. These are the two oliue branches and the two candlesticks which stand in the presence of the Lord of the earth ANd these my two Testaments are those two oliue trees saith the Lord described by my Prophet Zechary which stand and fructifie before the Ruler of the earth for euer and euer For their leafe that is to say their word and iudgements shall neither wither nor fade though heauen and earth should perish and melt away And they are also two candlesticks which carry in them the light of my truth and power of my Spirit the great moderator of heauen and earth Verse 5. And if any man will hurt them fire shall come forth of their mouth and deuoure their enemies and if any man shall hurt them so must he be slaine ANd if any man shal wrest their word from the aime intention of their meaning saith the Lord or turne their prophecie out of the way by peruerting or clipping the honour or purpose of their word the fire of my wrath denounced by the mouth of these my two testaments for though they be two yet they haue but one mouth shall surely iudge and execute those louers and makers of lies and for the more assurance of this sentence against them the Lord doth iterate the curse and vengeance of his heauy displeasure saying And if any man will hurt them so must he be slaine meaning I say by hurting all maner diminishing of the words of their testimonie by false blasphemous and lying expositions as some haue done Verse 6. These haue power to shut heauen that it raine not in the dayes of their prophecie and they haue power ouer the waters to turne them into blood and to smite the earth with all maner of plagues so often as they will FOr the Lord hath touched the mouth of these his two Prophets as he did the mouth of Ieremie and the rest of his seruants of whom he saith Behold this day haue I set thee ouer nations and ouer kingdomes to plucke vp roote out destroy and throw downe build and plant and in another place Therefore haue I cut them downe by my Prophets and slaine them by the words of my mouth Such priuiledge the Lord hath giuen to these his two Testaments that if they once shut the heauens that it raine not in the dayes of their prophecie that is to say if they denounce a famine of the bread of life to wit the word and knowledge of God or pronounce a sword to come vpon a nation kingdom or people which the Lord here signifieth by turning waters into blood or if it pleaseth them to prophesie which the Lord here calleth to strike of any pestilence earthquake or other iudgement to come such power is giuen them that if they say the word it is done as it is written Heauen and earth shall perish but the words of their prophecie shall not passe till all be fulfilled Verse 7. And when they shall haue finished their testimonieâ— the Beast which ascendeth from the depth shall wage battell against them and kill them ANd when his seruants the Prophets and Apostles shal haue fulfilled their course and be translated from the land of their labours to the land of rest leauing to the world the inheritance as it were of their ministery sealed vp in the two Testaments of God to preserue the feare of his name and the knowledge of his pleasure among the sonnes of men which the holy Ghost calleth finishing their testimonie Antichrist the Beast whose proper place whence he is and whither he must is here described by the name of the depth shall not onely hurt and wound them by slanderous lying expositions as his Clerks and Assects do but shall set his feet vpon their necks and tread downe their diuine authoritie by the aduancing of his cursed keyes and the beautie of his whorish Church aboue them which the Spirit calleth waging battell inhibiting them to prophecie or teach the words of their testimonie vulgarly And not onely putting them to silence but also reprouing condemning them for corrupters seducers and sowers of heresies among the people which presumptuous blasphemie and murder the Spirit discouereth in saying that he shall ouercome them and kill them Verse 8. And their carkeises shall remaine in the streete of the great Citie which is spiritually called Sodome and Egypt where their Lord also was crucified ANd the letter or text of their testimonie which the Spirit calleth their corps or carkeises shall remaine in their houses Cels Temples hang at their girdles through all the cities and kingdomes where the Beast and his Church is adored which in regard of their number be here named the great Citie so in respect of their execrable worship and adulterous seruice contrary to God and his holy Citie they are here called also spiritually Sodome meaning that as Sodome her sister did forsake the lawfull vse and prescription of nature and wrought filthinesse against nature so these loathing truth and louing lyes should erect strange oblations and propitiations as contrary to the offerings and satisfactions of the Saints as was the sinne of Sodome opposite to nature And the Spirit further calleth them by the name of Egypt for that in blindnes and hardnes of heart they euery way match the presumptuous and indurate Egyptians still pursuing and persecuting the truth as Pharaoh did Israel till the God of Israel destroy them by the Spirit of his mouth as he did Pharaoh and his hoast by water And in further detestation of the cruel murder and immanitie of this Beast and his adherents the holy Ghost layeth the blood
of all the seuen Monarchies vnto whom from the beginning of time to the end thereof was giuen and granted the charter and commission of blaspheming God corrupting his world as in the thirteenth Chapter following is more particularly discouered the Apostle addeth hauing seuen heads And in regard his power did beate down the power of all nations and made spoile and purchase of all kings kingdomes on earth the Spirit saith he had ten hornes for the hornes signifie kings and kingdomes and the number of ten include all be they neuer so many as all numbers are made of ten and their reduplication be they neuer so infinite And because he came to aduance his head so high by the power of his sword his Leaders and legions the Spirit crowneth his heads with magnificence and diadems saying And on his heads seuen diadems Verse 5. And his taile drew the third part of the starres of heauen and cast them to the earth And the Dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be deliuered that when she had brought forth he might deuoure her sonne THe head of this great red Dragon was his Regall first estate gouerned by Romulus six other successiue kingcoates which Seneca calleth his infancie or nonage wherein he liued swathed and nourished in blood 244 yeares as his owne Historian reporteth The bodie of this great red Dragon was his Consuls second estate which Seneca calleth his full age part Aristocraticall part Democraticall and was therefore stiled Senatus populusque Romanus from whence partly by reason of his ouerweight and fulsome abundance as one of his owne noteth Romana laxitas mundi rerum amplitudo damno fuit and partly for want of enemies abroad to wreake their proud and kingly humours on he fell into the intestine euill of ciuill warres at home which did cast him into his minoritie and wardship again And this his last estate of regiment Imperiall the holy Ghost here calleth his taile which consisteth of a rout of Monarchs seuentie Keysars long who for that they so furiously persecuted and hauocked the blood of the chiefest Saints and seruants of God the Spirit saith that with his cursed taile he drew the third part of the starres of heauen and cast them to the earth And not contented with the slaughter of his fairest lights and starres of his Church proceeded to desolate the whole hoast of heauen euen all the seed of the Spouse named before the Churches child and here her sonne meaning those in whom by the ministery of his fairest starres his seruants the Apostles Christ was now formed and of whom the Church was now ready to be deliuered for so much the Apostle vnfoldeth in these words And the Dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be deliuered that when she should bring forth he might deuoure her sonne Verse 6. But she brought forth a man child who was to gouerne all nations in an iron rod and her son was taken vp to God and to his throne BVt notwithstanding all their furie the Church brought forth her first fruit which for their faith charitie labour and patience the Spirit nameth a man child and because they followed the Lord in the regeneration and ouercame by keeping his words and works vnto the end they receiued the selfe same honour which to their Lord alone and in chiefe belongeth namely that they shall iudge the Tribes of Israel and haue dominion ouer the nations and shall rule them with a rod of iron and breake their glorie like a potters vessell as the Lord hath promised Math. 19. and Apoc. 2. And in remembrance of the tender care and prouidence of God ouer the seed and first fruit of his Church the Spirit concludeth that when they had ended their course they were taken vp to God and to his throne far from the reach and rage of their enemies Verse 7. And the Woman fled into the wildernesse where she had a place prepared of God that there they might feed her a thousand two hundred and sixtie dayes BVt the Church of God here named the woman mother of this faire and primitiue fruit being no longer able to weather out her stormes was enforced to hide her beautie and to retire her selfe into the secret chambers of Gods prouidence and her owne conscience and to take vp her lodging in the desart not that her light was vtterly extinguished as her enemies reproch her for although she were dispersed distressed and enforced to hide her extraordinary and eminent graces yet the beautie of her true repentance and of her liuely faith seconded with a charitable life and patient expectation of better things to come still shined as a candle in a darke place and like a ship preserued in a tempest she remained stil the same of whom the world was not worthy neuer wanting the louing protection of her dearest Lord who in all her troubles was mindfull of her as of Elias his seruant or Israel his first borne carefull to prouide her both of honorable harbour and princely diet Her resting place was restlesse strewed and scattered far and neare ouer the face of the earth for such a lodging did best beseeme her broken and restlesse heart which soiourned in earth but dwelt in heauen and did also best defend her person from the furious inquisitions of her enemies Neither was her Lord lesse louing and prouident concerning her food for he preserued for her diet the two witnesses of his eternall Couenant that from their breast she might sucke the pure and wholesome milke of grace and life that so she might be both nobly harboured and princely fed during the tedious and odious reigne of the great Whore the Church of Rome who during her exile should vsurpe her Chaire and vnder the vizard of her name should persecute her name and generation a thousand two hundred and sixtie yeares here as before mystically deciphered vnder a thousand two hundred and sixtie dayes Verse 8. And there was waged a battell in heauen Michael and his Angels fought with the Dragon and the Dragon fought and his Angels ANd at the same time that the Temple of God was opened in heauen the Apostle also foresaw that great and bloody contention then which since the dayes of heauen was neuer waged greater great in regard of the armies and great in respect of the cause The armies great as well for the greatnesse of the Generals as for the valour and number of their forces The Generall on the one side was the power of God sciphered by Michael the Prince of the Couenant who stood for the children and people of the Highest The Generall on the other side was the power of Satan figured by Ethnicke Rome here as before called the Dragon In their forces are to be considered the Leaders and the souldiers The Leaders and the Captains on the part of Michael were Diuus Petrus Diuus Paulus Diâ—â—â— Iohannes and the rest of that diuine and noble order of Saints
or the number of the man is nothing else but the period and finall determination of the vsurped tyrannie and domination of Antichrist which the Lamb the Lord and preseruer of Israel for the glorie of his name consolation of his Church and confusion of her foes with a mighty and outstretched arme shall bring to passe in the yeare which shal be 666. Forasmuch as the egge of Antichristianisme was laid in the dayes of Innocent the first successor to Anastasius the first also of that name in the yeare of saluation 406 as is before declared and that by expresse commission there was furthermore granted to the Beast his heires and successors 1260 yeares for the hatching fostering and perfecting this child of perdition and mystery of iniquitie which being added to 406 by rule of true audite must needs verifie this admirable iudgement which the Spirit of God hath here denounced and determined to make good vpon him in the yeare which shall be 1666. In which account and discouery of his end the holy Ghost of purpose leaueth out the millenarie number as not onely knowne perfect and immutable for that these vile and euill dayes shall not exceed more thousands then one but as respecting also the common vse of all nations as well Hebrewes as Gentiles who in their stiles for breuitie sake do no lesse often speak Vide Calendarium Heâ—raieum Sebastianl Munsteri and write by the imperfect number omitting the millenary then after the perfect adding the millenary as Munster well obserueth And in that yeare my Lord of Rome shall lay downe his proud waues and although he fortifie neuer so strong and lay his foundation as low as hell and build his turrets as high as heauen and place his Miter aboue the starres yet in that day he shall die the death of the vncircumcised and perish like the Amorite whose fruit is destroyed from aboue and roote from beneath and the multitude of his offences shall consume the multitude of his forces and it shall be more possible for him and easie vnto him to weigh the fire or measure the wind or call againe the day that is past or recouer the verdure of the withered grasse as a holy one saith then to auoide this counsell and decree of his downfall here determined by the Spirit against him saying and the number of him is 666. And then all kingdomes and people shall see the eternitie of that eternall citie as one of her owne calleth it and the immortalitie of her soule meaning the soueraigne power and supremacie of her Cesars and high Priests to wither die and forsake the earth for euer and as Babylon her mother left vnto her the inheritance of her pride and prophanations so shall she also leaue vnto her the heritage of her death and iudgements for as her glorie hath been great so shall her dishonour when all her excellencie shall be translated into shame and sorow Now therefore as King Baltasher cried aloud when he saw the hand-writing against him that they should bring the Caldeans Astrologians and Inchanters to reade and interpret so thou that once and long before our dayes hast been deemed by lawes of all nations a power so soueraigne holy call now about thee thy Councell and thy Clergie who call themselues Good men learned and wise whose onely grace is to loue antiquitie grauitie wisedome and constancie call them I say cloath them with purple and chain them with gold yet shall they not deliuer thee froÌ„ this iudgement to come but as the mill-stone which the mightie Angell took and cast into the sea which may not rise and floate againe with such violence thou and thy Church in that houre shall be throwne downe and shall be found no more And all such Kings on earth or rather Kings of earth whose loue thou hast stolen to the losse of their soules that haue liued in drunkennesse delights and wantonnesse with thee shal weep and waile for thee as for their first borne when they shall see the smoake of thy torments ascend and the apples which thy soule lusted after to depart from thee and no man to buy thy trasn and commodities any more for that God which iudgeth thee is a strong Lord and thy derision shall be the ioy and Alleluia of Sion But her faire and halcyon day may not long endure before the Lord that with iustice iudgeth and fighteth shall come in the clouds of heauen to render vnto euery man according to the ways wherein his heart hath walked as more directly is reuealed in the 20 Chapter following But as coÌ„cerning the day houre of the coming of that Lord who for the glorie of his name shall bring these things to passe it is fast sealed vp in the treasurie of God far beyond the aime of all his seruants in earth or Angels in heauen and yet his beloued seruant Daniel is bold in spirit and layeth downe the yeare to be the fiue and fortith yeare according to his Caldaicall supputation after the consumption and extermination of Antichrist that it may be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet Verily the Lord of hoasts will doe nothing but he reuealeth his secrets vnto his seruants the Prophets Amos 3. FINIS
of the Prince of the Couenant to their charge also as cunningly as they thinke to conuey his murder and post it ouer to Ierusalem For as the Lord doth lay the blood of his seruant Abel to the charge of the Scribes and Pharises of his owne time although hee were slaine long before those Pharises were borne or Ierusalem builded because they were the very image and liuely imitation of his brother that murthered him so the holy Ghost doth here lay the innocent blood of the Lord of glory to the charge of this crucifier and his citizens because they are the children and generation of that high Priest and those murderers which cried Away with him crucifie him crucifie him And that wee should not maruell thereat the holy Ghost in another place goeth further and saith In her shall be found the blood of the Apostles and Prophets also and all that euer for the testimonie of the truth were slaine on earth Verse 9. And there shall of the tribes and people and Gentiles see their dead bodies three dayes and a halfe and shall not suffer their corps to be layed in monuments ANd all nations and kingdoms where the Beast is worshipped whom the holy Ghost for their prophanation in life and religion calleth Gentiles shall haue handle and gaze vpon the letter and corps of his two witnesses three days and a halfe that is to say the time times and halfe a time wherein the Beast shall reigne and persecute euen three propheticall yeares and a halfe accounting as in Ezekiel all dayes for yeares Neither shall they suffer the word of their prophecie to be read opened vnderstood and laid vp in the hearts of the people the true and natural monuments and sepulchers wherein the testimonie of their words ought to be interred Verse 10. And the inhabitants of the earth shall be glad ouer them and shall send gifts one to another because these two Prophets tormented them that dwell vpon the earth ANd all the worshippers of the Beast here noted for their number by the inhabitants of the earth shall clap their hands ouer their owne inuentions and reioyce in the death of the truth and make merry with bonefires Vigils Festiuals Processions and in token of ioy they shall send as the Spirit saith gifts one to another Kings and Princes and people shal present and endow the Beast and his Church with donations immunities possessions gold and siluer offerings and the Beast on the other side shall requite their kindnesse with titles bels pardons buls and such like and the Spirit yeeldeth a reason of this their wicked and vngodly comfort because they had put out the eyes of his two Prophets that their whoredomes and prophanations might not be reproued then which nothing can be greater torment to the wicked nor more vnsauory to them that perish Verse 11. And after three dayes and a halfe the spirit of life from God entred into them and they stood vpon their feete and great feare fell vpon all that saw them ANd forasmuch as in the death and extermination of Antichrist by way of dependancie consisteth the life and resurrection as it were of the Scriptures the Spirit foresheweth that after the reigne and persecution of the Beast which here as in the ninth verse is determined by three dayes and a half God will raise vp faithfull prudent Priests Shepherds of vnderstanding hearts who shall rightly diuide the words and testimonies of his two witnesses which the holy Ghost signifieth in saying that the spirit of life from God entred into them for as the letter and text of the Scripture is the corps thereof so their true intent and meaning is the spirit and life of them and by the faithfull ministery of such as the Lord shall raise in and about that time and for that purpose the testimonie of his two Prophets shall be restored to their strength and as it were to their walking againe which the Spirit signifieth in saying they stood vpon their feete as well to the terror and astonishment of all lying and stipulous expositors as to the feare and admiration of the children and iustifiers of wisedome as the holy Ghost concludeth saying And great feare fell vpon all that saw them Verse 12. And I heard a loud voice from heauen saying Come vp hither and they went vp into heauen in a cloud and their enemies saw them ANd the restauration of the true meaning of the Scriptures which their enemies so long kept vnder by all vniust and cunning shifts shall be more famously knowne and published then that they may any longer hinder or stop the glorious course of their wonderfull instauration which the Spirit intendeth in saying that he heard a voice from heauen saying Come vp hither meaning that it should be more possible for their enemies to stay Elias chariot from ascending or pull the wind backe from pursuing his point then to resist the wisedome of the same the which shall vindicate the abuse of the Scriptures and by the power of their ministery as in the strength of a cloud shall hold them vp and restore them to their spirituall and heauenly meaning againe and the Beast with all his sorcerers and liers which haue been their long and ancient enemies shall see the glorie of their regeneration and wonder and die Verse 13. And in that houre there was made a great earthquake and the tenth part of the Citie fell and there were slaine in the earthquake names of men seuen thousand and the rest were cast into a feare and gaue glorie to the God of heauen ANd at such time as it pleased God to begin his worke of instauration and to cause the dayspring of his Gospel to shine out of the night of Antichrists darknesse the abominable and desolate prophanation of the Beast which had so long time ouercast the earth was in such sort discouered that the very roote of his throne and vsurped authoritie was dangerously shaken which the holy Ghost closely foldeth vp in saying there was made a great earthquake And further foresheweth that out of this concussion there should arise so great defection that the tenth part of his worshippers should reuolt from him and that this reuolt and defection must cost the liues of many thousand men which the Spirit vttereth in a maner of speech strange to vs but vsuall with the Scriptures calling men names of men as Chap. 3. 4. and meaning by seuen thousand many thousand vsing the determinate number of seuen indefinitely and for a number indeterminate as it is also in Scripture often Which broiles and bloodshed concerning the institution of religion are so sufficiently reported in the Commentaries of Bohemia and Germanie and in the troubles of France and Flanders and other nations as if it were purposely registred in proofe of this prophecie Lastly the Spirit concluding foretelleth that many kingdomes in this defection should quite forsake the Beast and haste them out of Babylon home againe to build
the wals of Ierusalem and to restore the morning and the euening sacrifice of praise and thanksgiuing as in the former time and in the dayes of old in saying And the rest were cast into a feare and gaue glorie to the God of heauen Verse 14. The second woe is gone and behold the third woe will come quickly THe first woe was the blasphemie of Arianisme which the holy Ghost in the ninth Chapter most aptly resembleth vnto a smoake ascending from the depth saying that the Sunne was darkened and the aire with the smoake of the pit meaby the Sunne the Sonne of God and by the aire the word of his truth by whose onely meane and interposition the obiect of his Deitie was truly discerned and in regard of this first woe which was kindled by Arius wherewith the inhabitants of the earth as the Spirit foretold vs should be tormented fiue moneths meaning moneths of yeares which by propheticall account amounteth to one hundred and fiftie yeares which was the time of the Arian persecution as in the Ecclesiasticall histories more plainly appeareth The holy Ghost I say in regard of this first woe calleth the tragicall reigne of Antichrist the second woe whose long time of tyrannie within this Chapter in a generall maner is declared and in the thirteenth Chapter following more particularly and exactly discouered though at the writing of this prophecie it had his being only in the foreknowledge of God and was not yet begun to be acted much lesse fully ended yet in respect it is here in a generall maner fully reuealed the Lord to whom all things past and to come are present saith the second woe is gone vpon determination whereof the third woe must ensue which for it surpasseth both the former in terror and greatnesse the holy Ghost bringeth it in with a word of audience Behold the third woe will come meaning the great and terrible day of the Lord fore denounced by his seruants the Prophets in the which all nations shall stand as prisoners before him and receiue euery one according to the wayes wherein their heart hath walked And because the day of the Lords coming in glorie and consummation of the world shall not long tarry after the determination and consumption of Antichrist as in the last verse of the thirteenth Chapter following shall be more fully declared the holy Ghost addeth the word quickly as a precise note of his speedie coming which our Lord also in another place confirmeth by a like word immediatly saying And immediatly after the tribulation of those dayes speaking of Math. 24. the tyrannous reigne of the selfe same Antichrist they shall see the Sonne of man coming in the clouds of the aire Verse 15. And the seuenth Angell sounded with a Trumpet and there were made loud voices in heauen saying The kingdomes of this world are made our Lords and his Christs and he shal reigne for euer and euer Amen THe vnderstanding of this verse dependeth vpon the eighth Chapter where it is said And when he had opened the seuenth seale there was made silence in heauen c. and I saw seuen Angels stand in the sight of God and there were giuen them seuen trumpets c. where the holy Ghost meaneth by the Lamb the Sonne of God and by opening the seuenth seale a more particular discouery of all such things as concerne the estate of his Church from his ascension to his comming in maiestie diuided into seuen acts declared by seuen trumpets sounded by seuen Angels of which acts the sixt was the pageant of the desolation of Antichrist the seuenth and last is the coming of the Lord in the clouds of heauen and consummation of the world vttered in these words And the seuenth Angell sounded with a trumpet and with a loud voice proclaimed the kingdome of this world so long time vsurped by Monarks and Antichrists which by right of Lordship and inheritance did euermore belong to the God of heauen and Prince of the Couenant shall now at length be restored to the right Lord and lawfull owner and of his reigne dominion and glorie there shall be no end as the Spirit concludeth saying And he shall reigne for euer and euer Amen Verse 16. And the foure and twenty Elders which sate on their seates in the sight of God fell on their faces and adoring God said We thank thee Lord God omnipotent which art which wast and which shall come because thou hast receiued thy great power and brightnesse BY the foure and twenty Elders is meant the testimonie of Moses and the Prophets who for that they spake by the seuen fold Spirit of maiestie which burneth night and day about the throne of God are here said to sit on their seates in the sight of God And for that their iudgements denounced frō time to time against Antichrist and his worshippers are now iustified vpon them and the euerlasting kingdome of the Lord their God who hath stretched his wings from sea to sea and from the Riuer to the end of lands is now set vp for euermore therefore the Spirit saith that they fell on their faces and adoring the iustification of God brake foorth in praises and thanksgiuing saying We thanke thee Lord God omnipotent c. Verse 17. And the Gentiles were angrie and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead to be iudged and to render reward to thy seruants the Prophets and Saints and to them that feare thy name litle and great and to destroy them that haue corrupted the earth ANd all kingdomes nations and people which haue euill intreated Ierusalem and made a sport of the shame and affliction of Iacob shal now reap the fruit of their sauage heathenish liues and mauger their furie shall endure the wrath and iudgement of him who with iustice iudgeth and fighteth as the Spirit affirmeth saying And the Gentiles were angrie and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead to be iudged And the Spitit further testifieth that the Lord for whose glorie that day is made shall render to euery one their due hire or wages for so the originall importeth commonly interpreted reward first to his Saints and seruants and all that ouercome their hire and wages which by promise and for his owne name sake is due vnto them next to all execrable Atheists blasphemous Catholiques incredulous heathen liers heretiques carnall Gospellers and all other brazen and vnregenerate Christians the hire and wages which to their works and deeds and merits is due as the Spirit concludeth saying And to render reward vnto thy seruants the Prophets and Saints and to them that feare thy name little and great and to destroy them that haue corrupted the earth But concerning this seuenth age wherein the Lord shall come in maiestie to iudge the quicke and the dead the holy Ghost deferreth yet a while to speak more particularly thereof and resumeth more exactly to intreat of the terme and persecution of Antichrist and
spirituall sword and to weare the name and title of Vicar to the Lamb which title name and honour is onely due to the Spirit of the Lamb the onely moderator comforter and commander of all the Lambs affaires and forces in heauen and in earth and of this principal blasphemy the Apostle condemneth him in saying And he opened his mouth vnto blasphemie against God Next the Lord challengeth him for presuming to blaspheme the word of God superaduancing his whorish church aboue the diuine eternall testimonie in and by which the Son of God is named and knowne which contumely offered to his most holy word the Lord accounteth as done to himselfe and his most holy name for so the holy Ghost speaking of that Lord that is faithfull and true who with iustice iudgeth and fighteth saith that he was clothed with a garment sprinkled with blood and his name is called The Word of God The pourtraiture of which diuine and essentiall Word is the ingrauen Scripture of his most holy and written word and of this blasphemie the Spirit inditeth him in these words to blaspheme his name Lesse maruell then if like a raging flood downe bearing all before him and ouerflowing all bankes of obedience towards God he dare extol his cursed head aboue all that is called or named God that is to say all magistracie authoritie and power secular which by Gods owne ordinance commandement is the onely true liuely and immediate representation of his owne person iustice and gouernment here on earth in and ouer all temporall causes and persons as well Ecclesiastical as ciuil of which high treason one Apostle also conuinceth him 2. Thess 2. No maruell then if thus daring to blaspheme the Lord of the house and his annointed Deputies he dare blaspheme the house of God wherein his name is honored cursing reuiling and reputing it a house of schismatiques heretiques excommunincates which blasphemous and vndeserued wrong the holy Ghost layeth to his charge in these words and his tabernacle And last of all to shew that there is neither end nor measure in his blacke presumptuous and blasphemous mouth the Spirit further chargeth him with blaspheming the Saints and seruants of God deceased cursing reuiling and condemning their doctrine and yet blessing adoring erecting their shadows sepulchers and shrines for mediators intercessors and reconciliators betweene God and the sinner like their cursed fore-elders the Israelites who boasted in the descent of their father Abraham and yet blasphemed the faith of Abraham their father of which blasphemous and indicible contumely against the Son of God and his most holy Spirit the Apostle condemneth him saying And those that dwell in heauen Verse 7. And it was giuen vnto him to make battell with the Saints and to ouercome them and power was giuen him vpon euery people tribe tongue and nation ANd as after lightning followeth thūder so after Antichrists blasphemie followeth his persecution as the Spirit testifieth saying And it was giuen him to bid battell to the Saints which the Prophet Daniel by way of exposition also plainly setteth forth saying that he should murther and consume the Saints and seruants of the most high And in further amplification of this his carnificious furie the Spirit setteth forth the largenesse of his charter and commission by an excessiue loquution foretelling vs that it should be so large and general that the fire of his prophane and sycophantical keys should take hold vpon euery nation and tribe as if we please to cast an eye vpon the times past and conferre what he had with what he hath we shall easily discerne the meaning of the holy Ghost in these words And power was giuen him vpon euery Tribe people tongue and nation Verse 8. And all that inhabite the earth adored it whose names be not written in the booke of life of the Lamb which was slaine from the beginning of the world THe holy Ghost hauing in the former part of this Chapter discouered the birth place person power blasphemie and persecution of Antichrist descendeth now to the description of his creatures and deuotaries foretelling vs that they should be such onely for vnto such onely the particle all is here restrained as haue their portion and interest in this life whose pietie heauen hope and glorie is here and not elsewhere which kind of out and ouercast Christians the Spirit describeth by a periphrasis most proper to their naturall and inbred disposition saying they are those that inhabite the earth therein discouering them as by a difference diuisiue from such as are the Lords pilgrims and strangers on earth hauing here no permanent abode or place of rest but seeking the things which are aboue attend with patience the reuelation of a life and citie to come not made with hands where their Lord and their Redeemer liueth And the Spirit proceeding sheweth further the supreme hidden and vnperceiuable reason why the adorers of Antichrist thus defiled the ornaments of their calling and why they loued lyes more then truth the Beasts penance more then Gods repentance the Beasts beliefe more then faith towards God the Beasts miserable merits more then the fruits of the Spirit hatred of sin and loue of God because as holy Dauid saith they were not found in the Lords record nor written with the righteous for so much the Spirit vnfoldeth saying whose names be not written in the booke of life of the Lamb which was slaine from the beginning of the world Verse 9. If any man haue an eare let him heare THe Apostle hauing sufficiently deciphered the nature and cariage of Antichrist and his creatures commeth now to discouer his reward and iudgement which howsoeuer it tarry little or long is of necessitie the reward of sinne But before the Spirit draweth out his sword it pleaseth him in his accustomed mercie to awake his Church and her enemies and to moue them to a feare and reuerent attention by a generall summons proclaiming If any man haue an care let him heare Verse 10. He that shall leade into captiuitie goeth into captiuitie and he that shall kill with the sword must be killed with the sword here is the patience and the faith of the Saints THe holy Ghost in this verse calleth Antichrist to the Barre and sets him before the world for the very he on whō the wrath of God and his heauie displeasure is to be executed For he who vnder colour and pretence of weeding out and rooting vp of heretiques hath brought into the Church captiuitie inquisitions tortures and torments to the horrible murther and slaughter of the Saints when in such cases notwithstanding he had neither precept nor example in the life of the Lamb or his Apostles so to do he euen he saith the Lord is that partie against whom this iust iudgement of taliation is laid vp in store to be executed vpon him in that day when the Lord shall bring againe the captiuitie of his Church which for their sins he hath giuen vp to
the sword and furie of the Beast vntill she haue borne the burthen of her shame and as the Ezek. 39. Prophet saith renewed her beautie by her sorrowes and her glorie by her persecutions and then shall be fulfilled that which was spoken by the Prophet Woe to thee that spoiledst and wast not spoiled and didst deale wickedly when they did not Esa 33. wickedly against thee for when thou shalt cease to spoile thou shalt be spoiled and when thy sinne is ended thou shalt be rewarded as here also the Spirit denounceth contesting that God shall scourge him with his owne inuentions repay him home in his owne coine saying He that shall leade into captiuitie shall go into captiuitie and he that shall kill shall be killed And in consolation of the Spouse concludeth that howsoeuer Antichrist and his Delegates foolishly thought by afflicting the Church to destroy the Church yet in her afflictions consisteth the very strength and approbation of her children for by the things they suffer they learne obedience through patience their faith is consecrated by the which they are perfected and made inheritable of the promise of God all which mercie and fauour is commended vnto them vnder the hand and seale of afflictions by which their mad and drunken aduersaries thought to consume them and like fooles did not consider that as the workman doth square the stone by strokes and as the snake doth cast his old skin by passing through sharp stones so the Lord doth renew his Spouse by stripes and brusheth off her old affections by passing her through the asperitie of tribulation which holy and hidden consideration causeth the Spirit to honour the sufferings of the Saints so highly as to ascribe vnto them the chiefest stayes and supportations of their precious hope and calling namely patience and faith saying here is the patience and faith of the Saints Verse 11. And I saw another Beast comming vp from the earth and he had two hornes like the Lamb but he spake like the Dragon THe holy Ghost in the verse foregoing hauing pronounced sentence of death against Antichrist before he comes to the execution thereof descendeth to the araiâ—â—â—ment and condemnation of his Clergie that so they may be carted to the valley of Hinnom both together whom the Lord here figureth vnder the name of the Beast saying And I saw another Beast comprehending vnder the singular number of one Beast by a maner of speech common to the holy Scriptures the whole corporation and vniuersitie of false and lying teachers who from the first Eremite Hypocrite Father Priest Monke Frier to the last trumping and vagabond Iesuite haue auouched the honour and adoration of Antichrist And is most aptly deciphered by their earthly sensuall and diuellish minds in pointing to their country and place of extraction whence and where such weeds do grow saying comming vp from the earth And commendeth their making and acquaintance to vs by two exquisite tokens the one their person the other their doctrine Touching their shape and person the Spirit saith that it was in robe and exteriour appearance the very face and countenance of the Lamb deckt and garnished with his owne two hornes to wit the Law and the Gospel wherew 〈…〉 he Lamb doth saue and kill for so the Spirit saith And he had two hornes like the Lamb. But as concerning the vse and force of the hornes the Spirit saith they were therein so contrary to the Lamb that when they did open either to teach the Law or preach the Gospell they spake and taught like the Dragons Doctors and like the Priests of Iupiter teaching and preaching vnto the children of the world that they ought to worship the God of heauen as the Dragons Priests had taught their fathers to worship the gods of the heathen Which detestable prophaâ—ation of the worship of God and preposterous adoration of his name the Spirit detecteth in saying but he spake like the Dragon Verse 12. And all the power of the first Beast he did in his sight and he made the earth and the inhabitants therein to adore the first Beast whose wound of death was cured BY the power of the first Beast is meant the purpose and plot of the Dragon for the vpholding and establishment of their false and godlesse religion to the prophanation and extinction of the true worship and seruice of God which forasmuch as he could not effect by force and open enmitie I meane by the bloody persecutions of his prophane and Ethnicke Cesars he did deuise to put a new string to his old bowe and to worke it out by fraud and falshood of friends and thereupon perswaded his Ethnicke Cesars that in policie it was the best to play Christians forasmuch as the world was now so giuen as Iupiter with all his idols must needs giue place to Christ because most voices went that way And the better to bring the mysterie of iniquitie to passe he caused his new Christened Cesars to set vp a race of Sycophanticall high and princely Priests who vnder colour of proctering the affaires of the Lamb should cunningly clap Iupiters coate vpon the Lambs back and bestow all the ceremonies and rituals of Iupiter and his idols vpon Christ that so by turning Iupiters worship into Christianisme he might turne the worship of God into Paganisme and idolatrie and that so he might at the least prophane and desolate the true worship of the true God whose maiestie truth of deitie they could no way blemish And for the better successe in this their proiect should cause to be erected throughout all kingdomes and nations certaine Couents and swarmes of false vngodly and prostituted Clerks who by auouching and maintaining against all comers that Antichrists name is Simon Peter and that the supremacie his Cesars and his Kings gaue him is the very keyes of heauen and hell which the Lamb committed to the dispensation of his Saints and seruants and that the throne and seate of wickednesse is Peters Chaire and Sea Apostolique and that the execrable forme of Iupiters worship wherein his Lords and Cesars delighted is the very true worship and seruice of God which the Lamb and his Apostles deliuered And by these mists legerdemains and new editions of old idolatrie should establish in the sight of Antichrist the selfe same prophanation and deuout impietie which his antecessors the Cesars so ardently embraced for so much the Spirit rippeth vp in saying And all the power of the first Beast he did in the sight of Antichrist and thereby so strongly deluded and seduced the children of disobedience most properly here as elsewhere described by the name of the earth and the inhabitants therein that they loathed the sacrifices of the God of heauen and refused to worship as the Lord coÌ„manded chose rather as the Spirit saith to adore the first Beast that is to say to worship the god of their fathers as the Dragon commanded them iust after the prescription