by this that the persecution of this Destroyer shall last the halfe to wit it shall reigne about the midst of the last aage of this whole weeke which begins at his incarnation and first comming and ends at his last comming againe which because it is the last period it is here compared to a weeke 3 But I shall giue that holy towne to two witnesses of mine who clothed with sackecloth shall prophesie the space of one thousand two hundred and threescore dayes for these my successours he shall raise vp as witnesses to wit a sufficient number of them for out of the mouth of two or three witnesses euery word is confirmed to witnesse that their doctrine is false who persecute the Church which he shal giue vnto them for he shall make them their patrons to defend and feed them by the power of the true word and they shall preach repentance to that counterfeit Church and therefore they are said to be clothed in sackecloth And to assure vs to our great comfort that in all the time of blindnesse God shall euer be raising vp some of these two witnesses against the hypocriticall Destroyer and to comfort and confirme his true Church it is said They shall prophesie the number of dayes that yee haue heard which is correspondent iustly to the moneths before mentioned to wit they shall not leaue off to witnesse all the time of the Antichristian kingdome 4 These witnesnesses are two greene Oliues who anoint the Elect with that holy oyle and two Candlestickes as Christ said to enlighten the world with their brightnesse who are set downe and doe their office in the presence of him who is Lord and ruler of the earth 5 And if any shal presse to harme them fire shall come out of their mouthes and deuoure their enemies for whosoeuer will doe them any hurt himselfe must be slaine so to wit the holy Spirit who is the fire in their mouth shall accuse and cause to be destroyed with the second death all them that either persecute them or will not heare or obey their doctrine 6 These witnesses haue power to shut heauen that it raine not in the dayes of their prophesie and they haue power ouer the waters to turne them into blood and to strike the earth with euery kinde of plague so often as they please for hee shall authorize them and their message with as sure testimonies as the shutting of the heauen and stay of the raine was vnto Elias so long as he forespake it should be so and as vnto Moyses the turning of the waters into blood and the striking of the earth of the land of Egypt with diuers and sundry plagues 7 But these shall be witnesses by their death as well as by their life For how soone any of them shall haue runne that course in the earth which God hath appointed them they shall be persecuted ouercome and slaine by that beast the Angel of that bottomlesse pit and king of the locusts and that great towne seat of the Monarchy shal publikely put them down as malefactours 8 So as their dead bodies or carkeises shall lie in the streets thereof And this towne is spiritually called Sodom because of the spirituall adultery to wit Idolatrie that it shall commit and maintaine and spiritually Egypt because it shall oppresse and intollerably burthen the soules of the chosen euen as Egypt captiuated the bodies and burthened the backes of the people of Israel and in that towne also was our Lord crucified for where Christs members are put to death for their Masters cause as this towne and Kings therof shal do there is Christ himselfe crucified in effect and his crucifying shal be as wel imputed to them as to Iudas who betrayed him 9 And men of all tribes peoples tongues and nations shall see their carkeises the space of three dayes and a halfe and they shall not be suffered to be buried in sepulchres 10 And the inhabitants of the earth shall be glad and reioyce for their slaughters and shall send gifts one to another in token of ioy because they are made quit of these two prophets who tormented the indwellers of the earth for the whole world who are not in Sancto Sanctorum shall not onely suffer but allow that these witnesses be not onely slaine but also be so cruelly vsed an contemned as not to be suffered to be buried amongst others And the whole earth shall reioyce at their death because that euen as Achab blamed Elias for troubling of Israel so shall the world thinke these witnesses troublesome vnto them because they discouer vnto them their shamefulnesse and call them to the repentance thereof 11 And thus shall they be contemned for the space of three dayes and a halfe to wit of three yeeres and a halfe which signifies that during the space of the Antichrists reigne they shall be thus vsed but after the space of three dayes and an halfe the Spirit of life comming from God shall enter into them and they shall be set vpon their feete and a great feare shall fall vpon them that did see them before 12 And they heard a great voice from the heauen saying vnto them Come vp bither then they ascended vp into heauen and their enemies saw them doe so for although that during the flourishing of this hereticall and bypocriticall Monarchie the trew Pastours no sooner appeared then they were put to death yet at the last this Monarchie shall begin to decay when the three yeeres or the three dayes and an halfe thereof shall be expired and then shall the Spirit of life from God to wit the holy Spirit sent from God worke mightier in the latter Pastours of these dayes so as in them shall the by-past Martyrs be reuiued and their doctrine shall take roote in the hearts of many and their reasons shal be so pithie as the Antichristian sect and the rest of the world shall know as perfectly that they shall preuaile as if they heard God call them to heauen to reward them there for their victory Neither shall they haue power of their liues for God shall mooue the hearts of many to defend them in such glory and safetie as if they were mounting vp to heauen in a cloud and they not able to hinder them 13 And then at that time shall be a great earthquake to wit great tumults among nations and the tenth part of the citie shall fall This citie is diuided in tenne parts to shew it is the same Monarchie that shall afterwards be described by a beast with ten heads And by the falling of the tenth part thereof is meant that diuers nations shall shake off the yoke of that Monarchie and so a part of the strength of that citie shall decay and there was slaine in that earthquake seuen thousand men to wit a great number of men shal be slaine in these tumults and the rest were afraid and gaue glory vnto the God of Heauen for these tumults
often haue heard already and the in-dwellers of the earth shall wonder whose names are not written in the booke of life before the foundation of the world was laide of this wondering yee heard before they shall wonder I say at this beast which was to wit in great power and is not to wit in a maner as ye presently heard and yet is I meane doeth stand though farre decayed from the former greatnesse 9 Take good heede vnto this that I declare vnto thee for herein shall the trew wisedome of men be tried to wit in knowing by this my description what particular Empire and Tyrannie I speake of And the seuen heads of this beast signifie aswell seuen materiall hilles whereupon the seate of this Monarchie is situated as also seuen kings or diuers formes of Magistrates that this Empire hath had and is to haue hereafter 10 Fiue of them haue beene alreadie one is presently and makes the sixt another shall follow it and make the seuenth but it is not yet come and when it comes it shall remaine but a very short space 11 And this beast which was to wit so great and is not for now it is decaying as thou presently hast heard it is the eight and yet one of the seuen for this beast which rose out of the ruines of the fourth Monarchie as ye heard before in respect it vseth an hereticall Tyrannie ouer the consciences of men by that new forme of Empire is different from any of the rest and so is the eight and yet because this forme of gouernment shall haue the same seate which the rest had and vse as great Tyrannie and greater vpon the world and shall vse the same forme in ciuill gouernment which one of the seuen vsed therefore because it is so like them I call it one of the seuen 12 And the tenne hornes which thou sawest signifie tenne Kings to wit the great number of subalterne Magistrates in all the Prouinces vnder that Monarchy who haue not yet receiued their kingdome for vnder all the diuers sorts of gouernments that shall be in it except the last and hereticall sort these subalterne powers shall be but in the ranke of subiects but they shall take their kingly power with the beast to wit at the very time that this Apollyon shall rise out of the ashes of the fourth beast or Monarchie the kings of the earth shall become his slaues and subalterne Magistrates whereas the subiects were onely the power of that Monarchie before so as the hornes or powers of this beast were but of subiects before it was wounded but after the healing of it the worldly kings and rulers shall become the powers and hornes of it 13 These shall haue one counsell and shall giue their strength and power to the beast to wit these kings shal all willingly yeeld obedience to Babylon and shall employ their whole forces for the maintenance of that Monarchie and the persecution of the Saints 14 For they shal fight with the Lambe in his members albeit all in vaine for in the end the Lambe shall ouercome them because he is Lord of lords and King of all kings and these that are with him and followeth him are called Chosen and Faithfull 15 He also said vnto me The waters that thou saw this Whore sit vpon are the peoples multitudes nations and tongues that haue subiected themselues to her Empire 16 But as touching these ten hornes thou saw thus farre I foretell vnto thee although that for a time these kings shall be slaues and seruants to Babylon and shall be her instruments to persecute the Saints the time shall come before the consummation that they shall hate the Whore who abused them so strongly and long and shall make her to be alone for they shall withdraw from her their Subiects the nations that were her strength and shall make her naked for they shall discouer the mysterie of her abominations and shall eate her flesh and burne her with fire to wit they shall spoile her of her riches power and glory and so destroy her 17 But doe not thou wonder at this for God gaue them in their hearts to wit permitted them to be abused by her for a space that they might doe what pleased her and consent to all her vnlawfull policies and pretences and giue their kingdomes vnto this beast vntill the words of God might be accomplished to wit they shall submit their very Crownes and take the right thereof from her vnto the fulnesse of times here prophecied At what time God shall raise them vp as ye heard to destroy Babylon for the hearts of the greatest kings as well as of the smallest subiects are in the hands of the Lord to be his instruments and to turne them as it shall please him to employ them 18 And this woman or Whore which thou sawest is that great citie and seate of this Beast or Monarchie which beareth rule ouer the kings of the earth as thou hast heard alreadie But although it be one seat yet diuers and a great number of kings or heads thereof shall succeed into it one to another all vpholding an hereticall religion and false worship of God and one forme of gouernment as the fourth Monarchie did out of the which this did spring as ye haue heard CHAP. XVIII ARGVMENT The sorrow of the earth for the destruction of the Popedome The profite that worldly men had by his standing The great riches and wealth of that Church The Pope by his Pardons makes merchandise of the soules of men Heauen and the Saints reioyce at his destruction albeit the earth and the worldlings lament for the same ANd then I saw another Angel comming downe from heauen hauing great power so that the earth shined with his glory for so soone as God by one of the seauen Angels who had the phials had more plainely described vnto mee this woman sitting on the beast then he did before hee now appointeth this other Angel who is Christ to declare vnto me and proclaime to the world as is signified by his comming downe to the earth for that cause the iust condemnation of Babylon according to her sinnes 2 And hee cryed out with a loude voyce saying It is fallen It is fallen Babylon that great Citie and it is made the dwelling place of vncleane spirits and the habitation of all vncleane and hatefull fowles to wit it shall be destroyed and that great Citie the seate of that Monarchie shall be desolate for euer euen as it was prophesied of Ierusalem 3 Because all nations haue drunke of the Vine of her whoredome and the kings of the earth haue committed whoredome with her and the Merchants of the earth are become rich by the great wealth of her delights in so great a worldly glory and pompe did that Monarchie shine 4 And I heard another voyce from heauen to wit the voyce of the holy Spirit saying Goe foorth from her my people to wit all the chosen
faith and be a word of reproch in the mouthes of our aduersaries who make Vnitie to be one of the speciall notes of the trew Church And as for you my louing Brethren and Cosins whom it hath not yet pleased GOD to illuminate with the light of his trewth I can but humbly pray with Elizeus that it would please GOD to open your eyes that yee might see what innumerable and inuincible armies of Angels are euer prepared and ready to defend the trewth of GOD Actes 26.29 and with S. Paul I wish that ye were as I am in this case especially that yee would search the Scriptures and ground your Faith vpon your owne certaine knowledge and not vpon the report of others Abac. 2.4 since euery Man must bee safe by his owne faith But leauing this to GOD his mercifull prouidence in his due time I haue good reason to remember you to maintaine the ancient liberties of your Crownes and Common-wealthes not suffering any vnder GOD to set himselfe vp aboue you and therein to imitate your owne noble predecessors who euen in the dayes of greatest blindnesse did diuers times couragiously oppose themselues to the incroaching ambition of Popes Yea some of your Kingdomes haue in all aages maintained and without any interruption enioyed your libertie against the most ambitious Popes And some haue of very late had an euident proofe of the Popes ambitious aspiring ouer your Temporall power wherein ye haue constantly maintained and defended your lawfull freedome to your immortall honour And therefore I heartily wish you all to doe in this case the Office of godly and iust Kings and earthly Iudges which consisteth not onely in not wronging or inuading the Liberties of any other person for to that will I neuer presse to perswade you but also in defending and maintaining these lawfull Liberties wherewith GOD hath indued you For yee whom GOD hath ordained to protect your people from iniuries should be ashamed to suffer your selues to be wronged by any And thus assuring my selfe that ye will with a setled Iudgement free of preiudice weigh the reasons of this my Discourse and accept my plainnesse in good part gracing this my Apologie with your fauours and yet no longer then till it shall be iustly and worthily refuted I end with my earnest prayers to the ALMIGHTIE for your prosperities and that after your happie Temporall Raignes in earth ye may liue and raigne in Heauen with him for euer A CATALOGVE OF THE LYES OF TORTVS TOGETHER WITH A BRIEFE Confutation of them TORTVS Edit Politan pag. 9. IN the Oath of Allegiance the Popes power to excommunicate euen Hereticall Kings is expresly denied CONFVTATION The point touching the Popes power in excommunicating Kings is neither treated of nor defined in the Oath of Allegiance but was purposely declined See the wordes of the Oath and the Praemonition pag. 292. TORTVS pag. 10. 2 For all Catholike writers doe collect from the wordes of Christ Whatsoeuer thou shalt loose vpon earth shall be loosed in heauen that there appertaineth to the Popes authoritie not onely a power to absolue from sinnes but also from penalties Censures Lawes Vowes and Oathes CONFVTATION That all Roman-Catholike writers doe not concurre with this Libeller in thus collecting from CHRISTS wordes Matth. 16. To omit other reasons it may appeare by this that many of them doe write that what CHRIST promised there that hee did actually exhibite to his Disciples Iohn 20. when hee said Whose sinnes ye remit they shall be remitted thereby restraining this power of loosing formerly promised vnto loosing from sinnes not mentioning any absolution from Lawes Vowes and Oathes in this place So doe Theophylact Anselme Hugo Cardin. Ferus in Matt. 16. So doe the principall Schoolemen Alexand. Hales in Summa part 4. q. 79. memb 5. 6. art 3. Thom. in 4. dist 24. q. 3. art 2. Scotus in 4. dist 19. art 1. Pope Hadrian 6. in 4. dist q. 2. de clauib pag. 302. edit Parisien anno 1530. who also alleadgeth for this interpretation Augustine and the interlinear Glosse TORTVS Pag. 18. 3 I abhorre all Parricide I detest all conspiracies yet it cannot be denied but occasions of despaire were giuen to the Powder-plotters CONFVTATION That it was not any iust occasion of despaire giuen to the Powder-Traitours as this Libeller would beare vs in hand but the instructions which they had from the Iesuits that caused them to attempt this bloody designe See the Premonition pag. 291. 335. and the booke intituled The proceedings against the late Traitours TORTVS Pap. 26. 4 For not onely the Catholiques but also the Caluinist puritanes detest the taking of this Oath CONFVTATION The Puritanes doe not decline the Oath of Supremacie but daily doe take it neither euer refused it And the same Supremacie is defended by Caluin himselfe Instit lib. 4. cap. 20. TORTVS Pag. 28. 5 First of all the Pope writeth not that he was grieued at the calamities which the Catholikes did suffer for the keeping of the Orthodox faith in the time of the late Queene or in the beginning of King Iames his reigne in England but for the calamities which they suffer at this present time CONFVTATION The onely recitall of the wordes of the Breue will sufficiently confute this Lye For thus writeth the Pope The tribulations and calamities which ye haue continually susteined for the keeping of the Catholique faith haue alway afflicted vs with great griefe of minde But for asmuch as we vnderstand that at this time all things are more grieuous our affliction hereby is wonderfully increased TORTVS Pag. 28. 6 In the first article of the Statute the Lawes of Queene Elizabeth are confirmed CONFVTATION There is no mention at all made of confirming the Lawes of Queene Elizabeth in the first article of that Statute TORTVS Pag. 29. 7 In the 10. Article of the said Statute it is added that if the Catholicks refuse the third time to take the Oath being tendered vnto them they shall incurre the danger of loosing their liues CONFVTATION There is no mention in this whole Statute either of offering the Oath the third time or any indangering of their liues TORTVS Pag. 30. 8 In the 12. Article it is enacted that whosoeuer goeth out of the land to serue in the warres vnder forreine Princes they shall first of all take this Oath or els be accounted for Traitours CONFVTATION It is no where said in that Statute that they which shall thus serue in the warres vnder forraine Princes before they haue taken this Oath shall be accounted for Traitors but onely for Felons TORTVS Pag. 35. 9 Wee haue already declared that the Popes Apostolique power in binding and loosing is denied in that Oath of Alleageance CONFVTATION There is no Assertory sentence in that Oath nor any word but onely conditionall touching the power of the Pope in binding and loosing TORTVS Pag. 37. 10 The Popes themselues euen will they nill they were
same by Vision of the woman in the wildernesse and of the Beasts that rose out of the sea and the earth in the 12. 13. and 14. Chapters And then to comfort men that might otherwise despaire Chap. 15.16 because of the greatnesse of that temptation he declares by the next following Vision of the Phials what plagues shall light vpon the Pope and his followers Next he describes him againe Chap. 17.18.19 Chap. 20. farre clearer then any time before and likewise his ruine together with the sorrow of the Earth and ioy of Heauen therefore And then to inculcate and ingraue the better the foresaid Visions in the hearts and memories of Men hee in a Vision makes a short summe and recapitulation of them to wit of the present estate of the Church then and what it should bee thereafter vnto the Day of Iudgement together with a short description of the said Day And last he describes by a Vision the glorious reward of them who constantly persist in the Trueth resisting all the temptations which he hath forespoken To wit he describes the blessed estate of the holy and Eternall Ierusalem and Church Triumphant and so with a short and pithie Conclusion makes an end A PARAPHRASE VPON THE REVELATION OF THE APOSTLE S. IOHN CHAP. I. ARGVMENT The Booke the Writer and the Inditer the end and vse thereof The dedication of this Epistle to the Churches and Pastors vnder the vision of the seuen Candlesticks and seuen Starres GOD THE FATHER hath directed his Sonne and Word IESVS CHRIST to send downe an Angel or Minister to me Iohn his seruant and by him to reueale vnto mee certaine things which are shortly to come to passe to the effect in time the chosen may be forewarned by me 2 Who haue borne witnes that the word of God is true and that IESVS CHRIST is and was a faithfull witnesse and haue made true report of all I saw 3 Happy are they that read and vnderstand this Prophesie and conforme themselues thereunto in time for in very short space it will be fulfilled 4 I am directed to declare the same specially to you the seuen Churches of Asia with whom be grace and peace from the Eternall the Father and from the Holy Spirit 5 And IESVS CHRIST that faithfull witnesse the first borne of the dead the Mightie King of the world and head of his Church Who for the loue he bare vs hath made vs innocent by his blood in the worke of Redemption 6 To him then we whom hee hath made Spiritual Kings and Priests in Honour and Holinesse and ordained to serue and praise his Father giue all glory and power for euer so be it 7 Assure your selues of his comming againe from Heauen in all glory and all eyes shall see him Yea the wicked shal be compelled to acknowledge that it is euen very he whom so they did persecute Christ crucified And the whole world shall haue a feeling before him of their vnthankefulnesse So be it 8 I am Eternall saith the Lord before whom all things which is or was are present and I am only the worker of all I who euer Was and still am shall surely come againe according to my promise 1. Cor. 2. And as I am Eternall and true so I am Almighty preordinating all things before all beginnings 9 I Iohn your brother in the flesh Iohn banished to Pathmos for the trueth writeth the Reuelation and companion with you aswell in the seruice of Christ as in the patient suffering of the Crosse being for that word of God and witnessing of Christ whereof I spake so persecuted that for safety of my life I was constrained to flie all alone to the solitarie I le of Pathmos 10 Then was I bereft in spirit vpon the Sunday which is hallowed to the Lord Then heard I behind me turne about and take heed the mighty voyce of the Lord as a Trumpet because he was to declare the estate of the battell of the Church Militant vnto me 11 Saying these wordes I am A and Ω to wit the first and the last write thou in a Booke what thou seest and send it to the Seuen Churches in Asia the names of which are these Ephesus Smyrna Pergamos Thyatyra Sardis Philadelphia and Laodicea 12 And when I turned mee to see the voyce Vers 10. I did see seuen Candlesticks representing these seuen Churches 13 And in the middest of them the figure of the Sonne of man representing him clothed with a side garment for grauitie and girded about the paps with a girdle of Gold for glory 14 His head and haire were white as white Wooll Psal 51. Esay 4. Matth. 3. Ierem. 1.15 Esay 17. or Snow for innocencie and his eyes were bright like flames of fire to signifie his all-seeing knowledge 15 His feet were of brasse brightly flaming as in a furnace to declare his standing in Eternity And his voice like the sounding of many waters representing his Maiestie in commanding 16 And hee had in his Right hand the side that the Elect are on Hebr. 1.10 Vers 10. seuen Starres for you the seuen Angels that is Pastors of the seuen Churches Ephes 6. Esay 60. Matth. 7. And from his mouth came a two-edged sword to wit the Sword of the word which comes onely from him and his face was as the Sunne shining bright for from his Face comes all light to illuminate blind Man 17 And when I thus did see him I fell dead at his feet for astonishment Psal 63. Psal 139. but he lifted mee vp againe with his right and fauourable hand and comfortably said vnto mee Feare not be not astonished for I am the first and the last Christ is risen from death to life Timoth. 1. Hebr. 2. 18 Who as verily as now I liue was once dead as thou thy selfe beares witnesse and yet now doe liue for euer and euer and by my death onely I haue ouercome Hell and Death and I onely and no other keepe the Keyes that haue the power of them both 19 And now I came to charge thee to write these things which thou hast now seene because they are afterwards to come to passe CHAP. II. ARGVMENT Admonition and exhortation to the Churches of Ephesus Smyrna Pergamos and Thyatira WRite then this to the Angel or Pastour of the Church of Ephesus He that hath the seuen Starres Chap. 1. v. 10. or seuen Pastours in his Right hand or fauourable power or protection and who walkes among the seuen Golden Candlesticks or watches ouer the seuen Churches euen hee I say Chap. 1. sayes thus vnto thee 2 I know thy workes thy trauaile and patience that thou suffrest not the wicked to walke with thee but hast learned them out False apostles in the Church of Ephesus that call themselues Apostles in the Church of Ephesus and are not and hast tried them to be lyers 3 Thou art also loaded with a great
creatures in the sea was slaine and the third part of the ships therein did perish for after that this former plague shall haue an end and yet the world not turne themselues from their iniquities then the second shall follow which is the corporall plague of persecution signified by the red horse in the second Seale more amply dilated heere This great heape of fiery persecution like a mountaine of fire shall make the third part or a certaine number of people and nations which is signified by the seas or many waters to ouerflow in blood for as it is said of the same in the second Scale they shall slay one another for euen among themselues to wit among the wicked shal be great bloodshed and warres for the third or a certaine number of all sorts of liuing things shall die to wit no sort of men shall be exempted from this trouble But especially a number and not the greatest part of the faithfull shal be persecuted which is signified by the ships for euen as ships on a stormie Sea seeke a hauen so the faithfull among the wicked of the world tossed here and there resisting euery waue striue in despight of many contrarious windes to attaine to that hauen where at last casting their Anchor they are freed from all worldly tempests and dwell there eternally in a perpetuall calmenesse 10 Then the third Angel blew and there fell from heauen a great Starre burning like a torch and it fell vpon the third part of riuers and fountaines of waters and the name of the starre was Wormewood and the third part of the riuers and fountaines were turned into wormewood and many men died for the bitternesse of the waters This is that same plague which is signified by the blacke horse and his rider to wit a cloud of defections and Apostatical heresies here signified by a great starre burning like a torch for it shall haue a great light but like the light of a torch for as the torch and candle-light is false to the eye and makes the colours to appeare otherwise then they are and is made dimme by the brightnes of the Sunne so shall this light of false doctrine maske iniquitie for a space and make it seeme to be the trueth vnto the time the trew light of God obfuscat and blinde it These heresies shall be stronger in deceit then those before for they shall seduce the very pastours and spirituall Magistrates which is signified by the Starres falling in a part of the fountaines of waters for these men are the worldly fountaines whereout the rest of the faithfull by the buckets of their eares draw that spring of heauenly liquor 11 This starre is called Wormewood for as wormewood is a bitter hearbe what greater bitternesse can be to the soule of man then to procure the wrath of the Almightie through such an horrible fall and as it turned a part of the pastours and made them to become of bitter qualitie like it selfe so their bitternesse did slay with the second death a great number of men to wit their disciples and followers 12 Then the fourth Angel blew and the third part of the Sunne the third part of the Moone and third part of the Starres was stricken so that the third part of them to wit of their light was obscured and the third part of the day and the third part of the night was obscured to wit the third part of their light was darkened For after that one part of the pastours shall make horrible defection it shall fall out that the whole Church visible shal be blinded with some errours but not yet make a full defection which is signified by the obscuring of a part of the light of the Sunne Moone and starres to wit of all degrees of spirituall Magistrates so that by their generall weaknesse in some points a part of the meaning of the Gospel shal be falsly interpreted which is meant by the light of the day and of the night for as the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did guide the people of Israel through the desart to the land of Promise so will this light shining both day and night in our soules conduct vs out through the wildernesse of this world to that spirituall land of promise where we with our God shall gloriously reigne in all Eternitie This fourth blast is also a part of the third Seale 13 And I saw and heard an other Angel flying through the middest of heauen and saying with a lowd voice Woe woe woe to the inhabitants of the earth for the harme that shal be done vnto them by the last three blasts of the Angels Trumpets for the last three plagues shall be exceeding great which that I might the better note and take greater heed vnto God wakens me vp and makes me see an Angel flying through the middest of heauen with celeritie aswell to forewarne the holy Angels and Saints of these three plagues so farre in greatnesse aboue the rest as to signifie by his swift flying that they are hastily and within short space to be put in execution And the number of Woes to wit which he cries are answerable to the number of plagues which are hereafter to be declared CHAP. IX ARGVMENT In the fift Trumpet the heresies cause a great blindnesse and ignorance whereof commeth the Ecclesiasticall Papisticall orders signified by the grashoppers breeding out of the smoake and their power and qualities Their King and head the Pope and his style In the next Trumpet the beginning of his decay signified by the loosing of the foure Angels at Euphrates The remedy he vseth for the same by hounding out the Iesuits signified by the horse in the Vision Their qualities signified by their breast-plates The Popes and Turkes his gathering to destroy the Church signified by a great armie of horse The Pope is the plague for breaking of the first Table and the Turke for breaking of the second THen the fift Angel blew and I saw the starre that fell out of heauen vpon earth for it is to be noted that all these plagues did fall out of heauen vpon the earth to teach vs Quòd nullum malum est in ciuitate quod non faciat Dominus by his Iustice permitting Amos 3.6 Esay 45.7 directing ordering and restrayning it I did see it get the key of the bottomlesse pit which was giuen vnto it for this cloud of heresies spoken of in the third Trumpet and third Seale by processe of time did breed this bastard tyrannie whereof I spoke in the fourth Seale and so it brought from hell by the opening of the bottomlesse pit whereof it gate the keyes to wit by the assistance and deuice of Satan it bred such plagues as follow 2 First by opening of the pit came foorth a great smoke like the smoke of a furnace to wit it did breed such a darkenesse and ignorance in the minds of men as the Sunne and the Aire were obscured to
and iudgements of God shall by their terrours reduce some to the knowledge of the trewth 14 The second woe is past for these are the plagues of the sixt Trumpet and loe the third woe comes soone for next followes the declaration of these dayes wherein the consummation shall be first of that Antichristian kingdome and next of the whole earth take therefore good heede vnto the third woe for it is the last 15 Then the seuenth Angel blew and there were great voices in heauen saying The kingdomes of the world are made the kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ who shall reigne for euer and euer This ioyfull cry was in heauen because the dayes were come wherein the day of Iudgement should be and so the power was to be taken from the kings of the earth who were enemies to the Saints and Christ was hereafter to be the great sole and immediate King ouer all 16 Then the foure and twentie Elders who sate vpon seats in the sight and presence of God for ioy that the saluation of their brethren was at hand did fall vpon their faces and adored God saying 17 We thanke thee Lord God Almightie who is and who was and who art presently to come againe because now thou art to make thy great power manifest and art to begin thy glorious Kingdome 18 And the Gentiles waxed wrathfull for all the wicked now perceiue that neither their force nor craft can auaile for thy wrath is now come which none may resist and the time of the dead is come for now all the dead are to be iudged and thou art to reward thy seruants the Prophets and all the Saints and all that feare thy Name small or great and thou art to destroy them that destroy the earth by the persecuting of thy Saints and defiling it with euery sort of vice 19 Then the Temple of God was open in heauen that the Arke of his couenant might be seene which was within it God now did shew the Arke of his couenant to assure all the Saints that he would now haue mind of his promise and according thereto would presently send downe Christ to Iudge the earth as was done then in all terrour which is signified by lightning voices thunder and earthquakes which then were made and a great haile which signifies the destruction of the earth as showres of haile of all others are the most harmefull and destroying CHAP. XII ARGVMENT A new vision The deuils malice against Christ and his Church The Church by Gods prouidence escapes his furie Shee is secret and lies hid for a space The deuill raiseth vp heresies and persecutions to destroy her but all that cannot preuaile whereupon he goeth to raise vp her great enemie the Pope NOw as this seuenth Seale wherein these seuen Trumpets were which ye haue presently heard declared was no other thing but the more ample dilating of the sixe former Seales as I did shew before so this vision which I am next to declare vnto you is nothing else but a cleerer setting forth and fore-warning of these times which are most perillous for the Church of all them which are to come after especially of the three last woes 1 And there was a great signe and a woonderfull vision seene in heauen to wit a woman clothed with the Sunne and the Moone was vnder her feete and she had a crowne of twelue starres vpon her head 2 And she was great with childe and shee was so neere her childbirth as she was alreadie crying and was sore pained with the trauell to be deliuered of her childe 3 And there was also another signe and woonder seene in heauen A great red dragon hauing seuen heads and ten hornes and vpon his head seuen diamonds 4 And his taile drew the third part of the starres of heauen with him and did cast them downe to the earth This dragon stood before the woman awaiting to deuoure her birth so soone as shee was deliuered of it 5 But she brought forth a man-childe who was to rule all nations with a rod of yron and her sonne was caught vp to God and his Throne 6 But the woman fled into the wildernesse where she hath a place prepared by God that she might be fedde there the space of one thousand two hundred threescore dayes 7 And there was a great battell stroken in heauen for Michael and his Angels fought against the dragon and his angels 8 And the dragon and his angels could not obtaine the victorie but by the contrary their place was no more found in heauen 9 And so that great dragon to wit that olde serpent who is called the deuill and Satan who seduceth the whole face of the earth was cast downe to the earth and all his angels were cast downe with him 10 And I heard a voice in heauen saying Now is wrought the health the vertue and the kingdome of our God and the power of his Christ for the accuser of our brethren is cast downe who day and night accused them in the sight of our God 11 For they that fought with him haue ouercome him for the loue they beare vnto the Lambe and his blood and to the word of his Testimonie and haue prodigally giuen their liues euen vnto death for that cause 12 Therefore reioyce ye heauens and yee that dwell therein but woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea for the deuill is come downe to you and he is full of great wrath because he hath but a short space to reigne 13 And when the dragon saw himselfe cast down vpō the earth he pursued the woman who had borne the manchild 14 But there was giuen to the woman two great Eagle wings that shee might flee from the sight of the serpent into the wildernes to the place that was there appointed for her to be nourished for a time times and halfe a time 15 Then the serpent did cast out of his mouth after the woman to ouertake her a water like a great flood to carry her away perforce 16 But the earth helped the woman and opened her mouth and swallowed vp by the way the great flood which the dragon had cast out of his mouth This part of the Vision was to declare vnto me that howsoeuer the Church which is signified here by a woman for she is the spouse of CHRIST who is her head her husband and her glory obeying him with a reuerent loue and yet weake and infirme like to a woman how soone I say the Church shining in all brightnesse and innocencie which is represented by her garment of the Sunne and treading vnder feete and contemning the world and the vanities thereof here signified by the Moone being vnder her feet a Planet that hath no proper but a borrowed light and subiect to all mutabilitie like the world and being crowned with the shining glory of the twelue Patriarches and Prophets and the twelue holy Apostles succeeding them in the vnitie of
doctrine and therefore are called here a Crowne of twelue starres vpon her head How soone I say that she thus arayed did bring forth CHRIST in the flesh who is that man-child who rules the Gentiles with an Iron rod as Dauid saith in his Psalmes That great red and ancient Dragon for in our first forefather he vttered his malice to wit the diuell who is ruler of infinite numbers of men which is signified by his seuen heads and seuen diadems or Crownes vpon them and who hath innumerable meanes and instruments to be executors of his malicious will which is signified by the tenne hornes alluding to Daniel and who is so mighty in deceipt that he doeth not onely allure the infidels to follow him but euen a part of the Pastours and the visible Church to their destruction which is signified by his drawing after him with his taile as followers of his intisements the third part of the Starres of heauen and casting them to the earth This dragon hauing waited to destroy her birth and for earnestnesse gaping for it before it was borne and not able to preuaile but by the contrary seeing CHRITS rising from the dead and then his ascending into heauen which is signified by the Childs pulling vp to GOD and his Throne and seeing the Church to flourish though vnder persecution which is signified by her flying to a place in the wildernesse which God had prepared for her where thereafter she must lurke for the space of the dayes ye heard reckoned to wit the Church shal be vnknowne and as it were vnregarded and no man shall know how it shal be sustained for GOD shall nourish it the space of the Antichrists kingdome which is the number of dayes ye heard counted before The Dragon I say hauing found this that both CHRIST and his Church did escape his hands and not onely that but that himselfe also by the vertue of CHRISTS renewing of vs was no moreable to accuse the Saints of God as he did in time of the old Law since now we are made righteous which is signified by the battell in heauen where GOD to declare that none is like vnto him made CHRIST here called Michael whose name imports Who is like GOD with his Angels to fight and ouercome the diuel and his angels and to cast them on the earth Satan I say finding himselfe thus debarred from further accusing of the Saints hauing found that he should neuer haue place to doe that in any time thereafter as on the one part it reioyced all the Angels and Saints in heauen for their bretherens cause on the earth as is witnessed by the song that the voyce did sing in Heauen praising God therefore and extolling the deed of Michael and his Angels who fought so earnestly for the Saints on earth as if they had bene mortall they would not haue spared their liues in that cause for their sakes whom CHRIST had redeemed with his blood and of whose clection he had borne witnesse to his Father so on the other part it enraged the Dragon so that he became the crueller tempter of men vpon the earth aswell for that his place of accusing in heauen was taken away by the mysterie of the redemption which is signified by this fight as for that he knew within short space he was by CHRISTS second comming to be cast downe from the earth into hell there to be chained in eternall captiuitie and misery euen as by the first comming he was cast from the heauen which is signified by the last part of the Song so as he pursueth the Church with heresie and ciuil powers which both are signified by the floods of waters which he spewed out of his mouth after that the Eagle wings were giuen the woman to flie to that place appointed for her in the wildernes where she must remaine the number of dayes ye haue heard to wit after that God had giuen his Church a sufficient swiftnesse to eschew the rage of Satan and to lurke the space of Antichrists raigne which lasteth three times or three yeeres and a halfe that is a time prefixed by GOD and vnknowne to men as ye haue sundry times heard already But seeing that all this vanisheth as if the earth had swallowed and dried vp that flood suddenly 17 The Dragon therefore or the diuel became more wrathfull and enraged then before against the woman or the Church and went about by some other way to make warre against the rest of the womans seed who kept the Commandements of GOD and had the testimonies of CHRIST to GOD the Father that they were chosen and called for these are onely the true posteritie of the Church to wit the successours in grace faith and trewth 18 And I stood vpon the Sea shore I meane it seemed to me that I stood vpon the Sea shore because I did wait to see come out of it which represented all peoples and nations such powers as Satan would imploy to fight against the Church for the declaring whereof this Vision was shewen vnto me and whereof these two last great wonders were but the introduction that by these things past as the roote I might the better vnderstand the branches which are to bud forth thereof as followeth CHAP. XIII ARGVMENT The Popes arising His description His rising caused by the ruine of the fourth Monarchie the Romane Empire The rising of the false and Papisticall Church her description her conformitie with her Monarch the Pope The great reuerence borne to the Pope by many nations and not onely to him but to his Legates A generall defection so great as there shall not be an other visible Church but the Popedome Of the first Pope who did take to himselfe all their blasphemous and arrogant styles ANd then I saw a beast rising out of the Sea to wit from among the number of Nations and peoples I saw a Monarchie chosen and erected vp by this Dragon the deuil and it had seuen heads and tenne hornes and tenne diadems vpon the tenne hornes the signification of these heads and hornes was declared vnto me by an Angel as ye shall heare in the place conuenient hereafter Chap. 17. and vpon these heads was the name of blasphemie for they by the persecution of the Saints and adoring false gods shall both by word and deed blaspheme the name of the Eternall 2 This beast or Monarchie Daniel 7. is the fourth King or Monarchie wherof Daniel prophesied to wit euen that Monarchie which presently reignes and hath the power of the other three reuiued in it for it is farre greater then they And therefore as that Monarchie of the Leopard gat that name because of the swiftnes of the conquest and that of the Lion because of the mightines and cruelty therof and that of the Beare because of the strength and long standing thereof so this is called like the Leopard to wit in shape whereof commeth her agilitie headed like a Lion because his strength is
as it were a New-song before the Throne and before the foure Beasts and the Elders and none could learne that Song except these hundred foure and fourtie thousand to wit these who are bought from the earth for they who were bought and redeemed by the precious Blood of Christ from among the rest of the world and so were no more of their number were onely able to learne and vnderstand these voyces for vnto them onely it apperteineth Where first God promised that he should shortly destroy that Tyrannie which voyce of God is here described by resembling it to the sound of many waters as Dauid doeth and to the roaring of the thunder And where next the thankes thereof is giuen by the Saints and Angels in singing the praises of God as earnestly and cheerefully as if it were but a New-song and to represent the harmonie thereof they sing to the concords of the harpes and instruments in the presence of God sitting in his Maiestie and compassed about with the foure Beastes and foure and twentie Elders of whom ye heard mention made before 4 These attendants on the Lambe are these who are not defiled with women to wit not guiltie of spirituall adulterie for they are Virgines as Christ called them in the parable of the Lampes these follow the Lambe whithersoeuer he goeth for they goe not astray from his footsteps neither to the right nor the left hand and those are they who are bought from among men and are the acceptable first fruits vnto their Father and his Lambe 5 And in their mouthes was found no guile for they are inculpable before the Throne of God because the Lambe hath fully payd their debts for them 6 Then I did see another Angel flying through the middest of heauen hauing the Eternall Euangel in his hand that he might preach the same to all the inhabitants of the earth euen to all nations tribes tongues and peoples for euen as ye heard before in the sixt Trumpet of the reuiuing againe of the two Witnesses who were slaine by this tyrannicall and hereticall Monarchie so now the same was declared vnto me by this Angel who when this Tyrannie is in the greatest pride as ye haue heard flies through the middest of heauen to be publikely heard and seene by all hauing with him these eternall glad tidings to preach them to all the earth to wit God shall in the end of this Tyrannie while it is yet triumphing raise vp and send his Angels or messengers who shall publikely teach the trewth and refute the errours of this tyrannie before the eyes of the Sunne and the Moone to the saluation of a part of euery countrey and to double condemnation of the rest through making them inexcusable who wil not turne in time 7 And their exhortation shal be this which then I heard the Angel say with a lowd voyce Feare God and render him all glory for the day of his iudgement comes at hand adore him therefore who made heauen and earth and seas and fountaines of water to wit all things good and euill and the particular applications that these Witnesses shall make of this generall doctrine to the times of corruption that they shall be in shall be this that I heard two Angels folowing declare of whom the first said 8 It is fallen It is fallen Babylon that great City because she gaue to al nations to drinke of the Vine of wrath of her fornication or spiritual adulterie to wit that great Monarchie called Babylon because it leades and keepes the soules of men in spirituall thraldome euen as the Monarchie of Babylon led and kept the people of Israel in a corporall captiuitie that Monarchie I say shall be suddenly destroyed for it is to be noted that as there is no distinction of times in the presence of God but all things are present vnto him so he and his Angels calleth oftentimes that thing done that is shortly and certainly to be done thereafter which forme of speach ye wil sundry times heare thus vsed hereafter That Monarchie I say then shall shortly be destroyed and that iustly because she hath abused a great part of the earth by intising them to be senselesse as if they were drunken and to embrace her errours and idolatries or spirituall whoredome For as men are entised by whores to leaue their owne spouse and enter in to them so shall they perswade the nations to leaue their societie with their spouse IESVS CHRIST and onely settle their saluation vpon her and for the committing of this spirituall whoredome this Monarchie is here called Shee Chap. 17. and afterward the great Whore and the reason that they shall giue why they make this warning shall be in these words which I heard the third Angel proclaime to wit 9 For whosoeuer shall adore this Beast any longer or his image or take his character on his forehead or his hand as ye heard before 10 He shall for his iust reward and punishment drinke of the Wine of the wrath of God yea of the pure and immixed wine thereof powred out in the cup of his wrath And he shal be tormented with fire and brimstone to wit he shall be cast into hell the torments whereof they doe signifie and that in the presence of the holy Angels for they shall beare witnesse against him in the sight of the Lambe for the Lambe shall iudge and condemne him 11 And the smoake of his torments shall mount vp in all worlds to come to wit he shal be vncessantly tormented for euer For all these that adore the Beast and his image and hath the character of his name shall not haue rest day nor night to wit they shal be perpetually tormented without any release or reliefe 12 And in these dayes when the Witnesses shal be making this exhortation in these things shall the constancie of the Saints or faithfull be tried and by this triall shall they be knowne and discerned that obserue and retaine the Commandements of God and the faith of Iesus the Sauiour 13 Then I heard a voice from heauen saying to me Write Blessed are the dead that die for the Lords cause hereafter so sayes the Spirit for they rest from their trauails and their workes follow them This voyce from heauen did by these wordes declare vnto me that these Witnesses who should make this exhortation that ye haue heard should be persecuted therefore by that spirituall Babylon but that these should be happiest who lost their liues for so good a cause for the confirmation whereof the holy Spirit sayes Yea and subioynes the reason to wit because both they rest from these continuall labours and troubles that they were alwayes subiect vnto in the earth and in recompense thereof their workes follow them for as faith is the onely leader of men to heauen and so goes before them so according to the greatnesse and honour of their calling in earth if they discharge it well they are rewarded in heauen
their constancie and patience in the time of their persecution they shall as it were reigne ouer the earth and by their Martyrdome be Iudges therof for it is called Christs reigning and the Saints vpon the earth when his word and trew professours thereof shine visibly therein as I haue said and these were they who adored not the beast to wit they are the elect who were predestinate before all beginnings to be preserued from all infections and heresies which is generally represented by this part of them that the beast or Babylon shal raise and maintaine as the greatest and most perillous that euer shall be raised by Satan And the honourable sitting of the Saints and soules of Martyrs was shewed to me to assure me that how soone the soule of any faithfull man is parted from the body it ascendeth immediatly vnto heauen there abiding in all glory the reioyning againe of his glorified body at the latter day coniunctly to possesse all glory in heauen eternally like as by the contrary the reprobate soule how soone it parteth from the body of the wicked goes down immediatly to hell there abiding in all torment the knitting again with his cursed body at the latter day there iointly to be subiect to eternall paine neither is there any resting place by the way for any of them and the rest of the dead to wit all the wicked shal not be reuiued while this space be complete for the wicked shall neither during this space nor at any time thereafter taste of the regeneration which is the first resurrection and second birth as Christ said to Nicodemus and therfore as I said already Blessed and happy are they who are partakers of the first resurrection for the second death to wit hell shall haue no power of them but they shall be Priests of God and Christ and reigne with him these thousand yeeres to wit they shal eternally in heauen offer vp that Eucharisticall Sacrifice of praise to God and so be ioyned in fellowship with the chosen which were vpon the earth in that aforesaid time This first part of this vision is begun alreadie now followeth the next part 7 And when these happy dayes are expired then shal the deuill be loosed out of his prison 8 And he shal go forth with greater liberty to seduce the nations which are in the four airths of the earth to wit he shal not only after the spreding of many heresies cause a general blindnes defection but also make a great persecution vpon the faithful Church by gathering Gog and Magog to battell against them whose number is like the sand of the sea to wit after innumerable troubles at last he shall gather to the great day of the battell of the Lord of the which ye heard in the sixt Trumpet and sixt phiale and last immediately before this Vision Gog and Magog to wit two great seates of Monarchies and Tyrannies ouer the Church who both at one time shall rise in the latter dayes and both at another time shal be destroyed by the blast of Christes breath as ye shall heare whereof the one is the auowed and professed enemie of GOD and his CHRIST but the other is Babylon the hypocriticall and most dangerous aduersary Of these two ye heard in the sixt Trumpet and so these two although pride and enuie shall still keepe a rooted malice betwixt them yet they shall both with innumerable forces make warre against the trew Church as Herod and Pilate did band themselues against Christ notwithstanding the particular dislikes which were betwixt them It is these and their forces that must fight against the Saints at Arma-geddon as ye heard in the sixt phiale and the special drawers on of this battell shal be the three frogs who are the last vermin bred of the smoake of the bottomlesse pit as ye also heard in the said phiale 9 These great forces then went vp vpon the earth for the diuel raised them out of the bottomlesse pit and they spread themselues vpon the breadth of the earth so great was their number and compassed the Tents or dwellings of the Saints and the holy Citie for they were prepared to inuade the trew Church on all sides and by all meanes but the fire came downe from heauen and deuoured them for God by his Almighty power euen when their power was greatest and nothing so like as an apparant rooting out of all the faithfull in rebus desperatis did miraculously confound all the aduersaries of his Church And now comes in the third and last part of this Vision to wit the description of the Consummation 10 For I did see the diuel who seduced these wicked cast into a lake of fire and brimstone to wit in hell out of the which he shall neuer come againe where also the beast and the false prophet were as ye heard before Here now I saw the diuel punished eternally to my greater comfort for troubling the Church where before I saw onely his instruments punished as I said in the beginning of this Vision and he and his instruments shall be tormented there day and night to wit incessantly for euer and euer 11 Then I saw a great white Throne and one sitting thereupon in all glory and brightnesse to wit IESVS CHRIST now comming from heauen to iudge the earth and from his sight fled the earth and the heauen and their place was not found for the whole earth and much of the heauen shall be destroyed and renewed at his last comming 12 And I saw all the dead great and small standing in GOD his sight for then is the resurrection of the dead who at that time must be iudged And the bookes were opened to wit the counsels and secrets of all mens hearts and another booke to wit the booke of Life was opened to the effect that all those whose names were written into it to wit predestinated and elected for saluation before all beginnings might there be selected for eternall Glory And the dead were iudged out of these things which were written in the bookes according to their workes for as God is a Spirit so iudgeth he the thoughts of man and so by faith onely iustifies him which notwithstanding is done according to his workes because they as the fruits of faith cannot be separated from it and beare witnesse of the same to men in the earth 13 And the Sea gaue vp all the dead she had for all the dead must then rise as I haue shewed already And death and hell gaue vp all they had for not onely the bodies but euen the soules of the wicked shal be iudged there and euery one was iudged according to his workes as I presently did shew you 14 And hell and death were casten in the Lake of fire which is the second death to wit hell and death shall then be closed vp for euer within themselues and shall neuer againe come forth to trouble the Saints for death which is the last
enemie shall be abolished from holy Ierusalem for euer 15 And whosoeuers name is not found written in the booke of Life is casten into the Lake of fire for not onely the publike euill doers but euen whosoeuer is not predestinate for saluation shall at that time be casten into hell for there is no midway but whosoeuer gathereth not with Christ he scattereth as I shew before CHAP. XXI ARGVMENT A large and glorious description of the Church Triumphant in Heauen and of all the members of that holy and Eternall Ierusalem NOw the Spirit of God hauing by this last vision made a summe and recapitulation of all the former as yee haue heard he by this following and last vision declareth and gloriously describeth the reward of all them who constantly perseuere vnto the end in the trew seruice of God notwithstanding all the assaults of Sathan which ye haue heard dilated the reward was then to be eternall inheritours of holy Ierusalem as yee shall presently heare 1 For I saw a new heauen and a new earth it is ouer this new heauen and new earth that the faithfull should reigne kings and priests for euer as yee heard before And the first heauen and the first earth went away neither was the sea any more for all shall be burnt with fire at the consummation which fire shall renew them and take away their corruption and mutablitie releeuing them from the seruitude of death to the liberty of the glory of the sonnes of God who notwithstanding shall not dwel there but in heauen 2 And euen I Iohn saw the holy new City Ierusalem comming downe from heauen made ready of God like a bride that is decked for her bridegroome For this holy Church triumphant shal come downe in all shining glorie to meete Christ her husband when hee shall haue iudged the world as ye haue heard before to bee incorporated and ioyned with him for euer 3 And I heard a mighty voyce from heauen saying for confirmation of this happy coniunction Loe the Tabernacle of God and his dwelling place is with men and hee will now dwell with them for euer and they shall be his people and he shall be a God with them and their God 4 And God shall wipe all teares from their eyes for they shall feele no more any sorow as ye haue often heard before and death shall be no more neither shal any sorow crying or dolour euer be in that Church triumphant for the first are gone away and all these things then shall haue an end 5 And then hee that sate vpon the Throne to wit God the Father said Loe I make new or renew all things and he said vnto me Write and leaue in record what thou hast seene for surely these words are faithfull and trew and shall come certainely to passe 6 And he also said vnto me It is done for when these things shall come to passe then is the full accomplishment of all things I am A and Ω to wit the beginning and the ending of all things For as I made the Creation so shall I cause the Consummation And I shall giue to him that thirsteth of the fountaine of water of life freely or for nothing to wit he will grant saluation to all them who cal vpon him for it and that for nothing for it cōmeth of his free mercie and not of any merit in vs How foolish then are they to be accompted who contemning that saluation which they may obtaine for the crauing buie with their siluer a counterfeit saluation from Babylon as ye heard before 7 And he that ouercommeth Satan and his owne flesh shall possesse all to wit he shall be a full inheritour of Gods kingdome and I shall be a God to him and he shall be a sonne to me 8 But for all them who are fearefull and vnbeleeuing not hauing a sure confidence and trust in my promises and for execrable men and murtherers and fornicators and sorcerers and idolaters and all lyers for all these sorts of men I say there is place appointed in that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death 9 Then there came vnto me one of these seuen Angels which had the seuen phials ful of the seuen last plagues and he sayd vnto me Come and I will shew vnto thee the Bride which is the Wife of the Lambe for this Angel was directed to shewe mee the glorie of this holy Hierusalem the Church triumphant not to satisfie my curiosity therewith but that I might leaue in record to all posterities to come not as a hearer onely but as an Oculatus testis what glorious and eternall reward did abide all the faithfull 10 And so he tooke me vp in the Spirit to a high and great Mountaine for it became well that so glorious a sight should be shewen vpon so eminent a place and there hee did shew mee a great Citie to wit that holy Ierusalem comming downe from heauen and from God as ye heard before 11 And it had the glory of God in it and the light or brightnesse of it was like vnto the glittering of a most pretious stone yea euen like the greene Iasper in flourishing eternitie and like the cleare Cristall in shining brightnesse 12 And this Citie had a great and high wall to hold out all them who had not the marke of the Lambe as ye shall heare after and to protect the Citizens from all blastes of troubles for all teares will then bee wipte from their eyes as ye heard before And this Citie had also twelue gates and in them twelue Angels and their names were written vpon them which were the names of the twelue Tribes of the sonnes of Israel 13 And there were three gates towards the East three towards the West three towards the South and three towards the North to signifie that out of all parts and places of the world and whatsoeuer thy vocation be if thou call to God with an vpright heart thou shalt find that the entrance into the Citie is equally distributed about the same 14 And the wall of the Citie had twelue foundations whereupon were written the twelue names of the Apostles of the Lambe These twelue Angels of the twelue gates and twelue foundations of the wall are the foure and twentie Elders of whom ye heard in the beginning of this my Epistle the twelue Angels of the twelue gates are the twelue Patriarkes who were the first teachers of the way and so the guides to this holy Ierusalem for by the Law which they represent we must first beginne to know the trewth and to know our selues and the twelue foundations are we the twelue Apostles for vpon our doctrine is that wall founded which hedgeth in the Saints in an eternall securitie and debarreth all others 15 And the Angel who spake with me had a golden reed in his hand to measure therewith the Citie and the gates and the walles of the same thereby to signifie the
what purpose Onely to die vpon the points of the Saracens pikes or by the edge of their barbarous courtelasses battle-axes fauchions and other weapons without any benefit and aduantage to themselues or others Then the Nobles were driuen to sell their goodly Mannors and auncient demaines to the Church-men at vnder prises and low rates the very roote from which a great part of the Church and Church-mens reuenewes hath sprung and growne to so great height Then to be short See the Bull of Innoc. 3. at the end of the Lat. ter Conc. his most bountifull Holinesse gaue to any of the riffe-raffe-ranke that would vndertake this expedition into the Holy land a free and full pardon for all his sinnes besides a degree of glory aboue the vulgar in the Celestiall Paradise Military vertue I confesse is commendable and honourable prouided it bee employed for iustice and that generous noblenesse of valiant spirits bee not vnder a colour and shadow of piety fetcht ouer with some casts or deuises of Italian cunning Now let vs obserue the wisedome of the Lord Cardinall through this whole discourse His Lordship is pleased in his Oration to cite certaine few passages of Scripture culls and picks them out for the most gracefull in shewe leaues out of his list whole troupes of honourable witnesses vpon whose testimonie the Popes themselues and their principall adherents doe build his power to depose Kings and to giue order for all Temporall causes Take a sight of their best and most honourable witnesses Peter said to Christ See here two swords and Christ answered It is sufficient Christ said to Peter Put vp thy sword in to thy sheath God said to Ieremie Ier. 1. I haue established thee ouer Nations and Kingdomes 1. Cor. 2. Paul said to the Corinthians The spirituall man discerneth all things Christ said to his Apostles Whatsoeuer yee shall loose vpon earth by which words the Pope hath power forsooth to loose the oath of allegiance Moses said In the beginning God created the heauen and the earth Vpon these passages Pope Boniface 8. Extrauag Vnam Sanctam grapling and tugging with Philip the Faire doth build his Temporall power Other Popes and Papists auouch the like authorities Christ said of himselfe All things are giuen to me of my Father and all power is giuen vnto me in heauen and in earth The Deuils said If thou cast vs out send vs into this herd of swine Christ said to his Disciples Yee shall finde the colt of an asse bound loose it and bring it vnto me By these places the aduersaries prooue that Christ disposed of Temporall matters and inferre thereupon why not Christs Vicar as well as Christ himselfe The places and testimonies now following are very expresse Psal 45. In stead of thy fathers shall be thy children thou shalt make them Princes through all the earth Item Iesus Christ not onely commaunded Peter to feed his lambs but said also to Peter Arise kill and eat the pleasant glosse the rare inuention of the L. Ioh. 12. Cardinall Baronius Christ said to the people If I were lift vp from the earth I will draw all things vnto me who lets what hinders this place from fitting the Pope Paul said to the Corinthians Know ye not that we shall iudge the Angels how much more then the things that pertaine vnto this life A little after Haue not we power to eate These are the chiefe passages on which as vpon maine arches the roofe of Papall Monarchie concerning Temporall causes hath rested for three or foure aages past And yet his Lordship durst not repose any confidence in their firme standing to beare vp the said roofe of Temporall Monarchie for feare of making his auditors to burst with laughter A wise part without question if his Lordship had not defiled his lips before with a more ridiculous argument drawne from the leprosie and drie scab Let vs now by way of comparison behold Iesus Christ paying tribute vnto Caesar and the Pope making Caesar to pay him tribute Iesus Christ perswading the Iewes to pay tribute vnto an heathen Emperour and the Pope dispensing with subiects for their obedience to Christian Emperours Iesus Christrefusing to arbitrate a controuersie of inheritance partable betweene two priuate parties and the Pope thrusting in himselfe without warrant or Commission to bee absolute Iudge in the deposing of Kings Iesus Christ professing that his Kingdome is not of this world and the Pope establishing himselfe in a terrene Empire In like manner the Apostles forsaking all their goods to followe Christ and the Pope robbing Christians of their goods the Apostles persecuted by Pagan Emperours and the Pope now setting his foote on the very throate of Christian Emperours then proudly treading Imperiall Crownes vnder his feete By this comparison the L. Cardinals allegation of Scripture in fauour of his Master the Pope is but a kind of puppet-play to make Iesus Christ a mocking stocke rather then to satisfie his auditors with any sound precepts and wholefome instructions Hereof he seemeth to giue some inckling himselfe For after he hath beene plentifull in citing authorities of Scripture and of newe Doctors which make for the Popes power to depose Kings at last he comes in with a faire and open confession Pag. 85. that neither by diuine Oracles nor by honourable antiquitie this controuersie hath beene yet determined and so pulls downe in a word with one hand the frame of worke that he had built and set vp before with an other discouering withall the reluctation and priuie checkes of his owne conscience There yet remaineth one obiection the knot whereof the L. Cardinall in a maner sweateth to vntie His words be these Page 84. The champions for the negatiue flie to the analogie of other proceedings and practises in the Church They affirme that priuate persons masters or owners of goods and possessions among the common people are not depriued of their goods for Heresie and consequently that Princes much more should not for the same crime bee depriued of their estates For answere to this reason he brings in the defendants of deposition speaking after this maner In the Kingdome of France the strict execution of lawes decreed in Court against Heretikes is fauourably suspended and stopped for the preseruation of peace and publike tranquilitie He saith elsewhere Conniuence is vsed towards these Heretikes inregard of their multitude because a notable part of the French Nation and State is made all of Heretikes I suppose that out of speciall charitie he would haue those Heretikes of his owne making forewarned what courteous vse and entreaty they are to expect when he affirmeth that execution of the lawes is but suspended For indeed suspensions hold but for a time But in a cause of that nature and importance I dare promise my selfe that my most honoured brother the King of France will make vse of other counsell will rather seeke the amitie of his neighbour Princes and
Writer The description of the Maiestie of God in Heauen compassed about with Angels and Saints vnder the figure of Saints and Elders ANd when this speech of IESVS was ended I looked vp Ezech. 1. and loe I did see a doore opened in Heauen to the effect that I might see and heare therein the figuratiue representing of those things that were to come after And that first voice which spake vnto me before lowd as a trumpet and was the voice of IESVS CHRIST spake vnto mee and said Mount vp thither for I am to shew thee those things that are to be done hereafter 2 Then was I immediatly bereft in spirit for the eyes of my earthly and grosse body could not haue seene and comprehended those heauenly and spirituall mysteries And loe I did see a Throne set in heauen and did see one sit thereon to wit GOD the Father in all Glory and Maiestie 3 And he that sate thereon was like in colour to the Iasper and Sardine stones greene as the Iasper to represent his euerlasting flourishing without decay and fiery redde as the Sardine to signifie his great brightnesse and consuming power who is the trier and separater of the Elect from the reprobate and the Rainebow coloured like the Emerauld did compasse him round about to testifie thereby that as after the deluge hee made the Rainebow a Sacrament of the promises made to Noah so this Rainebow which now I did see compassing his Throne should serue for a sure Sacrament that hee will neuer suffer his Elect to perish but will alwayes and at all times be compassed with a great care and watchfulnes ouer them Greene it was as the Emerauld to signifie the continuance without ceasing of his care as the Emerauld comforteth the sight so is this Sacrament an vnspeakeable comfort vnto the Elect in their troublesome dayes 4 And about his Throne were foure and twentie other seats and I saw foure and twentie Elders or Ecclesiasticall Rulers sitting thereupon clothed with white garments and hauing Crownes of Golde vpon their heads These are the twelue Patriarkes and then the twelue Apostles who for that they haue beene the speciall teachers both of the olde and new Law to the saluation aswell of Iewes as of Gentiles are set in seates about his Throne for glory and clothed with white garments for their innocencie and brightnesse and crowned with crownes of golde in token of their victory ouer Satan and the flesh and of their glorious reward therefore 5 And from his Throne went foorth thunder lightening and terrible voices to represent the great seueritie and terriblenes of his Iudgements denounced by the olde Law and executed on the wicked And there were seuen lampes of burning fire before his Throne which is the infinite mightie and flaming bright holy Spirit resembling the loue and light of the new Law of the Gospel of Christ 6 And there was a sea of glasse like vnto Christall before his Throne for that as in a glasse he cleerely sees euen all the secretest actions and cogitations of all in the world described here by the Sea which is euer before his face for nothing can be hid from his presence and prescience And though in lustre and glaunce the world be like the liuely fountaines of waters which are the faithfull daily springing and flowing with good workes by fruitfull faith yet is it indeede without motion or liquor dead and like glasse whensoeuer the Lord IEHOVAH doeth thunder his Iudgements vpon it And in the middest of the Throne and about the same were foure beasts their foure hinder parts were in the midst of it their shoulders bearing it vp and their head and wings without and about the same and these beasts were full of eyes behind and before These are the holy Cherubims the highest degree of Angels Ezech. 10.12 foure in number as well because of their foure qualities to execute his will as yee shall heare hereafter as for that the Lord directs them when it pleaseth him to all the foure corners of the world and are as it were his foure windes to blow that is to execute either fauour or Iustice in whatsoeuer place he appointeth them they are about his Throne and as it were sustaine the same testifying thereby that they are most excellent of all others per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the pillars or footstooles of his glory Their number of eyes before and behind signifie their certaine knowledge of things past as to come committed to their charge together with their continuall vigilancie to execute GODS commandements 7 And the first beast was like a Lion the second like a Calfe the third was faced like a man and the fourth was like a flying Eagle hereby representing their excellent qualities in the execution of the Lords decrees to wit great power courage patience and strength to trauell how oft and how much they should be commanded great wisedome and a wonderfull swiftnesse in the execution thereof 8 And euery one of these beasts had sixe wings in circuit These are the sixe wings Esay speaketh of Esay 6.8 two at their armes to signifie their great celeritie in accomplishing Gods commandements two to couer their faces with to testifie that the glory of God is so bright and his Maiestie so great as the very Angels his most excellent creatures are not able to behold the same and two at their feete as well to wipe the filth of the earth off them after they haue beene here below teaching vs thereby that although they be oft in the world by the direction of their Creatour yet cannot the world infect them with her sinnefulnesse and corruptions as also to let vs know that they are so farre in glory aboue all men liuing in the earth as it is impossible to vs with corporall eyes to behold the least part of their glorious brightnesse without a vaile euen as it is to them to behold the glory of the Almightie And within they were all full of eyes to represent their incessant looking on God which commeth from that inward and inestimable loue they beare vnto him which also they expressed in their continuall singing of these wordes Holy Holy Holy is that threefold Lord God Almightie who euer was now is and shall come againe replenished with all fulnesse of glory and power 9 And when these Beasts were giuing all glory honour and thankes to him that sate on the Throne to him I say who liues eternally 10 The foure and twentie Elders as next in ranke fell downe vpon their faces before him that sate on the Throne and adored Him who liues for euer and cast downe their Crownes of golde at his feete in token that they receiued them onely of him saying 11 Thou art onely worthy O Lord to be accounted glorious honourable and powerfull for that thou hast created all things and for thy will and pleasure haue they had their being and were created This glance did I see of the
glory that is in heauen at the receiuing of my Commission contained in the following Visions which I did see of the things present and to come in the generall Church militant CHAP. V. ARGVMENT The description of the Booke wherein was conteined all the Misteries which were reuealed to this Writer Christs opening of them vnder the figure of a Lion and of a Lambe The praises giuen him by the Saints and Angels therefore who offer without any Intercessour euery one his owne thankesgiuing and praises to the Mediatour THen first I did see in the Right hand of him that sate on the Throne Dan. 12.4 a Booke the Booke wherein these mysteries are contained Esay 24 11. and all the Booke was written vpon aswell on the backe as within on the backe was written these Visions that I did see Ezek. 2.10 and am presently to declare vnto you within was written the plaine exposition and the very proper names of all things which these Visions did represent which are inclosed there to signifie that the Lord hath not permitted me to manifest the same to the world for the time thereof is not come yet which Booke was sealed with seuen Seales aswell to keepe euery part thereof vnreuealed to any as also to giue the greater certaintie that these things shall come to passe which are prophesied therein 2 And I saw a strong Angel proclayming with a loud voice Who is worthy to open this Booke and to loose the Seales thereof 3 But there could none be found worthy to doe it neither in heauen nor in earth nor beneath the earth no not to looke on it much lesse to open it for neither Angel nor deuil either knows or dare meddle with the high mysteries of God and things future except so farre as pleaseth him to commit and reueale vnto them 4 Then wept I very sore that none could be found worthy to open and read that Booke no not to looke vpon the same for I was very sorrowfull that I could not haue it reuealed vnto me 5 At last one of the Elders said vnto mee Weepe not Loe the Lion of the Tribe of Iuda hath preuailed to wit he who is come of Iuda and hath admirable force in his flesh deriued from the Tribe of Iuda by which he ouercame Sinne Death and Hell and is the roote of Dauid for Dauid was his figure and fore-beer in the flesh is worthy and onely worthy to open the Booke and loose the Seales thereof 6 And then I tooke heed and behold I did see in the middest of the Throne and the foure beasts a second person of the Trinitie sitting with God and in the middest of the Elders as a man and our brother a Lambe standing like as hee had bene slaine to signifie that once indeed hee was slaine but had risen againe and had seuen Hornes and seuen Eyes representing the innumerable times mighty and holy Spirit of God which after his Resurrection he sent out through the whole earth to direct instruct and rule the same by his prouidence and power 7 This Lambe then came and tooke the Booke out of the Right hand of him that did sit on the Throne 8 And so soone as he had taken the Booke in his hand these foure beasts and these foure and twentie Elders fell vpon their faces before the Lambe and adored him and euery one of them had in his hand Harpes and golden Phials full of sweet odours these are the prayers of the Saints which the foure beasts comprehending all the degrees of Angels and the foure and twentie Elders comprehending the whole Church as well Militant as Triumphant perceiuing that CHRIST is to reueale all the tentations which are to fall vpon the earth and Church before the latter dayes doe powre forth aswel on the Church triumphants part thankesgiuing that by the reuealing or opening of the Booke he armeth the Militant Church to resist all the tentations contained therein as also on the Church Militants part to pray him to hasten the end and dissolution for the hastening whereof all creatures sigh and grone to their Creator Euery one of these beasts and Elders presents their owne praiers vnto him who sits on the Throne to teach vs as he is Mediatour and therefore our prayers must be offered vnto him onely that so there is no Intercessour betweene him and vs but euery one of vs must present our owne prayers before him after the example of the beasts and Elders These prayers were inclosed in harpes to signifie the sweet and pleasing sound that faithfull prayers make in the eares of God they were inclosed in golden Phials to teach vs that acceptable prayers must come from an vndefiled heart and pure as gold and they themselues are called incense because their smell is pleasant and sweet like incense in the nostrils of God Exod. 30.7 This did the incense at the sacrifice in the old Law signifie and figurate and of this incense speakes Dauid in his Psalmes Psal 141.2 9 And they to wit the foure and twenty Elders did sing a new Canticle for the matter of their Canticle to wit the accomplishment of the Mysterie of redemption is new Psal 144. and euer ought to be new and fresh in the hearts of all them that would be accompted thankefull Their song then was this Thou art worthy O Lord to receiue the Booke and open the Seales thereof for thou hast bene slaine though innocent and by thy precious Blood hast redeemed vs to God thy Father and hast chosen vs out of all Tribes tongues people and nations aswell Iewes as Gentiles 10 And thou hast made vs Kings and Priests spiritually to our God And we shall reigne ouer the earth at the last and generall Iudgement and as Kings shall be participant of the glory of the holy and new Citie Ierusalem 11 Then I beheld and heard round about the Throne the beasts and the Elders the voyces of many Angels to the number of many thousand thousands Dan. 7.10 to wit innumerable Legions of them 12 Who said all with a loud voice The Lambe who was slaine is worthy to haue all power riches wisedome strength honour glory and blessing for euer 13 I also heard all creatures in Heauen in earth and beneath the earth and in the seas euen all that are in them I heard saying in one voyce vnto him that sits vpon the Throne and vnto the Lambe be Blessing Glory Honour and Power for euer and euer And the foure beastes said Amen and the foure and twenty Elders fell on their faces and adored him that liues for euer and euer CHAP. VI. ARGVMENT The opening of the first sixe Seales The spreading of the Euangel signified by the white horse in the first seale The great Persecution by the red horse in the second The number of diuers heresies by the blacke in the third The Popedome and Tyrannie thereof by the pale in the fourth The complaint of the Saints
the Father did pray and their blood did cry to heauen and craue at the hands of their Father a iust reuenge of their torments vpon the wicked and therewith a hastening of the generall dissolution for the deliuerie of their brethren who did remaine yet aliue 11 Then white robes were giuen to euery one of them and it was said vnto them and they were willed to rest and haue patience for a short space vnto the time the number of their fellow seruants to God and brethren companions in the Crosse were fulfilled who were also to be slaine as they were already This surely ought to be a wonderfull and inestimable comfort to all the Church militant since by this Seale wee are assured that both the soules of the Martyrs so soone as their bodies are killed shall immediatly be rewarded with perpetuall and bright glory in heauen not going into any other place by the way which is signified by the White robes as also that so soone as their number shall be complete which shall be within a short space God shall then craue a full account at their persecutors hands and then as the one number shall receiue a full and eternall glory in body and soule the other shall receiue a full torment in soule and body to the cleere shining of his Iustice in the one and his mercy in the other 12 Then I tooke heed when he opened the sixt and loe there was a great earthquake Matth. 24.29 and the Sunne-beame blacke like sackecloth made of haire and the Moone became all bloody 13 And the Starres fell from the heauens vpon the earth euen as the figgetree lets her vnripe figges fall being beaten by a mightie winde 14 And the heauen went away like a scrole that is rolled together and all the hilles and Iles were remooued from their places 15 And the Kings of the Earth the Nobles the rich men the Tribunes or commanders of the people the mighty men and all the slaues aswell as free-men did hide themselues in cauerns and vnder rockes of hills Luke 23.30 16 And they said to the hilles and the rocks Fall vpon vs and hide vs from the sight of him that sits vpon the Throne and from the wrath of the Lambe 17 For that great day of his wrath is come and who then may stand This is the accomplishment of that dissolution craued and promised in the fift Seale These terrible things mentioned in the sixt Seale are the alterations and signes in the last time the very same did our Master Christ prophesie when he was walking on this Earth CHAP. VII ARGVMENT A proper and comfortable digression interiected of Gods care ouer the Elect in the times of greatest temptations signified by the Visions of the foure Angels the Election and happie estate of the elected BVt lest I or any other should doubt of the safegard and saluation of the Elect thinking that these terrible plagues should haue lighted vpon both good and bad indifferently he represented vnto my sight foure Angels standing on the foure corners of the earth and retayning the foure winds in their hands and stopping them either to blow vpon the earth the sea or any tree 2 And I did see one Angel going vp from the rising of the Sunne hauing the Seale of the liuing God and hee cried with a loud voice to the foure Angels that had power giuen them to harme the earth and the sea 3 Saying Harme not the earth nor the sea nor the trees vntill we haue marked the seruants of God on the forehead These Angels foure in number because they sit vpon the foure corners of the earth ready to execute Gods iudgements vpon euery part of the World although they already had stayed the winds to blow to wit the progresse of the Euangel vpon the earth which is the world vpon the Sea which is the numbers of people vpon the Trees which are the Magistrates Ciuill or Ecclesiasticall Yet one Angel came from the rising of the Sunne to wit 2. Peter 1. Luke 1.7 Malach. 4. directed by CHRIST who is comfortable like the Sunne-rising to his Elect and is that Orient day-spring and Sunne of Righteousnes rising ouer all the faithfull which is mentioned in the Scriptures Who cries and forbids these foure Angels to doe any further temporall harme while first the chosen be sealed on the forehead by that Seale which he beares with him for that effect that these Angels might know them being marked in so eminent a place in the generall destruction and so spare them assuring vs thereby that he hath such a care ouer his Elect as he hath prouided for them before hand euen as he did for Noah and Loth and their families in the time of the deluge and destruction of Sodome 4 And I heard the number of them that were sealed in Israel reckoned to be one hundred fourtie and foure Thousand for twelue thousand were sealed of euery one of the Tribes which makes iustly that number Out of euery one of the Tribes was a certaine number chosen to assure vs that a number of euery one of them shal be saued 9 And that I might be assured that a number aswell of the Gentiles as of the Iewes shal be saued Loe he shewed me a number so great as I could not reckon the same and it was composed of certaine out of euery Nation Tribe people and tongue And they stood before the Throne and in presence of the Lambe clothed with white robes hauing palmes in their hands in token of the victorie they obteined of their longsome battaile 10 And they cried all with one voice saying Our health and our saluation commeth from our God that sits on the Throne and from his Lambe to wit their health came from God the Father by the Mediation of his Sonne 11 Then all the Angels stood round about the Throne the Elders and the foure beastes and bowed themselues downe vpon their faces and adored God with thankesgiuing for his mercy to the chosen both of Iew and Gentile and his Iustice vpon all the rest 12 Saying Amen in allowance of the things done with full confession that Blessing Glory Wisedome Thankesgiuing Honour Vertue and Power belongs only and most iustly to GOD for euer and euer 13 Then one of the Elders spake vnto me and said What are these and from whence are they come who are clothed with white robes 14 And I answered and said Thou knowest my Lord. Then he said vnto me These are they who are preserued and come from that great affliction which was represented to thee in some of the Seales and they haue washed their garments and made them white in the blood of the Lambe for they by vertue of his death are made righteous by imputation whose blood is the onely and full purgation of vs from our sinnes 15 And therefore they are before the Throne of GOD and serue him day and night in his Temple to wit they without any
intermission contemplate his Glory and euer serue him by continuall thankesgiuing and praising his Name in Heauen which is his eternall and celestiall Temple and hee that sits on the Throne shall dwell with them for they shall neuer be separated from his presence 16 And they shall be no more an hungry or thirstie nor the Sunne or any heate shall trouble them 17 For the Lambe who is in the middest of the Throne to wit coequall in power with his Father he shall feed them and guide them to the liuely fountaines of waters to wit they shall feed of that Spirituall and liuely bread and drinke of that Spirituall and liuely water euen himselfe Iohn 4.14 which Water he promised to the Samaritane woman at the well And GOD shall wipe all teares from their eyes for he shall both by the greatnesse of their present ioyes put quite out of their memories all the sorrow of their former troubles and shall also giue them eternall ioy which shall neuer be mixed with any kind of trouble or feare so shall they not be molested with the vehemencie of the Sunne or any other heate which signifies great troubles and sorrow CHAP. VIII ARGVMENT The opening of the seuenth Seale The seuen Trumpets comming out of it The effect of the prayers of the faithfull signified by the vision of the fire of the Altar Some persecution and some heresies signified by haile mixt with blood and fire in the first trumpet The great persecution by the hill of fire in the second The number of heresies by the starres falling into the fountaines of water in the third The vniuersall infirmitie in the Church in some things by the Sunne Moone and starres darkened in the fourth ANd when hee opened the seuenth Seale there was silence in heauen almost halfe an houre aswell to let mee know that hee had once already summarily declared the whole things which was to come after as by silence a while to giue me occasion to meditate vpon that vision which I had seene to the effect that afterward I might the better vnderstand the more particular rehearsall thereof which now vnder another vision and forme was to be declared vnto me by the opening of the seuenth Seale 2 And I saw seuen Angels standing before God to execute whatsoeuer thing it should please him to command them and by his direction there were seuen Trumpets giuen vnto them that by these Trumpets they might with one Maiestie denounce to the world such plagues as they were by the command of God to powre foorth vpon it 3 Then another Angel came and stood before the Altar hauing a golden censer in his hand and there was much incense giuen vnto him that he might offer vp the prayers of the Saints vpon the golden Altar that is before the Throne 4 And the smoke of the incense which is the prayers of the Saints mounted vp from the hand of the Angel to the sight of God 5 Then the Angel tooke this new emptied censer and filled it againe with the fire of the Altar and did cast it downe on the earth and there were thundrings voices lightenings and earthquakes By this Angel and his proceedings we are assured and made certaine that Christ shall euer be vigilant ouer his owne and that specially in straightest times hee will heare their prayers and euer renew them with some light of the Gospel by the working of his holy Spirit And to assure vs hereof the vision of this Angel was showne vnto me immediatly before that by the seuen Trumpets he is to dilate these visions showen me in the former Seales This Angel was Christ he stood before the Altar this Altar is likewise himselfe as I declared before his standing before it meaneth that by his office of Mediatour hee was to doe as followes He had a golden censer in his hand for he keeps the censer wherein are contained the incense which the Saints giue him to wit their prayers to be offered vp to God by his mediation who is that golden and pure Altar which is euer in the presence of God and whose requests are no time refused and therefore that incense and the smoke thereof mounts vp to the sight of God to assure vs that our prayers being offered in that forme are euer acceptable The effect whereof doeth appeare by the Angels filling againe the censer with the fire of the Altar and casting it on the earth wherewith is ioyned the noise ye heard of for these prayers procure that their Mediatour shall out of his golden boxe to wit out of his treasure of power send downe the fire of the Altar to wit the holy Spirit which remaineth with him to make thunders voices lightnings and earthquakes to wit to giue againe the Law by renewing the efficacie of the Gospel in the hearts of the faithfull alluding to the giuing of the olde Law whereof these fearefull noises were the fore-runners This surely is the care and effect that our Master in all troublesome times renewes to strengthen our weakenesse with 6 And then the seuen Angels which had the seuen trumpets prepared themselues to blow for although they were before directed yet were they not permitted to execute their office no more then the foure Angels who stayed the foure windes while Christ had strengthened and armed his owne as is said to assure vs that euer before any great temptation hee will make the backes of the elect ready and able to beare such burthens as hee is to lay vpon them 1. Cor. 10.13 7 Then the first Angel blew and there was a great haile and fire mixed with blood and this storme was cast downe vpon the earth whereupon followed that the third part of the trees was withered and burnt vp and all greene grasse was withered and burnt vp for the first plague which hath already begun to worke shall be mixed partly of haile which is heresie for as haile showers by the harme they doe to the corne makes them to become deare so heresie makes the true haruest of the Lord to become scant This haile or heresie and spirituall persecution is ioyned with the sword and persecution of the flesh which is signified by the fire and the blood This fiery and two edged triall shall make the third part to wit a part but not the greatest number of trees to wit of renowmed men and all greene grasse to wit all them that are not wel founded and strong in the trewth this greene grasse is that sort of professours Marke 4. vers 5 6 7. of whom Christ spake in the parable of the seed sowen in sandie and thornie ground it shall make them I say to fall from the trewth and so become withered and vnprofitable 8 Then the second Angel blew and there fell as it had beene a great hill all burning in fire and this hill was cast into the sea and the third part of the sea became blood 9 And the third part of the liuing
vpon the backe of the Booke It is not lawfull to him to manifest it By foreknowing things to come which is signified by swallowing the booke he is mooued to a great ioy in the instant time but it turneth in great bitternesse to him thereafter THen I saw another strong Angel comming downe from heauen hee was clothed with a cloud and at his head was the raine-bow and his face was like the Sunne and his feet like the pillars of fire This strong Angel was Christ clothed with a cloude for in a cloud hee ascended and in the clouds shall he come againe at the latter day Which cloud was a guide to the people of Israel by day while they trauailed through the wildernesse and out of that cloud hee powres the raine and dew of his graces in abundance vpon his chosen His head was clothed with the rainebow which signifies his couenant he made with his Elect as ye heard before His face was like the Sunne and his feet like pillars of fire yee heard these two described in the beginning of my Epistle 2 And he had in his hand an open Booke this was the Booke of the Euangel or glad tidings And he set his right foote or strongest on the Sea to make stable that liquid Element so vnstable of nature and his left vpon the earth which is sooner made firme by this to shew the power he hath ouer all things contained in them who hath no power to passe the bounds and order which he hath prescribed vnto them and therefore the earth is called his footstoole by Dauid in his Psalmes 3 And he cryed with a mighty voice like a roaring Lyon for they were terrible things and great which hee was to denounce 4 And when he had cryed the seuen thunders spake their voices These were the seuen Spirits of God who by his direction did speake and I was to haue written what they did speake of purpose to haue set it downe with the rest But I heard a voice from heauen saying Seale what the seuen thunders haue spoken but write them not For the holy Spirit hauing declared vnto me by them the exposition of the sixe trumpets the voice of God commands me not to manifest that vnto the world with the rest but by sealing of it to keepe it close vnto the due time 5 And the Angel to wit Christ whom I saw standing on the sea and on the earth lifted vp his hand towards heauen 6 And swore by him that created heauen the earth the sea and all that is in them that the time should be no longer 7 But in the dayes of the seuenth Angels voice when he begins to blow the mysterie of God should be consummate according as he tolde to his seruants the Prophets This oath he made to assure me that the world should end immediatly after the accomplishing of these things mentioned in the sixe Trumpets and that the seuenth declares the things which are to be done at the consummation the forme whereof will be as hee hath declared to his Prophets 8 Then that voice which I heard spake to me from heauen to wit the voice of God the Father spake againe vnto me and said Goe and take that open booke which is in the hand of the Angel who stands on the sea and the earth 9 And so I went vnto the Angel and desired him to giue me the booke and hee answered Take and swallow it and it shall bring a bitternesse vnto thy belly but in thy mouth it shall be as sweete as honie 10 Then I tooke the booke and found that which he said to me of it to be true for indeed I thought it delightfull vnto me to know the mysteries of God by swallowing the booke and so it was sweet in my mouth but so soon as by the digestion hereof I must preach it to the world and for that cause become to be hated contemned and persecuted by the wicked and see but a small increase of my great labours then surely it will be bitter to my belly as it was to Ionas and shall be to all the true preachers thereof thereafter 11 Then he said vnto me Thou must prophesie againe before people nations tongues and many kings for my children in Christ to wit my successours in doctrine who shall be in the time of these plagues shall haue the same commission to teach ouer againe the same Euangel to the saluation of all the beleeuers these shall haue such boldnesse giuen vnto them as they shall constantly declare their commission not only before the people but euen before many kings and shall not be afraid of their faces CHAP. XI ARGVMENT Babylon the Popes Empire is the outward part of the Temple The trew Church is in Sancto Sanctorum but vnder the persecution of these hypocrites for a certaine space Faithfull Pastours are sent from time to time to witnesse the trewth They are persecuted condemned and slaine by Antichrist God raiseth vp at the last stronger preachers who shall describe the Popedome and foretell the destruction thereof In the seuenth Trumpet is the day of Iudgement described ANd then was a long reede like a rod giuen vnto me and the Angel who gaue me the booke stood before me and said Arise and measure the Temple of God and the Altar and all them that adore in it with that reede that is giuen thee 2 But the court that is without the Temple exclude thou and measure it not for it is giuen vnto the Gentiles who shall tread down the holy Citie for the space of two and fourtie moneths Now lest I should despaire of any profit which my successors could haue made in doctrine in their time because as it appeareth by the sixt Trumpet the whole world should be subdued to these two Monarchies Christ aswell to assure me some should still remaine pure and vnspotted as also to shew mee and by me to forewarne the Church that this most dangerous Monarch called Apollyon should corporally succeede in the Church and should sit in the Temple of God giues me a reede for that cause and commands me to measure the Temple for he will saue all them that are of the true Church for they are the inward parts of the Temple and the rest by reason of their hypocrisie shal be accounted of as Gentiles and this diuision shal be made by my successours in doctrine of whom I spake already for they by the measure and triall of the word signified by the reede shall separate that holy Sanctum Sanctorum from the rest of the outward Temple of God to wit the hypocriticall and Antichristian Church which shall tread downe and persecute the true Church for the space of two and fourtie moneths or three yeeres and an halfe for it is both one number This space prescribed by Christ alludeth to Daniels prophecie of two times a time and halfe a time for as Daniel meant thereby the halfe of his propheticall weeke so Christ meanes
with a measure of glory conformed thereunto and so their workes follow them to obtaine that measure in that place wherof they were already assured by the meanes of faith in Christ onely For although the Sunne and the Moone and the starres be all bright lampes and lights of the heauen yet are they not all alike bright but the brightnesse of euery one of them is different from the other Alwayes let vs assure our selues that although our measures shall be vnequall yet from the greatest to the least all the vessels of mercie shall enioy in all fulnesse as much glory as they shal be able to containe and the vnequalitie of the measure shal be because they are notable euery one of them to containe alike in quantitie and the like shal be done with the measures of paines to the reprobate in hell 14 Then I beheld and loe I saw a white cloud and vpon the cloud sate one like a man hauing on his head a crowne of gold and in his hand a sharpe sickle 15 And an other Angel came out of the temple cried with a lowd voice to him that sate vpon the cloud Thrust in thy sickle to reape for the houre of thy reaping is come and the haruest of the earth is withered for ripenesse and readinesse to be cut He who was like the Sunne of man and was sitting on a white cloud was Christ in a bright cloud of glory crowned with a Crowne of victory all that was spoken of him here was to declare to me that the last dayes wherein his comming againe shal be shall be next following to the reuealing of Babylon by the reuiuing of the witnesses as ye heard in the end of the sixt Trumpet 16 At what time Christ shall gather his haruest of the elect together as I heard himselfe say while he was yet on earth among vs. 17 Then another Angel came forth of the Temple that is in heauen and he had an other sharp sickle in his hand 18 And an other Angel came from the Altar who had power ouer the fire and he cried with a lowd voice to him that had the other sharpe sickle saying Put downe thy sharpe sickle and gather the clusters of the Vine-trees for the grapes are ripe 19 Then the Angel put downe his sickle on the earth and gathered the Vines of the earth and cast them in the winepresse of the wrath of God For so soone as Christ hath gathered his haruest together then the reprobate are fully to be destroyed as is declared here by the Anges command who came from the Altar to wit as directed by Christ Thiâ— Angel had power ouer the fire to wit he had direction to destroy as he commanded the messenger of Gods plagues who had the sickle to doe it who at his command cut the Vines and cast them in the great Winepresse of Gods wrath to wit destroyed the reprobate in the abundance of the writh of God 20 And the Winepresse was troden without the Citie and the blood came out of the Winepresse euen to the horse bridles and spred to the bounds of one thousand and sixe hundred furlongs This is surely a great comfort to all the chosen that notwithstanding all the rest of the world except such as are Christes haruest whom he hath gathered together in the holy Citie the rest I say shal be destroyed in such a great number as their blood shall of deepenesse come to the horse bridles and ouerflow the whole land of Canaan whereof the number of furlongs or eight parts of miles ye heard is the length Yet though it ouerflow the whole earth which is signified by Canaan it shal be without the holy Citie which is in the middest of the land to wit although the trew Church shal be in the middest of the world as Ierusalem was in Canaan yet that destruction shall not make a haire of one of their heads to fall but it shal be without them and they fully exempted from it as the land of Goshen was from the plagues of Egypt CHAP. XV. ARGVMENT The faithfull praiseth God for the Popes destruction and their deliuerance The plagues which are to light on him and his followers is to be declared by the powring forth of the seuen Phials THen I saw another signe in heauen great and wonderfull to wit seuen Angels hauing the seuen last plagues for by them is fulfilled the wrath of God for the Spirit of God hauing already declared vnto me the generall destruction of the whole world which is without the holy citie hee next declared vnto me vnto my greater comfort the particular plagues that are to light vpon spirituall Babylon as a iust recompense of her sinnes and of the plagues that shee is to loade the earth withall and these are the seuen hinmost which are in the hands of the seuen Angels of whom there is here mention made 2 And I saw as it had beene a glassie Sea mixed with fire and they that had wonne the victory ouer the beast and ouer his image or embassadours and his character and the number of his name to wit from that time that the last beast rose out of the ruines of the other I saw these victours I say standing aboue or vpon this sea of glasse and they had the harpes of God For now hauing declared on the one part how vnhappie the state of Babylon shall be by the seuen last plagues which shall fall vpon it so on the other part by these who stand on the sea of glasse mixed with fire he declared vnto me what should be the blessed estate of the chosen at that time that these plagues shall fall vpon Babylon to wit of these victours for they shall reueale the Antichrist and deface him they shall hen behold the rest of the world which is here signified by the sea of glase and they shall haue the harpes of God to wit the praises of God in their mouthes because he hath mixed this glassie sea with fire to wit hath destroyed and made his iudgements to fall vpon this wicked world as their sorg which followes will declare 3 And they sung the song of Moses the seruant of God the song of the Lambe It was called the song of Moses as well because they did sing the praises of Gods iustice vpon this glassie Sea to the reuenge of the blood of his chosen as Moses sayth in the very last wordes of his Canticle as because Moses praised God for the deliuerance of his people from the corporall thraldome of Egypt and the song of the Lambe because they praised him for doing the like by relieuing the Church from the thraldome of the spirituall Egypt in the times of the Euangel and their song was this Great and wonderfull are thy workes O Lord God Almightie iust in punishment and trew for the performance of thy promises are thy wayes O King and defender of all thy Saints and trew followers 4 Who will notfeare O Lord
and glorifie thy Name since thou art onely perfectly holy for all nations shall come at the latter day and adore before thee since thy iudgements are now made manifest and lighted vpon the earth 5 And next after this I saw these particular plagues euery one for the which the Saints did thus praise God as followeth for I did looke and I saw the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimonie in heauen opened the like of this ye heard was done in the beginning of the seuenth Trumpet and for the same cause it was also done here to wit to shew the Arke of the couenant which was therein for thereby God did witnesse that hee was now mindfull of his promise by the sending out of these seuen Angels and seuen plagues which were now to be executed 6 And out of this Temple came seuen Angels for from the remembrance of his Arke and Couenant proceeded their direction and they were clothed with pure and white linnen for innocencie and puritie and girded about their breasts with gold for honour and glory 7 And one of the foure beasts gaue these Angels seuen Phials of golde full of the wrath of God that liues eternally and for all worlds to come These Angels are thus arayed and these golden and precious Phials of the wrath of God are giuen them by one of the foure beasts the most excellent creatures of God all to teach vs that as these plagues shall be most bitter to Babylon and her followers so shall they be most sweet to all the chosen for their deliuerance for they are to light vpon the wicked and no wayes to harme any of the holy Citie 8 And the Temple in heauen was filled with the smoake comming from the Maiestie of God and from his vertue and power And there could none go in into the Temple while the seuen plagues of the seuen Angels were fulfilled to teach vs that no flesh how guiltlesse soeuer it be can compeare before God when in his wrathfull face he is clothed with iustice but onely when with a cheerefull countenance clothed with mercy he stretcheth foorth his hands vnto vs. CHAP. XVI ARGVMENT By the first Phyale the Popes followers are plagued with sundry new and vnknowen diseases By the second Phiale all kinde of plagues Juch as sword famine and pestilence light vpon the nations that acknowledge him By the third are diuers Popes raised vp at one time who striuing for the seats fight among themselues and so they are iustly recompensed for shedding the blood of the Saints By the fourth the reuerence of him begins to waxe colde in the hearts of men By the fift his abuses begin to be discouered By the fixt his forces decay which he perceiuing houndeth out the Iesuits to gather all his forces to destroy the faithfull with whom God fights to his destruction By the seuenth the latter day is described and the Popedome rent asunder THen I heard a voice out of the Temple saying to these seuen Angels Goe powre foorth in great abundance vpon the earth the seuen Phials of the wrath of God for now they were to be shewen and to be described vnto me 2 Then the first Angel went to worke and powred foorth his Phiale on the earth and there fell a great and grieuous sore vpon all them that had the character of the beast or adored his image These plagues which were shewed to me were onely ordained to light on Babylon as I said before and therefore they mete vnto her with the measure that shee shall measure others with to wit they shall plague her and her followers with the like plagues that she shall plague others with corresponding aswell in number as in qualitie they also haue allusion to the plagues of Egypt because she is called spiritually Egypt as yee heard in the sixt Trumpet and so by this first plague is signified that as shee persecuted the faithfull and killed them as is declared in the sixt Trumpet and as Moses made a scabbe to come vpon all the Egyptians for Pharaohs sake so shall there fall a pestilent and pernicious sore vpon all his followers to wit they shall be troubled with diuers new and horrible diseases 3 Then the second Angel powred foorth his Phiale vpon the sea and the sea was made by it like the blood of a dead body and euery liuing thing in thesea died for as that beast should first so trouble thesea to wit the peoples and nations with persecuting all them who wil not adore her and by her abuse cause the world to become dead to all good workes and fruitfull faith as is declared by the vision where I saw her rise out of the sea and as Moses turned the redde sea into a corrupted blood with drowning the Egyptians which is here called the blood of a carrion by the which all the fishes therein were poisoned so shal the nations and the peoples which are the followers and partakers of Babylon be troubled with warres within and without and with all kinde of plagues such as pestilence and famine and such others 4 Then the third Angel powred foorth his phiale vpon the Riuers and fountaines of water and they became blood for as this false Church and grashoppers did corporally succeed to the fountaines of waters to wit the trew Pastours as ye heard in the third Trumpet and did assist their King Apollyon to persecute bloodily the liuely fountaines of waters or trew Pastours who yet remained vncorrupted as ye heard in the sixt Trumpet and as Moyses made all the riuers and fountaines of waters in Egypt to become blood so shall the teachers and heads of this false Church be diuided among themselues yea there shall be in three or foure diuers places three or foure diuers persons and euery one of them shall claime to be king of the locusts which question shall be decided by the cruell and bloodie edge of the sword And therefore to shew me how iustly that great persecutor of the Saints is now made to be the persecutor of himselfe diuided in diuers persons 5 I heard the Angel of the waters to wit the third Angel who powred these plagues vpon the waters vse these words Iust art thou O Lord who is who was and holy for that thou hast iudged these things 6 Because euen as they to wit these corrupt filthie and false fountaines of waters haue shed the blood of thy Saints and Prophets so hast thou now giuen them of blood to drinke for they are worthy of such a reward 7 Then I heard the voice of one from the Sanctuarie for confirmation hereof saying Certainely O Lord God trew and iust are thy Iudgements for thou hast perfourmed thy promise and hast iustly recompensed them 8 Then the fourth Angel powred foorth his phiale vpon the Sunne and power was giuen vnto him to afflict men with fire for euen as the Sunne was darkened in the fourth Trumpet to wit the speciall teachers did begin to fall
from the sinceritie of the trewth enticed thereunto though not by Apollyon himselfe for hee was not yet risen yet by the qualities whereof hee is composed and therefore is he here punished for the same And as Moses troubled by the hote Easterne winde the land of Egypt by the breeding of grashoppers so shall the fierie spirit of God in the mouthes of his witnesses so trouble Babylon with the burning sunne of Gods trewth as men shall be troubled with a great heat to wit she and her followers shall be tormented and vexed therewith 9 But they blasphemed the name of God who had power ouer these plagues and repented not that they might giue him glory for such is the nature of the wicked and so hardened are their hearts that the same scourges and afflictions which make the godly turne themselues to God and so are the sauour of life vnto them to their eternall saluation they by the contrary make the wicked to runne from euill vnto worse and so are the sauour of death vnto them to their iust and eternall condemnation 10 Then the fifth Angel powred forth his phiale euen vpon the very throne of the beast and his kingdome was made darke and they to wit he and his followers gnawed their tongues for dolour for as this beast did breed and was nourished by the smoake and darkenesse that came foorth of the bottomlesse pit whereof he is the Angel and messenger as was declared in the fift Trumpet And as Moses made a great darkenesse to come vpon the land of Egypt so now after the witnesses reuealing him which yee heard signified by the heat in the fourth phiale shall follow that this kingdome shall become obscure by the light of the trewth and shall come to be despised by many whereby he and his followers shall be mooued to a great rage which I meant by gnawing their tongues for dolour 11 And they blasphemed the God of heauen for their dolours and griefes and repented them not of their workes for as I said before neither corporall punishments signified by sores nor spirituall signified by dolours can moue them to repent but to a greater obstinacie and rage as ye shall see by their actions immediatly after the powring foorth of the sixt phiale vpon the great water Euphrates 12 Then the sixt Angel powred foorth his phiale vpon the great riuer of Euphrates and the waters thereof were dried vp that the passage of the Kings comming from the East might be prepared so as that beast by the meanes of many people signified by waters did tyrannize ouer the Church of God and as Moses by Aarons rod made a dry and safe passage through the Red-sea to the people of Israel Exod. 14. so God by this plague dries vp that great water Euphrates which compasseth Babylon during his will to wit he makes now the power of this Monarchie to decay and layes it open to inuasion and destruction as ye shall heare This water was dried to make passage for the Kings comming from the Sun rising alluding to Daniel as I shewed in the sixt Trumpet for euen as the Persians and Medes came from the East Chap. 9. crossed Euphrates ouercame Babylon and slew Balthasar King thereof so immediately after that the Witnesses haue begun to reueale spirituall Babylon as is declared in the fourth phiale and that thereupon hath followed that the kingdome thereof is become darke as is declared in the fift phiale then shall follow that God shall prepare the destruction thereof by drying Euphrates ' whereupon shall ensue that such instruments as God shall appoint directed by that Sunne rising to wit Christ as ye heard in the sixt Seale shall destroy that King and sacke that great Citie to the perpetuall confusion of all her followers as ye wil heare more clearely declared hereafter 13 And then I saw from the mouth of the dragon and from the mouth of the beast and from the mouth of the false prophet three vncleanespirits come foorth like to froggs for this is all the repentance that these three phials shall worke in the heart of Babylon as I said before to wit for the last remedie the diuel or dragon shall inuent him a fresh order of Ecclesiasticall factours and Agents as the diuels last brood These are the same that I called horse in the vision in the sixt Trumpet three in number to correspond to their threefold armour as ye heard in the said Trumpet because there came out of their mouthes three sorts of persecutions and destructions And themselues came out of three mouthes out of the dragons because the diuel is the inuenter of them out of the beasts because the beast or King of Locusts commands ouer them directs and employes them for the standing of his kingdome as the last refuge when now he sees the decay thereof euidently comming on out of his false prophets or false Churches because it authorises them for the aforesaid effects These vncleane spirits and teachers of false and hereticall doctrines and wicked policies resembling frogges as well for that they are bred of an old filthy and corrupted false doctrine which for a long space haue blinded the world before their comming as frogges breed of rotten and slimie corruption as also for that they goe craftily about to vndermine and condemne all Ecclesiasticall orders preceding them as vnperfect and vnprofitable because their kingdome is darkenesse But howsoeuer they thus craftily insinuate themselues in the fauours of the people surely their doctrine is nothing else but the very same filthy puddle of vncleane and wicked heresies and impieties taught by the grashoppers before euen as the yong frogges grow like the former 14 For they are spirits of diuels to wit wicked and craftie like them doing myracles of deceipt for they shall wonderfully deceiue men and they goe to all the Kings of the earth and to the whole world to gather them together to the battell of that day of God Almightie for they shall haue such credit of a great part of the Princes of the earth as I also shewed you in the sixt Trumpet as they shall gather great forces together as the last brood of the diuel as I told you before to fight against his Church who notwithstanding shall ouercome them as will after more clearely be declared 15 Happy are they then that swarue not nor despaire in the meane time but awake and keepe their garments cleane and vndefiled from the generall corruption lest otherwise they walke naked not clothed with the garment of righteousnes and so their shamefull parts or naturall inclination to euill be discouered For loe I come as a thiefe for no man shall know the houre no time of my comming 16 And the place whereunto these vncleane spirits gathered the Kings to this battell against Gods Church in Hebrew is called Armageddon for by deceipt they assembled the Kings and nations to their owne destruction 17 Then the seuenth Angel powred out his phiale
in the aire and there came forth a great voyce from the Temple in heauen euen from the Throne saying It is done 18 Then was heard great sounds and lightnings and thunders and there was a great earthquake and such in greatnesse was neuer seene since men were vpon the face of the earth for euen as the aire was troubled and obscured by smoke of hell out of the which the king of Locustes bred in the first Seale and as Moses made haile in great abundance to fall on Egypt which Meteore doeth breed in the aire so God hauing stricken the battell against Babylon and her followers and hauing ouercome them as ye heard in the sixt Seale now followeth immediatly the last plague of the consummation by the aire for in the aire shall that great noise be heard which is the fore-runner of that Great day most comfortable to the trew Church but most terrible to all the rest of the world which day is proclaimed by the voice of God from his Temple wherein was his Couenant declaring the consummation in these words ye heard and as the great noise signifies the same so in speciall doeth the great earthquake as Christ himselfe prophesying thereof doeth declare 19 And that Citie was rent in sunder in three parts and that iustly because she destroyed the third part of the earth as ye heard in the sixt Trumpet and the Cities of the nations fell because they dranke the cup of her abominations And great Babylon and her sinnes came then in memorie before God for then he was to make her drinke the cup full of his wrath to her vtter destruction 20 And all the Isles fled and the mountaines were no more found for no deepenes of Seas nor inaccessiblenes of mountaines shall haue power to saue the wicked from the fearefull and terrible iudgements of that great and last day This doeth also signifie the latter day as ye heard before 21 And a great haile to the greatnesse of talents fell vpon men but they blasphemed God for the plague of haile for it was exceeding great This great haile signifieth also a great destruction at the latter day as ye heard in the seuenth Trumpet but yet the wicked shall be so stiffenecked as euen at their last breath their malice and obstinacie shall rather encrease then diminish as is declared here by mens blaspheming of God for the plague of the haile CHAP. XVII ARGVMENT The Angel expounded to Iohn this vision of the Pope describes him at large and clearely declares the authors and maner of his destruction BVt because that these plagues and Babylon whereupon they lighted did seeme obscure vnto me therefore one of the seuen Angels who powred forth their phials ful of plagues did say vnto me Here then I will shew vnto thee more plainely the condemnation of this great Whore and what shee is that sitteth vpon many waters 2 With whom the Kings of the earth haue committed spirituall adulterie and with the wine of whose whoredome the inhabitants of the earth to wit a great number of nations who are not of the Elect are made drunke as you heard before 3 Then he bereft me in Spirit as I told you in the beginning of this Epistle to the wildernes which signifies the Gentelisme as saith Esay for she and her followers are Gentiles in effect as ye heard in the sixt Trumpet And as our Master sayes All these that gather not with vs they scatter for no more is there a middest betwixt God and the diuell nor betwixt the rewards thereof heauen and hell and as one of these two Masters we must of necessitie follow so of the same necessitie to one of these two places must we goe And then I saw in the wildernes a woman euen Babylon that whore sitting on a scarlet coloured and bloody beast euen as shee was sitting before in the likenesse of a man vpon a pale horse in the fourth Seale And this beast was full of blasphemie and had seuen heads and tenne hornes as ye heard before 4 And the woman was clothed with purple and scarlet and pretious stones and pearles and had in her hand a golden Cup for this Monarchie and the Monarch thereof shall aswell be corporally clothed with these colours and decked with pretious stones as also these colours which are finest of all others and these pretious stones signifie that this Monarchie and the seat thereof shal be most glorious and glauncing to the eyes of the world as I said before which shall not onely be the trew Church by appearance of outward glory but euen retaine many of the generall points of religion which is signified by her golden Cup but this Cup was full of abhominations and of the vncleannesse of her spirituall whoredomes For albeit in many points she shal retaine the trewth which shall abuse men and allure them to her yet shall she mixe and poyson this trewth with her owne abominable and hereticall inuentions and traditions and with the vncleannesse of her spirituall adulterie whereof ye haue heard before 5 And on her forehead was written a mysterie Babylon the great to wit spirituall Babylon as ye heard before the mother of the whoredomes and the abhominations of the earth for from her shall proceed the greatest and in a maner the onely chiefe abuses and heresies coloured and clothed with the shew and title of Christiantie with the which these who shall outwardly say Lord Lord shall euer be infected with vntill the consummation and as a mother she shall not onely breed but shal be the chiefe nourisher and maintainer of them And this is called a mysterie because although this abuse shall be publike as is signified by being written on her forehead yet none shall consider the abuse thereof but onely such whose eyes it shall please God to illuminate for that effect 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the Saints and of the Martyrs and witnesses of Iesus the Sauiour to wit she shall greedily and cruelly shed their blood without all measure reason or pitie as yee haue often heard before And when I thus saw her I wondered at her marueilously and I could not coniecture the meaning of the seuen heads and ten hornes that the beast had on whom she sate 7 And the Angel who had now shewen her vnto me as ye now haue heard seeing me thus wonder sayes vnto me Marueile not for I will reueale vnto thee the mysterie of this woman and of the beast shee rideth vpon which hath seuen heads and ten hornes 8 This beast that thou hast seene or Monarchie was for it is the fourth Monarchie which is very great and flourishing and is not for it is now so farre decayed that in a maner it is not and it is to rise againe out of the bottomlesse pit as yee heard in the fift Trumpet how foone the wound of the head shall be healed whereof ye heard before and it shall goe to perdition as ye
lest ye be participants of her sinnes and of the plagues which are to fall vpon her for them For if but outwardly ye haunt with her and seeme to beare with her abominations yee shall bee accounted guiltie of her sinnes for if ye will haue Christ to professe you publikely at the latter day before his Father and his Angels and reward both your body and soule with eternall felicitie yee must not bee ashamed to serue him both in body and soule before men And this warning I giue you before-hand to make you inexcusable who will otherwise doe 5 For her sinnes are come to such a height as they haue touched the heauen and God is mindfull of them then not onely haunt not with her as I haue said for it is not enough not to doe euil but 6 Rayse your selues vp against her and render the like that she hath done to you yea pay her with the double of her owne workes and in the cup which she propined vnto others render her the double to wit trouble and destroy her by all meanes and in all things euen as she troubled and destroyed others before and according to her pride and wantonnesse recompence her with torment woe and wailing 7 For she sayes in her mind I fit a Queene or am a stabled Monarch neither am I a widow or shall euer bee desolate nor shall euer see dolour or taste destruction 8 And therefore because she thus builds her felicitie vpon her worldly strength by worldly instruments shall shee bee plagued with death with dolour with hunger and burnt with fire to wit after suffering all sorts of torments shee shall in the end be vtterly destroyed for strong is the Lord God who shall condemne her 9 And then shall the kings of the earth who were her hornes and had committed whoredome and riotousnesse with her before weepe and lament for pittie when they see the smoake of her burning for although some of themselues shall be the destroyers as ye heard before yet shall her destruction be so great as their hearts shall pittie the worke of their hands when they shall see the great smoake of her destruction 10 And they shall stand farre off from her torment to wit her torment shall put them in memorie of their guiltinesse of her sinnes which shall afray them wonderfully and shall say in great admiration Alas Alas for that great Citie Babylon that strong Citie whose iudgement and destruction is all come in one howre and at once 11 And the Merchants of the earth shall weepe and mourne for her because their merchandise wil no more bee bought for her pompe shall make the Merchants rich by getting readie sale of all fine wares 12 Such as gold siluer precious stones pearles fine linnen purple silke and scarlet for her garments and all kind of vessels to doe her idolatrous seruice of Iuorie costly wood brasse iron or marble stone 13 Cynamome and all kind of odours for her Church with oyntments and incense for the same purpose and the fine flower of wheat and all kind of victuals and cattell and sheepe for her sumptuous banquets and horse and Chariots and slaues for her triumphes and processions and soules of men for shee shall haue many that shall be Merchants vnto her of the soules of men by selling for mony Pardons giuen by that Monarch which shall bee thought to haue power to saue redeeme and free mens soules but ye shal heare more shortly of this hereafter 14 And the fruits of the desire of thy soule O Babylon shall goe from thee to wit thy ioyes and delights shall all turne to sorrow and all fat and faire things are gone from thee to wit thou shalt leaue all profit and pleasure neither shalt thou euer find them any more for thou shalt be destroyed for euer 15 And so the Merchants of these stuffes being made rich by the buying and selling of them they shall stand afarre off from thy torments and weepe and waile 16 saying Alas Alas for that great Citie that was clothed with fine linnen purple and scarlet and was of so glistering a pompe as was gilded with gold and decked with pretious stones and pearles 17 For loe now how in one houre all her riches and pompe is evanished and all the gouernours and owners of ships and all the multitudes of men in the ships and all the marriners in them and all these who gaine their liuing vpon the sea shal stand afarre off for feare 18 And cry seeing the smoke of her burning saying with a great admiration Who was like in power or shining glorie to this Citie 19 And for pittie of her decay and sorow for wanting by that meanes the carrying to her from all other countries all sorts of merchandise they shall cast dust and ashes vpon their heades and say Alas Alas for that great Citie wherein was made rich all these that had shippes vpon the sea by the prices and trade shee made vs haue and now she is made desolate in one houre 20 But although the earthly men bee sorrowfull for her fall as yee haue heard because they want their earthly commodities and pleasures thereby which she whose religion was earthly to wit founded vpon mens traditions and inuentions and maintained by earthly pompe and power did make them enioy yet reioyce yee heauens for her fall and ye holy Apostles and Prophets be glad thereof for God in punishing her hath reuenged your cause 21 Then for confirmation of this Prophesie of her destruction I sawe a strong Angel take a great stone like a milstone and cast it in the sea saying Euen with such a force shall Babylon that great Citie be casten downe and the very place thereof shall no more be found as Ieremy prophesied of corporall Babylon 22 And the sound of harpers and musitians and players on pipes and trumpets shall no more be heard in thee for no ioy nor mirth shall any more bee in that Monarchie or the seate thereof nor no craftes-man of any craft shall bee found in thee neither shall the grinding of the mill be heard any more in thee for that Citie or seate and Monarchie shall no more bee inhabited 23 And the light of a candle shal be no more found in thee and the voice of the husband and the wife shall no more be heard in thee for as it shall not be inhabited any more by the wicked so neither shall the godly dwell therein so accursed shall it be so as the lampes of the fiue virgins shall not burne there neither shall Christ and his spouse the true Church any more be there although that during the standing of that Monarchie some chosen though few and secret were and at all times shall be euen within that City the seate thereof whose merchants were the great men of the earth and with whose witchcrafts all nations wereseduced 24 And the blood of the Prophets and of the Saints was found in her and of all them
word of God as I did shew you in the beginning of my Euangel 14 And the hostes of Angels and Saints in heauen followed him vpon white horses clothed in white and pure linnen whereof yee heard alreadie 15 And from his mouth came foorth a sharpe sword as ye heard in the beginning of this Epistle that he might strike the Gentiles therewith for hee shall rule them with a rod of yron as Dauid sayth and he treadeth to wit giueth command and power to tread the lake or sea of the vine of the fury and wrath of God Almightie as ye heard in the seuenth Trumpet 16 And he hath vpon his garment and vpon his thigh as the strongest part of his body this name written The King of kings and Lord of lords 17 And I saw an Angel standing in the Sunne that there he might be seene publikely of all and that the Whole world might take heed to that which he was to proclaime and he cried with a loude voice to all the fowles flying through the middest of heauen Come and gather your selues to the supper of the Lord 18 To eate the flesh of Kings of Tribunes of mightie men of horses and of their riders in short come eate the flesh of all free-men and slaues great and small This was to declare that the day of Iudgement was come wherein should that destruction ensue signified by fowles eating their flesh because fowles vse to eate the flesh of dead men vnburied which should ouerwhelme all sorts of men excepting alwayes these that were marked who were sundry times excepted before as ye heard 19 Then I saw that beast to wit Babylon together with the kings of the earth who tooke her part and their armies gathered together to make warre with him that sate vpon the white horse and with his armie 20 But the Beast was taken together with the false prophet or false Church which by her false miracles seduced the nations that did beare the Character of the Beast and adored his image as ye heard before and they were both cast quicke in the lake of fire burning with brimstone 21 And the rest were slaine by the sword which came out of his mouth that sate vpon the horse and the fowles were filled with their flesh for how soone Christ shall come to Iudgement then shall all the enemies of God be destroyed and so full victory obtained of this battell whereof yee heard in the sixt Trumpet and sixt phiale and shall heare farther hereafter And chiefly Babylon and the false Church shall be cast into hell because they merit double punishment for the abusing of men although they shall not also want their damnation that followeth them as is signified by their slaughter with the sword of his mouth whereof yee heard in the beginning of this Epistle and by the fowles eating their flesh as ye presently perceiue CHAP. XX. ARGVMENT The summe and recapitulation of all the former visions to wit the first estate of the Church in all puritie after Christ The heresies and specially the Popedome that followed The destruction thereof in their greatestrage The latter day The saluation of the Elect and condemnation of all others THe Spirit of God hauing now shewen vnto me the estate of the Church militant with the speciall temptations and troubles of the same from the death of Christ to the consummation of the world and their ioyfull deliuerance and victory at that time by the first sixe Seales and next more amply by the seuenth Seale wherin were the seuen trumpets and thirdly her greatest temptations and troubles more cleerely and at large by the vision of the woman persecuted by the Dragon and lastly the cleere and ample description and damnation of Babylon that great persecuter the sorrow of the earth and ioy of heauen therefore This vision now that ye shall presently heare was next shewen vnto me to serue for a summe as it were and a short recapitulation of the whole Prophecie so often reiterated before which is here diuided in three parts First the happy estate of Christes Church though not in the eyes of the world from his first comming to a long time after as was declared by the first Seale Next the grieuous troubles and temptations vnto the which shee shall be subiect thereafter as was declared by the third and fourth Seale and by the third fourth fift and sixt blastes of the Trumpets And thirdly the destruction of all her enemies her ioyfull deliuerance and the consummation as was declared by the sixt Seale the seuenth Trumpet the seuenth phiale and the comming downe of the white horse which in my last words before these yee heard described But specially in this vision is declared the punishment at the latter day of the deuill himselfe before the destruction onely of his instruments being mentioned as ye formerly heard The vision then was this 1 I saw an Angel come downe from heauen and he had the key of the bottomlesse pit and a great chaine in his hand 2 And hee tooke the dragon to wit the ancient serpent who is the deuill and Satan to wit the Tempter and bound him for the space of a thousand yeres 3 And did cast him in the bottomlesse pit and closed him in there that it should not be opened that he might come foorth and seduce the nations till the space of a thousand yeeres were completed and past for thereafter he must be loosed for a short space 4 Then I saw seats and persons sitting vpon them and iudgment or power of iudging was giuen vnto them And I also saw the soules of them who were beheaded or otherwise put to death for the testimonie of Christ and the word of God and adored not the Beast nor tooke his image neither his character on their foreheads nor on their hands These shal liue and reigne with Christ the space of the thousand yeres ye heard 5 But the rest of the dead shal not reuiue till the space of these yeres be complete This is the first resurrectiō 6 Blessed and holy is he that is partaker of the first resurrection for ouer such the second death shal haue no power but they shal be Priests of God and Christ shal reigne with him for euer This is the first part of the diuision wherof I presently told you to wit Christ by his passion did bind the deuill who before was raging in the world and closed him in hell by the remouing of the vaile of blindnes from the whole earth which remained so the space of a thousand yeres to wit a long space all that time the deuil remained bound and casten into hell by Christ who only hath power of it so as in all that space the nations were not seduced for the efficacie of heresies was not yet cropen in and the Saints and Church visible shal so increase albeit in the midst of persecution all this time and so retaine the purity of the trewth as by the glory of
20. Chapter of the REVELATION in forme and maner of a Sermon THE TEXT 7 And when the thousand yeeres are expired or ended Satan shall be loosed out of his prison 8 And shall goe out to deceiue the people which are in the foure quarters of the earth euen Gog and Magog to gather them together to battaile whose number are as the sand of the Sea 9 And they went vp to the plaine of the earth which compassed the tents of the Saints about and the beloued Citie but fire came downe from God out of the heauen and deuoured them 10 And the diuel that deceiued them was cast into a lake of fire and brimstone where that beast and that false prophet are and shal be tormented euen day and night for euermore THE MEDITATION AS of all Bookes the holy Scripture is most necessary for the instruction of a Christian and of all the Scriptures the Booke of the REVELATION is most meete for this our last aage The necessitie of the knowledge of the Reuelation as a Prophesie of the latter times so haue I selected or chosen out this place thereof as most proper for the action we haue in hand presently A summe of the 20. Chap. of the Reuelation For after the Apostle IOHN had prophesied of the latter times in the nineteenth Chapter afore-going he now in this twentieth Chapter gathered vp a summe of the whole wherein are expressed three heads or principall points 1. First the happie estate of the Church from Christs dayes to the dayes of the defection or falling away of the Antichrist in the first sixe verses of this 20. Chapter 2 Next the defection or falling away it selfe in this place that I haue in hand to wit the seuenth eight ninth and tenth verses 3 Thirdly the generall punishment of the wicked in the great day of Iudgement from the tenth verse vnto the end of the Chapter The Apostle his meaning in this place then is this The meaning of this present text That after that Satan then had bene bound a thousand yeeres which did appeare by his discourse afore-going of the Saints triumphing in the earth hee shall at last breake forth againe loose and for a space rage in the earth more then euer before but yet shall in the end be ouercome and confounded for euer .. It resteth now knowing the summe that we come to the exposition or meaning of the Verses The order obserued in handling this text and first expound or lay open by way of a Paraphrase the hardnesse of the words next declare the meaning of them and thirdly note what we should learne of all THE FIRST PART AS touching the wordes in them for order sake wee may note 1 First Satan his loosing 2 next his doing after he is loosed 3 and last his vnhappie successe Then for the first Satan in his instruments is loosed to trouble the Church by Satan is meant not onely the Dragon enemie to Christ and his Church but also with him all the instruments in whom he ruleth and by whom he ruleth and by whom he vttereth his cruell and crafty intentions specially the Antichrist and his Clergie ioyned with the Dragon before in the 16. Chap. verse 17. and called the beast and the false prophet For as Christ and his Church are called after one Name Christ by reason of their most strait and neere vnion and heauenly effects flowing there from 1. Cor. 12.12 So Satan and his sinagogue are here rightly called Satan The thousand yeeres by reason of their vnion and cursed effects flowing therefrom These thousand yeeres are but a number certaine for an vncertaine which phrase or maner of speaking is often vsed by the Spirit of God in the Scriptures meaning a great number of yeeres Moreouer The prison whereout Satan is loosed the prison whereout he is loosed is the hels which by the Spirit of God are called his prison for two causes 1 One because during the time of this world at times appointed by God he is debarred from walking on the earth 2. Pet. 2.4 Ind. ver 6. and sent thither greatly to his torment as was testified or witnessed by the miracle at Genezareth among the Gadarens Matth. 8.28 2 Next because that after the consummation or end of the world he shall be perpetually or for euer imprisoned therein as is written in the same Chapter ver 10. Finally he is loosed by interruption or hindering and for the most part The loosing of Satan to the iudgement of men abolition or ouerthrow of the sincere preaching of the Gospel the true vse of the Sacraments which are seales and pledges of the promises contained therein and lawfull exercise of Christian discipline whereby both Word and Sacraments are maintained in purity called in the first verse the great chaine whereby the diuell is bound and signified by the white horse gouerned by the Lambe Chap. 6. verse 2. So the meaning of all this 7. verse is this The diuel hauing bene bound and his power in his instruments hauing bene restrained for a long space by the preaching of the Gospel at the last he is loosed out of hell by the raising vp of so many new errors and notable euill instruments especially the Antichrist and his Clergie who not onely infect the earth a new but rule also ouer the whole through the decrease of trew doctrine and the number of the faithfull following it and the dayly increase of errours and nations following them and beleeuing lies hating the trewth and taking pleasure in vnrighteousnes 2. Thess 2.11 12. And thus farre for Satan his loosing Now to the next his doing after he is loosed Satan first deceaueth then allures to follow him and in the end maketh all his to take armour against the Church First he goeth out to seduce or beguile the nations that are into the foure corners of the earth and they become his though in certaine degrees his tyrannie and trauaile appeareth and bursteth out in some more then in others For as all that doe good are inspired of God thereto and doe vtter the same in certaine degrees according vnto the measure of grace granted vnto them so all that doe euill are inspired by Satan and doe vtter the same in diuers degrees according as that vncleane spirit taketh possession in them and by diuers obiects and meanes allureth them to doe his will some by ambition some by enuie some by malice and some by feare and so forth and this is the first worke Secondly he gathereth Gog and Magog to battell Gog and Magog in number like the sand of the Sea and so he and his inclined to battell and bloodshed haue mightie armies and in number many inflamed with crueltie The special heads and rulers of their armies or rather rankes of their confederats to goe to battel and to fight are twaine here named Gog and Magog Gog in Hebrew is called Hid and Magog Reuealed to
likewise to make himselfe so to be trusted in these little things that he may haue the better commoditie thereafter to deceiue them in the end with a tricke once for all I meane the euerlasting perdition of their soule and body Then laying this ground as I haue said these coniurations must haue fewe or moe in number of the persons coniurers alwayes passing the singular number according to the qualitie of the circle and forme of apparition Two principall things cannot well in that errand be wanted holy-water whereby the deuill mockes the Papists and some present of a liuing thing vnto him There are likewise certaine seasons dayes and houres that they obserue in this purpose These things being all ready and prepared circles are made triangular quadrangular round double or single according to the forme of apparition that they craue But to speake of the diuers formes of the circles of the innumerable characters and crosses that are within and without and out-through the same of the diuers formes of apparitions that that craftie spirit illudes them with and of all such particulars in that action I remit it to ouer-many that haue busied their heads in describing of the same as being but curious and altogether vnprofitable And this farre onely I touch that when the coniured Spirit appeares which will not be while after many circumstances long prayers and much muttring and murmuring of the coniurers like a Papist Priest dispatching a hunting Masse how soone I say he appeares if they haue missed one iote of all their rites or if any of their feet once slyde ouer the circle through terrour of his fearefull apparition hee payes himselfe at that time in his owne hand of that due debt which they ought him and otherwise would haue delayed longer to haue payed him I meane hee carries them with him body and soule If this be not now a iust cause to make them weary of these formes of coniuration I leaue it to you to iudge vpon considering the long somnesse of the labour the precise keeping of dayes and houres as I haue said the terriblenesse of apparition and the present perill that they stand in in missing the least circumstance or freite that they ought to obserue And on the other part the deuill is glad to mooue them to a plaine and square dealing with him as I said before CHAP. VI. ARGV The Deuils contract with the Magicians The diuision there of in two parts What is the difference betwixt Gods miracles and the Deuils PHILOMATHES INdeed there is cause enough but rather to leaue him at all then to runne more plainely to him if they were wise hee dealt with But goe forward now I pray you to these turnes fra they become once deacons in this craft EPI From time that they once plainely begin to contract with him The effect of their contract consists in two things in formes and effects as I began to tell already were it not ye interrupted me for although the contract be mutual I speake first of that part wherein the diuel obliges himselfe to them By formes I meane in what shape or fashion he shall come vnto them when they call vpon him And by effects I vnderstand in what speciall sorts or seruices he binds himselfe to bee subiect vnto them The qualitie of these formes and effects is lesse or greater according to the skill and art of the Magician For as to the formes to some of the baser sort of them he obliges himselfe to appeare at their calling vpon him by such a proper name which he shewes vnto them either in likenes of a Dog a Cat an Ape or such-like other beast or else to answere by a voice onely The effects are to answere to such demands as concerne curing of diseases their owne particular menagerie or such other base things as they require of him But to the most curious sort in the formes hee will oblige himselfe to enter into a dead bodie and there out of to giue such answeres of the euent of battels of matters concerning the estate of commonwealths and such like other great questions yea to some he will bee a continuall attender in forme of a Page Hee will permit himselfe to bee coniured for the space of so many yeeres either in a tablet or a ring or such like thing which they may easily cary about with them Hee giues them power to sell such wares to others whereof some will be dearer and some better cheape according to the lying or true speaking of the Spirit that is coniured therein Not but that in very deed all deuils must be lyars but so they abuse the simplicitie of these wretches that become their scholers that they make them beleeue that at the fall of Lucifer some Spirits fell in the aire some in the fire some in the water some in the land in which Elements they still remaine Whereupon they build that such as fell in the fire or in the aire are trewer then they who fell in the water or in the land which are all but meere trattles and forged by the authour of all deceite For they fell not by weight as a solide substance to sticke in any one part but the principall part of their fall consisting in quality by the falling from the grace of God wherein they were created they continued stil thereafter and shall doe while the latter day in wandring through the world as Gods hang-men to execute such turnes as hee employes them in And when any of them are not occupied in that returne they must to their prison in hell as it is plaine in the miracle that CHRIST wrought at Gennezareth therein at the latter day to be all enclosed for euer Matth. 8. and as they deceiue their Schollers in this so doe they in imprinting in them the opinion that there are so many Princes Dukes and Kings amongst them euery one commanding fewer or moe Legions and impiring in diuers artes and quarters of the earth For though that I will not deny that there be a forme of order amongst the Angels in Heauen and consequently was amongst them before their fall yet either that they bruike the same sensine or that God will permit vs to know by damned diuels such heauenly mysteries of his which he would not reueale to vs neither by Scripture nor Prophets I thinke no Christian will once thinke it But by the contrary of all such mysteries as he hath closed vp with his Seale of secrecie it becommeth vs to be contented with an humble ignorance they being things not necessary for our saluation But to returne to the purpose as these formes wherein Satan obliges himselfe to the greatest of the Magicians are wonderfull curious so are the effects correspondent vnto the same For he will oblige himselfe to teach them artes and sciences which he may easily doe being so learned a knaue as he is to carry them newes from any part of the world which the agilitie of a Spirit
honour and felicitie to consist in attaining per fas vel nefas Arist 5. Polit. Tacit. 4. hist to his ambitious pretences thinketh neuer himselfe sure but by the dissention and factions among his people and counterfaiting the Saint while he once creepe in credite will then by inuerting all good Lawes to serue onely for his vnrulie priuate affections frame the common-weale euer to aduance his particular building his suretie vpon his peoples miserie and in the end as a step-father and an vncouth hireling make vp his owne hand vpon the ruines of the Republicke And according to their actions The issue and rewards of a good King so receiue they their reward For a good King after a happie and famous reigne dieth in peace lamented by his subiects and admired by his neighbours and leauing a reuerent renowne behinde him in earth obtaineth the Crowne of eternall felicitie in heauen Cic. 6. de Rep. And although some of them which falleth out very rarelie may be cut off by the treason of some vnnaturall subiects yet liueth their fame after them and some notable plague faileth neuer to ouertake the committers in this life besides their infamie to all posterities hereafter The issue of Tyrans Arist 5. Polit. Where by the contrarie a Tyrannes miserable and infamous life armeth in end his owne Subiects to become his burreaux Isocr in Sym. and although that rebellion be euer vnlawfull on their part yet is the world so wearied of him that his fall is little meaned by the rest of his Subiects and but smiled at by his neighbours And besides the infamous memorie he leaueth behind him here and the endlesse paine hee sustaineth hereafter it oft falleth out that the committers not onely escape vnpunished but farther the fact will remaine as allowed by the Law in diuers aages thereafter It is easie then for you my Sonne to make a choise of one of these two sorts of rulers by following the way of vertue to establish your standing yea incase ye fell in the high way yet should it be with the honourable report and iust regrate of all honest men And therefore to returne to my purpose anent the gouernement of your Subiects Anent the making of Lawes by making and putting good Lawes to execution I remit the making of them to your owne discretion as ye shall finde the necessitie of new-rising corruptions to require them for ex malis moribus bonae leges natae sunt besides that in this countrey wee haue alreadie moe good Lawes then are well execute and am onely to insist in your forme of gouernment anent their execution Onely remember that as Parliaments haue bene ordained for making of Lawes so ye abuse not their institution in holding them for any mens particulars The authoritie and trew vse of Parliaments For as a Parliament is the honourablest and highest iudgement in the land as being the Kings head Court if it be well vsed which is by making of good Lawes in it so is it the in-iustest Iudgement-seat that may be L. 12. Tab. being abused to mens particulars irreuocable decreits against particular parties being giuen therein vnder colour of generall Lawes and oft-times th'Estates not knowing themselues whom thereby they hurt And therefore hold no Parliaments but for necessitie of new Lawes which would be but seldome for few Lawes and well put in execution are best in a well ruled common-weale As for the matter of fore-faltures which also are done in Parliament it is not good tigging with these things but my aduice is Cic. 3 de leg pro D. s pro Sest ye fore-fault none but for such odious crimes as may make them vnworthie euer to be restored againe And for smaller offences ye haue other penalties sharpe enough to be vsed against them And as for the execution of good Lawes whereat I left Anent the execution of Lawes remember that among the differences that I put betwixt the formes of the gouernment of a good King and an vsurping Tyran I shew how a Tyran would enter like a Saint while he found himselfe fast vnder-foot and then would suffer his vnrulie affections to burst foorth A iust seneritic to be vsed at the first Sen. de cl Ar. 7. pol. Therefore be yee contrare at your first entrie to your Kingdome to that Quinquennium Neronis with his tender hearted wish Vellem nescirem literas in giuing the Law full execution against all breakers thereof but exception For since ye come not to your reigne precariò nor by conquest but by right and due discent feare no vproares for doing of iustice since ye may assure your selfe Plato 2. 10 de Repub. Cic. ad Q. fr. the most part of your people will euer naturally fauour Iustice prouiding alwaies that ye doe it onely for loue to Iustice and not for satisfying any particular passions of yours vnder colour thereof otherwise how iustly that euer the offender deserue it ye are guiltie of murther before God For ye must consider that God euer looketh to your inward intention in all your actions And when yee haue by the seueritie of Iustice once setled your countries and made them know that ye can strike A good mixture Plato in Pol. 9. de L. Sal. orat ad Caesar then may ye thereafter all the daies of your life mixe Iustice with Mercie punishing or sparing as ye shall finde the crime to haue bene wilfully or rashly committed and according to the by-past behauiour of the committer For if otherwise ye kyth your clemencie at the first the offences would soone come to such heapes and the contempt of you grow so great that when ye would fall to punish the number of them to be punished would exceed the innocent and yee would be troubled to resolue whom-at to begin and against your nature would be compelled then to wracke many whom the chastisement of few in the beginning might haue preserued But in this A deare president But in this my ouer-deare bought experience may serue you for a sufficient lesson For I confesse where I thought by being gracious at the beginning to win all mens hearts to a louing and willing obedience I by the contrary found the disorder of the countrie and the losse of my thankes to be all my reward But as this seuere Iustice of yours vpon all offences would bee but for a time as I haue alreadie said so is there some horrible crimes that yee are bound in conscience neuer to forgiue such as Witch-craft Crimes vnpardonable wilfull murther Incest especially within the degrees of consanguinitie Sodomie poisoning and false coine Treason against the Prince his person or authoritie As for offences against your owne person and authoritie since the fault concerneth your selfe I remit to your owne choise to punish or pardon therein as your heart serueth you and according to the circumstances of the turne and the qualitie of the
why Christ bade Pater pascere oues and also what a cloude of witnesses there is both of Ancients and euen of late Popish writers yea diuers Cardinals that do all agree that both these speeches vsed to Peter were meant to all the Apostles represenred in his person 1. Cor. 5.4 Otherwise how could Paul direct the Church of Corinth to excommunicate the incestuous person cum spiritu suo whereas he should then haue sayd cum spiritu Petri And how could all the Apostles haue otherwise vsed all their censures onely in Christs Name and neuer a word of his Vicar Peter wee reade did in all the Apostles meetings sit amongst them as one of their number And when chosen men were sent to Antiochia from that great Apostolike Councel at Ierusalem Acts 15. Act. 15.22 23. The text saith It seemed good to the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church to send chosen men but no mention made of the Head thereof and so in their Letters no mention is made of Peter but onely of the Apostles Elders and Brethren And it is a wonder why Paul rebuketh the Church of Corinth for making exception of Persons because some followed Paul some Apollos some Cephas if Peter was their visible Head 1. Cor. 1.12 for then those that followed not Peter or Cephas renounced the Catholike faith But it appeareth well that Paul knew little of our new doctrine since he handleth Peter so rudely Galat. 2. as he not onely compareth but preferreth himselfe vnto him But our Cardinall proues Peters superioritie Galat. 1.18 by Pauls going to visite him Indeed Paul saith hee went to Ierusalem to visite Peter and conferre with him but he should haue added and to kisse his feet To conclude then The trweth is that Peter was both in aage and in the time of CHRISTS calling him one of the first of the Apostles In order the principall of the first twelue and one of the three whom CHRIST for order sake preferred to all the rest And no further did the Bishop of Rome claime for three hundred yeeres after CHRIST Subiect they were to the generall Councels and euen but of late did the Councell of Constance depose three Popes and set vp the fourth And vntill Phocas dayes that murthered his master were they subiect to Emperours But how they are now come to be Christs Vicars nay Gods on earth triple-crowned Kings of heauen earth and hell Iudges of all the world and none to iudge them Heads of the faith Absolute deciders of all Controuersies by the infallibility of their spirit hauing all power both Spirituall and Temporall in their hands the high Bishops Monarches of the whole earth Superiours to all Emperours and Kings yea Supreme Vice-gods who whether they will or not cannot erre how they are now come I say to the toppe of greatnesse I know not but sure I am Wee that are KINGS haue greatest neede to looke vnto it As for me Paul and Peter I know but these men I know not And yet to doubt of this is to denie the Catholique faith Nay the world it selfe must be turned vpside downe Bellar. de Rom. Pont. li. 1. cap. 17. and the order of Nature inuerted making the left hand to haue the place before the Right and the last named to bee the first in honour that this primacie may bee maintained Thus haue I now made a free Confession of my Faith And I hope I haue fully cleared my selfe from being an Apostate and as farre from being an Heretike as one may bee that beleeueth the Scriptures and the three Creedes and acknowledgeth the foure first generall Councels If I bee loath to beleeue too much especially of Nouelties men of greater knowledge may well pitie my weakenesse but I am sure none will condemne me for an Heretike saue such as make the Pope their God and thinke him such aspeaking Scripture as they can define Heresie no otherwise but to bee whatsoeuer Opinion is maintained against the Popes definition of faith And I will sincerely promise that when euer any point of the Religion I professe shal be proued to be new and not Ancient Catholike and Apostolike I meane for matter of Faith I will as soone renounce it closing vp this head with the Maxime of Vincentius Lirinensis Libello adnersus hareses that I will neuer refuse to imbrace any opinion in Diuinity necessary to saluation which the whole Catholike Church With an vnanime consent haue constantly taught and beleeued euen from the Apostles dayes for the space of many aages thereafter without any interruption But in the Cardinals opinion I haue shewed my selfe an Heretike I am sure in playing with the name of Babylon and the Towne vpon seuen hilles as if I would insinuate Rome at this present to be spiritually Babylon And yet that Rome is called Babylon 1. Pet. 5.13 both in Saint Peters Epistle and in the Apocalyps our Answerer freely confesseth As for the definition of the Antichrist I will not vrge so obscure a point as a matter of Faith to bee necessarily beleeued of all Christians but what I thinke herein I will simply declare That there must be an Antichrist and in his time a generall Defection wee all agree But the Time Seat and Person of this Antichrist are the chiefe Questions whereupon wee differ and for that we must search the Scriptures for our resolution 2. Thes 2. As for my opinion I thinke S. Paul in the 2. to the Thessalonians doeth vtter more clearely that which Saint Iohn speaketh more mystically of the Antichrist First that in that place hee meaneth the Antichrist it is plaine since hee saith Verse 3. There must bee first a Defection and that in the Antichrists time onely that eclipse of Defection must fall vpon the Church all the Romish Catholikes are strong enough otherwise their Church must be daily subiect to erre Verse 3 4. which is cleane contrary to their maine doctrine Then describing him hee saith that The man of Sinne Filius perditionis shall exalt himselfe aboue all that is called God But who these be whom of the Psalmist saith Dixi vos Dij estis Psal 82.6 Bellarmine can tell In old Diuinitie it was wont to bee Kings Bellarmine will adde Churchmen Let it bee both It is well enough knowen who now exalteth himselfe aboue both the swords And after that S. Paul hath thus described the Person he next describeth the Seat 2. Thess 2.4 and telleth that He shall sit in the Temple of God that is the bosome of the Church yea in the very heart thereof Now where this Apostolike Seat is I leaue to bee guessed And likewise who it is that sitting there sheweth himselfe to be GOD pardoning sinnes redeeming soules and defining Faith controlling and iudging all men and to be iudged of none Anent the Time S. Paul is plainest of all For hee calleth the Thessalonians to memorie Verse 5. That when hee was with
haue bene so long agone free from sinne as I thinke they shall neede no more such maceration for sinne For they must be now either in Heauen or Paradise If in heauen as doubtlesse they are their bodies must bee glorified for no corruptible thing can enter there Reuel 21.27 and consequently they can no more bee subiect to the sensible things of this world especially to death But if they be in earthly Paradise we must first know where it is Bellarmine indeed in his Controuersies is much troubled to finde out the place where Paradise is Lib de Grat. primi hominis and whether it bee in the earth or in the ayre But these are all vanities The Scriptures tell vs Gen. 2. that Paradise and the garden of Eden therein was a certaine place vpon the earth which GOD chose out to set Adam into and hauing thereafter for his sinne banished him from the same it is a blasphemie to thinke that any of Adams posteritie came euer there againe For in Adam were all his posteritie accursed and banished from the earthly Paradise like as all the earth in generall and Paradise in speciall were accursed in him the second Adam hauing by grace called a certaine number of them to bee Coheritours with him of the heauenly Paradise and Ierusalem And doubtlesly the earthly Paradise was defaced at the Flood if not before and so lost all that exquisite fertilitie and pleasantnesse wherein it once surpassed all the rest of the earth And that it should be lifted vp in the ayre is like one of the dreames of the Alcoran Surely no such miracle is mentioned in the Scriptures and hath no ground but from the curious fancies of some boyling braines who cannot be content Sapere ad sobrietatem Rom. 12.3 In heauen then for certaine are Enoch and Elias Gen 5.24 2. King 2.10 11. for Enoch saith the Text walked with GOD and was taken vp and Elias was seene catied vp to heauen in a fierie chariot And that they who haue beene the In-dwellers of Heauen these many thousand yeeres and are freed from the Lawes of mortalitie that these glorious and incorruptible bodies I say shall come in the world againe preach and worke miracles and fighting against the Antichrist be slaine by him whom naturall death could not before take hold of as it is a fabulous inuention so is it quite contrary to the nature of such sanctified creatures Especially I wonder why Enoch should bee thought to bee one of these two Witnesses for CHRIST For it was Moses and Elias that were with CHRIST at the transsiguration signifying the Law and the Prophets which would be the fittest witnesses for conuincing of Antichrist But why they haue exempted Moses and put Enochs head in the yoake I cannot conceiue So as I haue too much laboured in the refuting of this foolish and indeed childish fable which I am so farre from beleeuing in any sort as I protest in GODS presence I cannot hold any learned Diuine in our aage now to be a Christian that will beleeue it but worthy to bee ranked with the Scribes and Pharises that raued and dreamed vpon the comming againe of Elias though CHRIST told them the contrary As for some of the Ancients that mistooke this matter I doe not censure them so hardly for the reason that I haue already alleaged concerning them And hauing now refuted that idle fable that those two Witnesses were Enoch and Elias it falleth mee next to guesse what in my opinion should bee meant by them I confesse it is farre easier to refute such a groundlesse fable as this is contrary to all grounds of Diuinitie and Reason then to set downe a trew interpretation of so high and darke a Mistery And therefore as I will not presume to bind any other man to my opinion herein if his owne reason leade him not thereunto so shall I propone such probable coniectures as I hope shall be free from Heresie or vnlawfull curiositie In two diuers fashions may the Mysterie of these Witnesses be lawfully and probably interpreted in my opinion Whereof the one is that by these two Witnesses should be meant the Old and New Testaments For as the Antichrist cannot chuse but bee an aduersary to the Word of GOD aboue all things so will hee omit no endeuour to disgrace corrupt suppresse and destroy the same And now whether this Booke of the two Testaments or two Witnesses of CHRIST haue suffered any violence by the Babylonian Monarchie or not I need say nothing Res ipsaloquitur I will not weary you with recounting those Common Places vsed for disgracing it as calling it a Nose of waxe a dead Letter a leaden Rule a hundreth such like phrases of reproch But how farre the Traditions of men and authoritie of the Church are preferred to these Witnesses doeth sufficiently appeare in the Babylonian doctrine And if there were no more but that little booke Cardinall Peâ—on with that prettie Inscription De l'Insuffisance de l'Escriture Sainte it is enough to proue it And as to the corrupting therof the corruptions of the old Latine transltion must not be corrected Luke 15.8 though it bid euertere domum in stead of euerrere Iohn 21.22 23. for seeking of a penie and though it say of Iohn Sic eum volo manere donec veniam in place of Si though it be knowne a plaine Lie and that the very next words of the Text disproue the same Nay so farre must wee be from correcting it as that the Vulgar Translation must be preferred by Catholikes to the Bible in the owne Originall tongue And is it a small corrupting of Scriptures to make all or the most part of the Apocrypha of equall faith with the Canonicall Scriptures contrary to the Fathers opinions and Decrees of ancient Councels And what blasphemous corrupting of Scripture is it to turne Dominus into Domina throughout the whole Psalmes Made by Boneuentura Doctor Seraphicus And thus our Ladies Psalter was lately reprinted in Paris Is not this to confound CHRISTS person with hers And as for suppressing of the Scriptures how many hundreth yeeres were the people kept in such blindenes as these Witnesses were almost vnknowne for the Layicks durst not being forbidden and the most part of the Cleargie either would or could not meddle with them Thus were these two Witnesses of CHRIST whom of himselfe saith Scrutamini Scriptur as Iohn 5.39 illae enim testimonium perhibent de me These 1 Reuel 11.4 two Oliues bringing peace to all the beleeuers euen peace of Conscience These 2 Ibid. two Candlesticks standing in the sight of GOD and giuing light to the Nations represented by Candlesticks euen in the very order of the Roman Masse See Expositio Missae annexed to Ordo Romanus set forth by G. Cassander Thus were these two Witnesses I say disgraced corrupted and suppressed nay so suppressed and silenced as he was brent
many one to conspire and attempt the like against the late Queene and in my time to attempt the destruction of a whole Kingdome and State by a blast of Powder and hereby to play bankerupt with both the soules mentioned in the Scriptures Animus Anima But notwithstanding of this their great Lamentation they are commanded by a voyce from heauen to doe two things Verse 4. One to flee from Babylon lest they bee partakers of her sinnes and consequently of her punishment Which warning I pray God that yee all my Beloued Brethren and Cousins would take heed vnto in time humbly beseeching him to open your eyes for this purpose The other command is Verse 6. to reward her as shee hath rewarded you yea euen to the double For as she did flie but with your feathers borrowing as well her Titles of greatnesse and formes of honouring her from you as also enioying all her Temporall liuing by your liberalities so if euery man doe but take his owne againe she will stand vp * Cornicula Aesopica Verse 7. naked and the reason is giuen because of her pride For shee glorifieth her selfe liuing in pleasure and in her heart saith shee sitteth as a Queene outward prosperitie being one of their notes of a trew Church and is no Widow for her Spouse CHRIST is bound to her by an inuiolable knot for he hath sworne neuer to forsake her and she shall see no mourning for she cannot erre nor the gates of Hell shall not preuaile against her But though the earth and worldly men lament thus for the fall of Babylon in this eighteenth Chapter yet in the nineteenth Cap. xix Verse 1. Verse 2. Heauen and all the Angels and Saints therein doe sing a triumphall Cantique for ioy of her fall praising God for the fall of that great Whore Great indeed for our * Bellar. in Res ad Gerson confid 11. Cardinall confesseth that it is hard to describe what the Pope is such is his greatnesse Verse 19. Verse 20. And in the end of that Chapter is the obstinacie of that Whore described who euen fought to the vttermost against him that sate on the white Horse and his armie till the Beast or Antichrist was taken and the false Prophet or false Church with him who by Miracles and lying wonders deceiued them that receiued the marke of the Beast and both were cast quicke into the burning lake of fire and brimstone vnde nulla redemptio Like as in the ende of the former Chapter to describe the fulnesse of the Antichristes fall not like to that reparable wound that Ethnicke Rome gate it is first compared to a Milstone cast into the sea that can neuer rise and fleete againe Cap 18.21 Ibidem Vers 22 32. And next it is expressed by a number of ioyfull things that shall neuer bee heard there againe where nothing shall inhabite but desolation But that the patience and constancie of Saints on earth and God his Elected may the better bee strengthened and confirmed their persecution in the latter dayes is shortly prophesied and repeated againe Cap. 11. Verse 2. after that Satan hath beene bound or his furie restrained by the worlds enioying of peace for a thousand yeeres or a great indefinite time their persecuters being named Gog and Magog the secret and reuealed enemies of CHRIST Verse 8. Whether this be meant of the Pope and the Turke or not who both began to rise to their greatnesse about one time I leaue to bee guessed Verse 9. alwayes their vtter confusion is there assuredly promised and it is said that the Dragon the Beast and the false Prophet Verse 10. shall all three bee cast in that lake of fire and brimstone to be tormented for euer Verse 11 12 13. Matth. 24.22 And thereafter is the latter day described againe which must be hastened for the Elects sake and then for the further comfort of the Elect and that they may the more constantly and patiently endure these temporall and finite troubles limited but to a short space in the last two Chapters are the ioyes of the eternall Ierusalem largely described Cap. xxj xxij Thus hath the Cardinals shamelesse wresting of those two places of Scripture Pasce oues meas and Tibi dabo claues for proouing of the Popes supreame Temporall authoritie ouer Princes animated mee to prooue the Pope to bee THE ANTICHRIST out of this foresaid booke of Scripture so to pay him in his owne money againe And this opinion no Pope can euer make me to recant except they first renounce any further medling with Princes in any thing belonging to their Temporall Iurisdiction And my onely wish shall bee that if any man shall haue a fancie to refute this my coniecture of the Antichrist that hee answere mee orderly to euery point of my discourse not contenting him to disprooue my opinion except hee set downe some other Methode after his forme for interpretation of that Booke of the Apocalyps which may not contradict no part of the Text nor conteine no absurdities Otherwise it is an easie thing for Momus to picke quarrels in another mans tale and tell it worse himselfe it being a more easie practise to finde faults then amend them Hauing now made this digression anent the Antichrist which I am sure I can better fasten vpon the Pope then Bellarmine can doe his pretended Temporall Superioritie ouer Kings I will returne againe to speake of this Answerer who as I haue already told you so fitteth his matter with his manner of answering that as his Style is nothing but a Satyre and heape full of iniurious and reprochfull speaches as well against my Person as my Booke so is his matter as full of lyes and falsities indeed as hee vniustly layeth to my charge For three lies hee maketh against the Oath of Alleagiance conteined and maintained in my Booke besides that ordinary repeated lie against my Booke of his omitting to answere my lyes trattles iniurious speaches and blasphemies One grosse lye he maketh euen of the Popes first Breue One lye of the Puritanes whom he would gladly haue to be of his partie And one also of the Powder-Traitours anent the occasion that mooued them to vndertake that treasonable practise Three lies hee makes of that Acte of Parliament wherein this Oath of Alleagiance is conteined Hee also maketh one notable lie against his owne Catholike Writers And two of the causes for which two Iesuites haue beene put to death in England And he either falsifies denies or wrests fiue sundry Histories and a printed Pamphlet besides that impudent lye that hee maketh of my Person that I was a Puritane in Scotland which I haue already refuted And for the better filling vp of his booke with such good stuffe hee hath also fiue so strange and new principles of Diuinitie therein as they are either new or at least allowed by very few of his owne Religion All which lyes with
and vile monsters This custome continued this practise stood in force for diuers aages euen vntill the times of Gregorie 7. by whom the whole West was tossed and turmoiled with lamentable warres which plagued the world and the Empire by name with intolerable troubles and mischiefes For after the said Gregorian warres the Empire fell from bad to worse and so went on to decay till Emperours at last were driuen to beg and receiue the Imperiall Crowne of the Pope The Kingdome of France met not with so rude entreatie but was dealt withall by courses of a milder temper Gregorie 4. about the yeere of the Lord 832. was the first Pope that perswaded himselfe to vse the censure of Excommunication against a King of France This Pope hauing a hand in the troublesome factions of the Realme was nothing backeward to side with the sonnes of Lewis surnamed the Courteous by wicked conspiracie entring into a desperate course and complot against Lewis their owne father as witnesseth Sigebert in these words Pope Gregorie comming into France ioyned himselfe to the sonnes against the Emperour their Father Bochel Decret Eccles Gallican lib. 2. tit 16. But Annals of the very same times and hee that furbushed Aimonius a Religious of S. Benedicts Order doe testifie that all the Bishops of France fell vpon this resolution by no meanes to rest in the Popes pleasure or to giue any place vnto his designe and contrariwise In case the Pope should proceed to Excommunication of their King hee should returne out of France to Rome an excommunicate person himselfe The Chronicle of S. Denis hath words in this forme The Lord Apostolicall returned answere that hee was not come into France for any other purpose but onely to excommunicate the King and his Bishops if they would bee in any sort opposite vnto the sonnes of Lewis or disobedient vnto the will and pleasure of his Holinesse The Prelates enformed heereof made answere that in this case they would neuer yeeld obedience to the Excommunication of the said Bishops because it was contrary to the authoritie and aduise of the ancient Canons After these times Pope Nicolas 1. depriued King Lotharius of Communion for in those times not a word of deposing to make him repudiate or quit Valdrada and to resume or take againe Thetberga his former wife The Articles framed by the French vpon this point are to bee found in the writing of Hinemarus Archbishop of Reims and are of this purport that in the iudgement of men both learned and wise it is an ouerruled case that as the King whatsoeuer hee shall doe ought not by his owne Bishops to be excommunicated euen so no forreine Bishop hath power to sit for his Iudge because the King is to be subiect onely vnto God and his Imperiall authoritie who alone had the all-sufficient power to settle him in his Kingdome Moreouer the Clergie addressed letters of answere vnto the same Pope full of stinging and bitter termes with speaches of great scorne and contempt as they are set downe by Auentine in his Annals of Bauaria Annal. Boiâ— lib. 4. not forbearing to call him thiefe wolfe and tyrant When Pope Hadrian tooke vpon him like a Lord to command Charles the Bald vpon paine of interdiction that hee should suffer the Kingdome of Lotharius to bee fully and entirely conueyed and conferred vpon Lewis his sonne the same Hincmarus a man of great authoritie and estimation in that aage sent his letters conteining sundry remonstrances touching that subiect Among other matters thus he writeth The Ecclesiastics and Seculars of the Kingdome assembled at Reims haue affirmed and now doe affirme by way of reproach vpbraiding and exprobation that neuer was the like Mandate sent before from the See of Rome to any of our predecessours And a little after The chiefe Bishops of the Apostolike See or any other Bishops of the greatest authoritie and holinesse neuer withdrew themselues from the presence from the reuerend salutation or from the conference of Empererours and Kings whether Heretikes or Schismatikes and Tyrants as Constantius the Arrian Iulianus the Apostata and Maximus the Tyrant And yet a little after Wherefore if the Apostolike Lord bee minded to seeke peace let him seeke it so that he stirre no brawles and breed no quarrels For we are no such babes to beleeue that we can or euer shall attaine to Gods Kingdome vnlesse wee receiue him for our King in earth whom God himselfe recommendeth to vs from heauen It is added by Hincmarus in the same place that by the said Bishops and Lords Temporall such threatning words were blowen forth as hee is afraid once to speake and vtter As for the King himselfe what reckoning hee made of the Popes mandates it appeareth by the Kings owne letters addressed to Pope Hadrianus as we may reade euery where in the Epistles of Hincmarus For there after King Charles hath taxed and challenged the Pope of pride and hit him in the teeth with a spirit of vsurpation hee breaketh out into these words What Hell hath cast vp this law so crosse and preposterous what infernall gulph hath disgorged this law out of the darkest and obscurest dennes a law quite contrary and altogether repugnant vnto the beaten way shewed vs in the holy Scriptures c. Yea he flatly and peremptorily forbids the Pope except he meane or desire to be recompensed with dishonour and contempt to send any more the like Mandates either to himselfe or to his Bishops Vnder the reigne of Hugo Capetus and Robert his sonne a Councell now extant in all mens hands was held and celebrated at Reims by the Kings authoritie There Arnulphus Bishop of Orleans then Prolocutor and Speaker of the Councel calls the Pope Antichrist and lets not also to paint him forth like a monster as well for the deformed and vgly vices of that vnholy See which then were in their exaltation as also because the Pope then wonne with presents and namely with certaine goodly horses then presented to his Holinesse tooke part against the King with Arnulphus Bishop of Reims then dispossessed of his Pastorall charge When Philip 1. had repudiated his wife Bertha daughter to the Earle of Holland and in her place had also taken to wife Bertrade the wife of Fulco Earle of Aniou yet being aliue hee was excommunicated and his Kingdome interdicted by Vrbanus then Pope though he was then bearded with an Antipope as the L. Cardinal here giueth vs to vnderstand But his Lordship hath skipt ouer two principall points recorded in the historie The first is that Philip was not deposed by the Pope whereupon it is to be inferred that in this passage there is nothing materiall to make for the Popes power against a Kings Throne and Scepter The other point is that by the censures of the Pope the course of obedience due to the King before was not interrupted nor the King disauowed refused or disclaimed but on the contrary that Iuo of Chartres taking Pope