34.4 Agg. 2.22 religion was altered as if the heauen departed away like a scroll when it is rolled For Constantine m Eus 9.9 de vita Const passim restored libertie to the Church and by his edicts with Licinius assent decreed a most perfit law for the Christians commanded all nations to become Christians and shut vp the temples of idols The ciuill policie was also changed as if the a cap. 6.14.15 16.17 mountains and Isles were mooued out of their places whereupon all sorts of men hid themselues and grew desperate fearing that the Christians would reuenge the persecutions which were formerly inflicted on them For in b Melanct. li. 3. Constantines time was one of the greatest and most principal mutations that haue been in mankinde He c Geneb p. 547. extinguished Dioclesian who called himselfe the brother of the Sunne and Moone and would be worshipped as a God and d Poly. Inue 4. 9. caused the commons to stoope to kisse his feete He destroyed Maximinianus Maximinus Maxentius all tyrants He e Euseb 9. 9. 10. 11. rendred due vengeance vpon the heads of such great men who were the principall agents in the persecutions of the Christians As vpon Pencetius whom they called Honorable Culcianus whom they stiled Worthie Theotecnus whom they named Glorious He also plagued with infamous torments the kinsemen and children of the tyrants but especially the inchaunters and priests of the idols Yea he subiected f Euseb vit Const lib. 1. 4. vnto his Empire all the west countries to the great ocean all Scythia euen to the very north Aethiopia towards the south and the Lords and Earles as farre into the east as the Indians He restored good g Melanct. li. 3. lawes and iudgements decreed that the Christians should not onely not be hurt but also that they should be admitted to honors Thus the victorie being gotten and pursued there follow great triumphs in h cap. 12.10 heauen that is openly The Saints did i Euseb 10. 1. 2. 3. 4. publikely reioyce in the Lord their redeemer and did sing new songs vnto God of thankes giuing And Constantine k Euseb vit Const 1. 33. entred Rome with great triumph presently giuing thankes to the author of his victory and by famous inscriptions vpon pillers in the principall places of Rome published vnto all men the signe of Christ his saluation Yea l Geneb p. 556. he required all nations to forsake idols and embrace the profession of Iesus Christ by his edicts whereupon was fulfilled that in the Apocalypse Now is come saluation in heauen And thus was the Dragon and his Angels that is the diuel and his ministers a cap. 12 9.10 cast into the earth so that his place was found no more in heauen that is he doth persecute Christ no more openly but is constrained to oppose himselfe by earthly policies by the pretence of godlinesse This fall of the Dragon did b Euseb vit Con. l. 3. cap. 3. Constantine expresse in a picture which was hanged vp at the entry of his palace for euery man to behold His owne picture was made ouer his head the signe of the Lords passion the enemie and hostile beast which by the tyrannie of wicked men had persecuted the Church of God was pictured cast into a deepe sea in the shape of a Dragon and winding serpent meaning the diuel which c Esay 27.1 was thrust through with a great sword The end of the second period and battaile in heauen which was the first after the time of the returne of Saint Iohn from Patmos CHAP III. The third period and first battaile on earth betweene the Romane Empire corrupted with heresie and the Woman the Church NOw when d cap. 12.9 12.13 the Dragon saw that he was cast downe into the earth and his Angels with him he is full of wrath knowing that hee hath but a short time Wherefore he disposeth himselfe to bring wofull calamities both vpon the earth and the sea in which he had many of his Angels if by that meanes he might also further the execution of his wrath against the woman For he drifteth the destruction of the Church In the storie whereof Saint Iohn doth shew his purpose and endeuour His purpose is by foure of e cap. 7.1 his Angels to stay the foure windes that they should not blow on the earth nor on the sea nor on the trees that is to restraine a Can. 4.16 the inspiration of the holy Ghost that men neither b Gen. 6.12 neere nor c Isocr 42.10 farre off neither such as be worldly nor such as seeme d Luc. 23.30 by their vocation and profession to be godly might be led into all trueth By which meanes hee would bring in That e cap. 3.10 houre of temptation which should come vpon all the earth to trie them that dwell vpon the earth whether now that the Princes were conuerted to the Lord the Princes and people f Deut. 13.3 would loue the Lord their God with all their heart and with all their soule For about this time many g Euseb vita Const lib. 3. cap. 62. 2. 61. 64. Socr. 1. 4. Ruf. 1. 5. c. damnable heresies were powred into the world namely the Arians Maniches Nouatians Valentinians Marcionires Paulians Cataphrigians c. These h Berg. in Milchiad c. rent in peeces the Churches in Rome Africa in the sea coaste yea euery where This purpose of the Dragon is stayed a while but the visions of this first battell are seene afterwards The person that doth cause the stay to be made is an i cap. 7.2 Angel which came vp from the east that is the recalling of the doctrine which first was declared in the East namely the promise made to Abraham whereunto the law was a schoolemaster which was taught by the prophets exhihited to the Iewes in Christ and spread abroade in the world by the Apostles For saluation is of the k Iohn 4.22 Iewes For when the Empire was torne in peeces by diuers heresies and contararie factions the Emperor l Euseb de vit Const 2. 65. Constantine sent abroad his edicts to stay any further contention declaring that the true light of discipline and holy religion by the mercie of almightie God did come out of the East the professors whereof he respected as captaines of the nations vnto saluation The end of the stay is till the m cap. 7.3.9 seruants of God be marked some openly as in their foreheads others by the doctrine they doe maintaine For Constantine required all men to surcease from strife Till by a generall Councell all things might be determined according to the word of God which came out of the East Those which are marked in their foreheads are such which are knowen and noted to come forth into publike action and are called a cap. 7.4 the twelue tribes
vtter court which also the scripture calleth The temple in which Antichrist doth raigne The speech is taken from the Temple which i 1. King 6.1 c. king Salomon built which was deuided into three parts First the holy and holiest places called by excellencie The temple contained the Arke the Altar of incense the lampes and tables of shew bread all which were couered Secondly there was the open place in which was placed the lauer or sea and the altar of burnt offerings The third part was called the k 2. Chro. 4.9 Courts and was deuided into l 2. Chr. 6.13 Ezech. 44.19 the inner court which was for the Priests and the vtter court where the King and Priests and Prophets and people did assemble for the seruice of God for instruction m Psal 122.4.5 Deut. 17.8 and for iudgement in doubtfull causes ciuil and diuine The doctrine figured n cap. 11.2 in the Temple and altar which are continued in the profession of the Gospel are to be measured and esteemed holy and good though by Antichrist shut vp and blasphemed But that which was represented by the vtter Court namely the publike assemblies for that which is called the seruice of God their courts of iurisdiction as farre as concerneth the causes of the Lord the Angell commandeth S. Iohn to cast out and all holy men to count them common and vncleane The reason whereof is that a Joseph anti lib 12. c. 6. 1. Macc. 1. as the temple of the Iews was deliuered into the hāds of Antiochus Epiphanes so by the temeritie and ignorance of Princes the courts are giuen to such as for their manner of rites are but b cap. 11.2 the Gentiles in effect though in appearance like the c Soc. 1. 17. Maniches they seeme Christians The manner of their behauiour here is not to rule with the key of knowledge d Dan. 8. but to deuoure break in peeces stamp and tread the residue of the holy city vnder foot as Abaddō the son of perdition And although the Papacie from hence forth corrupteth all assemblies with the tyrannies and superstitions of the Gentiles and abhominations of condemned heretickes yet doth e 2. Thess 2.4 August de ciu lib. 20. cap. 19. this Man of Sinne here exalt himselfe as if himselfe were the temple of God and take to himselfe whatsoeuer was figured by the temple of Salomon and his kingly pallace Howbeit in these courts shall bee euer found two witnesses raised vp by the Lord euen a competent number to stablish a truth who shall prophesie by teaching and cōmination cloathed in sacke-cloath poore humble f 2. Macc. 2.7.14 and sorrowfull to see the abhominations and blasphemies in the Church by the Gentiles c. Among such therefore is now the Church to bee sought for These by their g cap. 11.4 c. 10. testimonie must vexe the inhabitants of the earth both by bringing the graces of the spirit of God vpon good men and therefore are said to be two Oliue trees and also to giue holy light vnto them to direct them to the Lord and therefore are called two golden candlesticks standing before the God of the earth and by bringing heauie affliction vpon such as will iniurie them in their prophecie For their word shall be as fire out of their mouthes to deuoure their aduersaries And beeing equall in the power of their ministrie with Elias shall be able to shut the heauens that it raine not in the daies of their prophesie and beeing like vnto Moses in Egypt haue power to smite the earth with all manner of plagues as oft as they will so that the earth is plagued because the witnesses of Christ are despised and persecuted Yea those two witnesses called also 144 000. of those which haue the testimonie of Iesus Christ and keep the commandements of God oppose themselues in the open courts of the temple called now the visible Monarchie of the Church against the beast by h cap. 14.4.6.8.9.15.18 innocencie preaching iudgements praier The manner of the womans sitting vpon this scarlet coloured beast is to tread the holy citie vnder foote Yea shee excelleth her selfe in cruelty For while shee was borne vp by heathen Emperours shee was furious and bloodie and therein as terrible and odious as a red Dragon But now shee cloatheth her selfe with blood as with a cap. 17.4.6 purple and scarlet thinking it her honour for the seruice of God to kill the godly And herein shee is so vnsatiable that shee is drunken with the blood of the Saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus that in admirable manner For shee doth not content her selfe to kill those that stand against her but also condemneth their memorie b cap. 11.7.9 not suffering them to be put in monuments And though these things to such as are of the spirit of S. Iohn doe euer appeare yet outwardly shee seemeth first to make plentifull prouision for this kind of warre and then she ioyneth battell with the Lambe c cap. 11.7.9 and those that follow him And these things doth this beast accomplish with his wonted lying signes and miracles with false prophesie and other impostures For the more effectuall executing of the d cap. 12.17 wrath of the Dragon which affection hee putteth on in all his oppositions the beast prouideth himselfe with the e cap. 13.3 c. wonderfull fauour and dependance of the whole earth which is called by the name of Christian as also studieth out a most secure discipline The world is said f cap. 13.3 to wonder greatly admiring the beast the Papacie by whose meanes the wounded head of Rome recouered life in the Hierarchie And also they followed the beast which was like the Pantheresse For as when g Gerard. dial creas 114. the Panther which is a beautifull and gentle beast amongst other wilde and rauenous beasts doth wake and come out of his denne and roare other beasts which heare his voice doe gather themselues togither and follow the sweetnesse of his odour which commeth forth of his mouth so also when this Papacie who is beautifull as an harlot and gentle as Absolom amongst men doth speake though it bee like the Dragon all men doe gather themselues together and followe the words of his mouth which seeme pleasant to those which are deluded For from this time those which before were called h cap. 9.3.11 Locust-scorpions haue set ouer them a king the Popes the angel of the bottomlesse pit For those kingdomes which rose of the inundation of the Barbarians one after another began to giue respect to the Bishops of Rome i cap. 17.17.2 Thess 2.11 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his decree and to bee of one consent and to giue their kingdomes vnto the beast vntill the wordes of God be fulfilled and then to hate her The fauour that this beast found
armes This interpretation seemeth to bee most to the purpose For the Cohortes of the Romane legion were e Geneb p. 5. 59 called Numeri So were the f Exempla Plinij orders of Tribunes and the Leaders of a legion g Geneb p. 656 were 666. Namely h Vegetius Polybius c. 600. Decurians 60. Centurians and six Tribunes Yea there is none of the propositions which can bee made by the connexion of this word Number to any part of the sentence where it is mentioned in this prophecie but it may bee iustified by this interpretation For example to bee a souldier for the Pope is a priuiledge to buy and sell and maketh him capable of the greatest grace the Church of Rome can giue It is the number of man It is i cap. 15.2 a number ouer which the victorie may be got And as to be of a legion was peculiar to such as fought for Rome so now these souldiers are for the Church of Rome Lastly as a Vegetius lib. 2. cap. 19 in a Roman legion were schooles which required learned and wittie souldiers for the condition of the whole legion their seruices and Militarie numbers c. or paiements were more diligently written in actes then any other affaires so in poperie Let him that hath wit count the Militarie number of the beast for the seruices done for the honour and aduauncement of that policie are most carefully written vp euen in their Legend or catalogue of saints where none els doth come be he neuer so good Thus is the beast now in his pride furnished with hornes like the Lambe accounted the Vicar of Christ. He spaketh like the Dragon for terror blasphemie and doctrine of diuels he exerciseth the power of the first beast before him playing the part of an Emperor before his face admirable for deceitfull signes and lying miracles done by sorcerie and the power of the diuell Now doth he publish decrees capitall lawes and hath all priueledges of earth Purgatorie and Heauen to bestowe at his pleasure How fearefull then must be his thundrings and how bloodie his warres The Lambe who hitherto as opportunitie serued l cap. 6.2 c. warred against his enemies by the word the sworde famine pestilence c. doth still continue the same kinde of oppositions when it seemes good He also continueth to m cap. 9.13 c vexe the remnant for idolatrie murther theft fornication c. as in former times He further had vexed this Antichristian beast taking possession of the people and soyle by ciuill Princes in whom a cap. 10.3 c. he roared as a Lion as also by his two b cap. 11.3 c witnesses But now as the diuell hath aduanced the malice and greatnes of this beast so the Lambe Christ Iesus doth declare himselfe more mightie in his oppositions The ciuill Princes doe labour to keepe their authoritie and possession doe bring to light the truth of that which the thunders haue spoken deliuer the booke of the word of God to such poore Preachers as doe make a conscience of the same and are ready to suffer for it In the prophecie of discouering the truth of that which the confused and tumultuous thunders haue spoken c cap. 10.4 are these things to be considered First a desire of those of the spirit of Saint Iohn to record them as they were as he saith I was about to write them plainely for euery man to vnderstand Secondly the impediment that hindred the cleare deliuerie which was that all wise men and godly as by a voyce from heauen aduised by reason of the perils of the times to seale vp those things which the seuen thunders haue spoken truely reporting them but couered ouer with parables c. as Prophets doe the visions which are not to be vnderstoode of all Hereupon it is that the histories of these later times doe deliuer the trueth yet in such sort as very fewe can picke it out by them the face of the storie looking one way and the trueth another way Thirdly the Lord Iesus in the person of this Angell presenting the ciuill Magistracie d cap. 10.5.6 sweareth not by Idols nor supposed saints as the idolatrous beast doth but by him that liueth for euer and created all things that the time should neuer more be so perilous as then but that in the dayes of the seuenth Angell that conuerteth Kings to the gospell the mysterie of God in bringing Antichrist into the world shall be finished when it shall be as lawfull for men to preach and write the plaine trueth as euer it was declared by the seruants of God the Prophets As concerning the deliuerie of the booke of Gods word to Preachers first it is said that all godly men perceiuing a better course to consume Antichrist by than to write his storie plaine doe as e cap. 10 8. a voyce from heauen bid those of the spirit of Saint Iohn to leaue the huge volumes of Legends decrees and decretals c. and goe and take the booke of the Scriptures which is open in the Angels hand presenting the Magistracie though it be shut to all others Hereupon godly men which suffered tribulation as Saint Iohn did in Patmos doe by humble petition craue f cap. 10.9 that the Angell standing as proprietarie vpon the sea and earth gouerning people and countries would giue them the little booke of the word of God This petition is graunted but in this manner The Princes bid the Preachers g Ibid. take the booke the Bible and so studie it that they seeme to eate it vp Howbeit such are the times as yet they forewarne that the word though sweete in their mouthes as honey shall be bitter as gall in their bellies h Ezech. 2.8 3.1.14 Ier. 4.19 as to other Prophets For the word is sweete to speake and heare but when the wickednes of the times will not imbrace it but like Lions Panthers Beares c. bloodily persecute it the Preachers haue iust i cap. 11.3 cause to mourne in their bowels The two witnesses haue the courts giuen vnto them by the Angell that is are acknowledged to be the true visible church In those daies the Church is visible in the persecuted and called to preach there by the ciuill Magistrate A holy and sufficient calling in the time of these confusions Neither is it required that they haue the Canonicall admission of the popish Antichristian beast Then is the publike face of Christian religion iustly esteemed the courts of the house of God for their presence there in persecution and not for the soueraigntie of the popish Gentiles The testimonie of these witnesses is giuen a cap. 14.4 c. by innocencie of life and by preaching of their innocencie first it is saide These are they that are not defiled with women by whoredomes adulteries c. As are those which folow the popish beast but do
cap. 18.1 Angel came downe from heauen hauing great power so that the earth was lightened with his glory that is the glorious Gospel which now was excluded by all men came by the mighty hand of God to be published and preached to the dispelling of the darkenes which Antichrist brought into the earth as if it had been brought from heauen by the ministery of a mighty Angel to enlighten men In the parable of this Angel by whom is signified the Lambe Iesus Christ who is preached to the world first is set downe the description of himselfe and his retinue and then his warres The parable is of a e cap. 19.11 horse and his rider as before in the sixth chapter The horse doth signifie the speedy posting abroade of the Gospel euen like lightning And this horse is white for the honour and good opinion and reputation the rider and those that followed him did get among persons of honour c. He that sate vpon this white horse was called and reputed faithfull and true euery way sincere Contrary to the dissimulation of Antichrist the Popes who were so vnfaithfull in their actions and so false in their words and writings that no man could safely trust what they said or did He is also said to iudge and fight righteously dealing vprightly with all men and iustly contending with his enemies by word and deede so that he decideth all questions truely and rightly and confuteth and impugneth his aduersaries according to the precise rule of equitie Contrary to the Popes who decide all doubts and fight all their battailes as may best serue their onely partialities and profites without respect to iustice and hereof are notoriously knowen to be guilty His ability to iudge righteously appeareth by this that a cap. 19.12 his eyes are as a flame of fire by his cleere and piercing insight truely discerning the very secrets of all things which he looketh vpon euen as they be Contrary to the Popes whose ignorance or malice maketh them vnable throughly to perceiue and see much lesse to foresee things as they be as appeareth by their continuall accusing of innocents and acquiting of vngodly persons And contrary to the popish Clergie who know nothing but what is reuealed to them by confession of such as neither will nor can tell all whereas b Heb. 4.12.13 all things are naked and manifest to him with whom we haue to doe to wit the word of God As an argument of the iustnes of his warres and iudgement he hath c cap. 19.12 many crownes on his head signifying the supreme authority of the Scriptures to bee such as that all Kings and Princes and people are in right subiects therevnto and so in this period shall acknowledge themselues to be so that when he fighteth it is to subdue his rebels Affronting the wicked Antichristian Popes who arrogantly weare a triple crowne vsurping authoritie and tyrannising ouer such as they haue no interest in but are and ought to be subiects of the word of God Of the name of this rider it is said he hath a name written which no man knew but himselfe to shew that when the Popes or others do arrogate to themselues alone the sense and vnderstanding of the Scriptures as if they were to iudge thereof alone d Specul Mino. tra 3. f. 135. b. pretending to haue all knowledge and law in the cabenet of their owne breasts they lie For the written Scriptures which are subiect to no Iudge cannot be vnderstoode but by the helpe of themselues speaking elsewhere more euidently that which seemeth darke in any place And hereof great persecution is to rise Furthermore he is said e cap. 19.13 to be clothed in a garment dipt in blood to signifie the great effusion of bloud by the martyrdome of such which should stand for the authority of the word of God against the beast Antichrist For from henceforth the great question is of the authoritie sufficiency and vnderstanding of the Scriptures about which are great contentions and persecutions His garment is also dipt in blood to teach that at last f Isai 63.1.2.3 he shall victoriously triumph ouer his enemies so as his garments shall be red with the blood of the slaine This wonderfull person in plaine tearmes is a cap. 19.13 the word of God which though lately buried by the traditions and ignorance and malice of men now commeth abroade againe The retinue of this great and most mighty Generall are said to be the b cap. 19.14 hostes that are in heauen that is such godly men as are come forth into Christian warfare and c Phil 3.20 haue their conuersation in heauen and therefore those of his side d cap. 17.14 are called chosen and faithfull professing the truth of the doctrine of vocation election and faith contrary to the vocation election and faith of those which followed Antichrist and therefore fought a good fight vnder persecutions These followed him keeping themselues in all doctrines to the steppes of the word of God speedily and honorably as vpon white horses e cap. 19.14 clothed in fine linnen white and pure hauing put on the righteousnes of Christ and f Dan. 12.10 being purified in the furnace of affliction Of the manner of this riders fighting it is said that his weapons are sure and his confidence full of all assurance Concerning his weapons it is said that g cap. 19.15 out of his mouth went a sharpe sworde so mighty and strong that with it he should smite the heathen signifying both the sharpe and feruent and mighty confutations of the wicked which should be taken from the word of God sufficient to conuince all the policy and superstition of the Gentiles the papists by a word of his mouth and also the hot warres which the preaching of the word should raise against Antichrist and the remnant c. His confidence in this warre is so great that he doth giue assurance to all that in the end He h Psal 2.9 shall rule the heathen with a rod of yron keeping them vnder by seuere and mortall lawes The reason of which assurance is that He it is that by the ordinance of almighty God treadeth the winepresse as a seuere executioner of the fiercenes and wrath of almighty God against all his enemies First in token of his confidence to triumph ouer all authority so that Kings and Lords c. shall be his subiects and seruants he i cap. 19.16 hath vpon his horsemans coate or garment a name written k cap. 17.14 The King of Kings and Lord of Lords Secondly to encourage his souldiers and terrifie his enemies he causeth it to be generally proclaimed or preached as if l cap. 14.8 18.2 there followed an Angel saying Babylon that great citie is fallen it is fallen to that basenes that whereas it was esteemed the seate and crowne of Kings and Princes now it should become the habitation
purgatory and deliuering of the dead from paine which doctrine the Popes inuented This beast doth warre vpon the Martyres of Christ not onely as barbarously as wilde beasts doe rampe vpon men but also as wickedly as if the diuell himselfe came from the bottomlesse pit in his owne person to deuoure the godly The successe of this warre is doubtfull For first f 7. the beast doth ouercome the witnesses and after that it selfe is first to be frighted of which is spoken in this chapter and then to be vexed captiued and killed of which the text hath been partly interpreted in the former chapter in the general view of this period the rest will be seene in the next chapter to wit how he is vexed The victory of the beast appeareth both by the death of these two witnesses whom the beast doth kill and also by his triumphing ouer them Concerning their death the beast will haue it so that a cap. 11.8 their corpes shall be killed in the streetes or open places of the great citie of their Antichristian policie For as at this time so from hence they burne the Martyres in their greatest and most famous cities But the citie where this cruelty is committed is not a place where any good people be that may lament the persecutions of the Saints b Theod. 4. 22. as when the Arians persecuted the Catholikes But this city is it which spiritually in a figuratiue speech borrowed from the most abhominable cities and places mentioned in the Scriptures is called Sodom because the two witnesses are assaulted for the pollution of their spirits as the Sodomits did striue to pollute mens bodies and because reprouing the filthines of the Antichristian citizens they found no more fauour then c Gen. 19.9 Lot did in Sodom It is also called Egypt for their d Ezech. 16.26 vnspeakeable idolatry and for the spirituall seruitude that all men were in to the papacy worse then the Egyptians or Isralites were to Pharaoah but especially because the Popes had commaunded the Bishops and inquisitors to kill all godly preachers and hearers and by name the two witnesses as e Exod. 1.16 Pharaoh commaunded the Midwiues to kill the male children of the Iewes It is also called Egypt because the message of Iesus Christ in the mouthes of the two witnesses was there despised as f Exod. 5.2 Moses and Aron were dispised by Pharaoh when they made mention of the Lord c. Moreouer the place is said to be where our Lord also was crucified to signifie that the same policy that crucified Christ did also kill his Martyrs and by name these two witnesses Thus distinguishing this beast from the Turkes and shewing that howsoeuer the popish religion in name is distinguished from the Romane heathen crueltie yet in deede spiritually it is the same without material difference The manner of their killing farre exceedeth the manner of their ancestors the Arians whose image they be For the g Soc. 2. 23. Theod. 2. 14. Arians did hide the bodies of them whom they had killed but here they of the people and kindreds a cap. 11.9 and tongues and gentiles doe see or gaze vpon their corpes the better to satisfie their cruell eyes Not for an houre but for three dayes and a halfe that is three yeares and a halfe their barbarous bloody eyes were vnsatiable Yet like Arians or rather like the Gentiles whose image they be b Theod. 2. 14. Eus 5. 1. â— p. 62. they shall not suffer their carcasses to be put in Momments Afterwards in triumph the inhabitants of the earth euen the people of all the christian earth whose gouernors more regarded the possession of the earth then the getting of heauen c cap. 11.10 reioyce ouer them whom they haue slaine as their fathers d Theod. 4. 22. the Arians did ouer the Catholikes and they be glad and send gifts one to another in token of happie victory For these two prophets after the example of Moses and Elias and the rest of the prophets by the word of the Lord e 1. King 8.17 vexed them that dwell vpon the earth by reprouing their carnall religion earthly policies and worldly sinfull liues And thus farre the beast getteth the vpper hand Howbeit the cause of the Gospel maintained by these witnesses is reuiued For notwithstanding this triumph f cap. 11.11 after three dayes and a halfe that is three yeeres and a halfe the spirit of life comming from God shall enter into them which were killed and they by the meanes of them whom God shall raise vp to defend their cause shall as it were stand vp vpon their feete The effect which followeth when their cause is againe set on foote is that great feare shall come vpon them which being their enemies did see or gaze vpon their corpes First they feare because their cause on the contrary part was so much affected by their friends and so earnestly pursued to their holy praise and eternall commendations that whereas the beast had accursed them as diuels to the bottomlesse pit they are as truly honored for Martyres as if g cap. 11.12 they heard a great voyce from heauen euen from all godly men saying vnto them come vp hither and receiue the crowne prouided for holy Martyres And hereupon they being the true members and Martyrs of Iesus Christ who after his sufferings and death did ascend vp to heauen in a cloud are acknowledged through him in soule to ascend vp to him as truely as if they had ascended in a cloud And whereas Christ a Act. 1.9 did ascend in the presence of his Apostles and friends these doe ascend that euen their very enemies do see them accompted to be gone to heauen The second cause of their feare is by reason that b cap. 11.13 at the same houre or instant when this due regard is giuen to these two witnesses which were thus wickedly murthered there was a great earthquake and emotion in the hearts and hands of many mooued by the indignitie of their death And this earthquake and emotion bred this effect that both one tenth part or kingdome of the great citie of popish policie fell from them and also that in those troubles called by the name of an earthquake are slaine to the number of 7000 that is very many But are therefore called 7000. because the beast doth blaspheme them that brought these troubles vpon him accompting those Papists and Priests which worshipped the beast and were slaine in the emotion as the 7000. which bowed not the knee to Baall and were persecuted by Ahab Another effect of the reuiuing of their cause is that c cap. 11.13 the remnant the other nine kingdoms of the polititians which held with the beast are also sore feared euen as the wicked that fled when none followed and as the souldiers of the Arian d Soc. 5. 14. Maximus fled for feare vpon the rumour
the Prophets be subiect to the Prophets forbidding all to beleeue or teach any thing that will not endure the censure of the Prophets The rather ought I to subiect that which I haue done herein vnto your Lordships godly and learned censure as a Father among the Prophets because I haue laboured in this kinde in a different manner from the rest of the Interpreters If your Lordship like it I haue enough If you correct me Psal 141.5 where I erre though you smite me I will take it kindly and when any shall say vnto me What are these wounds in thy hands Zach. 13.6 I will answere Thus was I wounded in the house of my friends For the better direction of your Lordships graue and learned censure I will communicate some part of my thoughts herein for mine affectation of breuitie and other reasons of consequence haue caused me to suppresse many things of good importance When I first tooke the Booke in hand to studie it I saw it was generally accused by friend and foe for inextricable hardnes But when I read the text and saw the title to be a a cap. 1.1 Reuelation which is the b 1. Sam. 2.17 cleerest and plainest kinde of teaching the c cap. 1.2 Reader to be blessed and the Booke to be d cap. 22.10 vnsealed I durst not obiect any difficultie to the Booke but began to inquire how it came to passe that it was accompted so hard The phrase though strange in appearance is meerely propheticall The method though closely couched is very Logicall Wherefore the fault must be laid elsewhere and not vpon the Booke that it seemeth so darke and difficult The reasons of the hardnes vpon diligent consideration I resolued were these amongst others First the iudgements of men haue been of long so forestalled with the doctrine that the signes of the latter day are come that the Interpreters haue laboured to finde the accomplishment of the Booke in the stories past But because many things were not yet fulfilled they knew not where they were when they tooke the booke in hand They that in this age doe straine their wits to see who can bring first newes of Christs last comming besides that they obscure this booke they would haue vs to breake the commandement of Christ when many shall say Luk. 21.8 The time draweth neere doth enioyne vs thus Follow ye not them therefore As also to violate the rule of the Apostle which is not to be troubled by any deceit 2. Thess 2.1.2 as if the day of Christ were at hand till Antichrist haue all things fulfilled vpon him which are written in this Reuelation S. Peter seemeth to giue the reason when he sheweth that the vntimely vrging of the last comming of Christ 2. Pet. 2.3.4 would be the mother of Atheisme Secondly when many doe vndertake to interpret the booke they misse in the first foundation of their labour For whereas it is most euident that the booke is meerely propheticall foreshewing the particulars of things present and to come some of the Writers haue fled from this ground vpon which onely there can be a safe building set vp and haue laboured to make it Dogmaticall containing certaine points of doctrine handled before more largely and more plainly in the rest of the Scriptures which cannot be affirmed without some aduantage to the enemies of the truth nor without some misbeseeming imputations to the holie Ghost by whose direction the booke is written Thirdly many doe labour to make the booke an Ecclesiasticall Historie from the birth or preaching or ascension of Christ but mistaking the time when to begin they put the whole storie cleane out of ioynt Besides by that proiect they commit this absurditie to say that the things which were spoken and done in the eares and eyes of all men in the time of Christ and his Apostles were in the time of S. Iohn so closely sealed Cap. 5.3 as that none in heauen nor in earth nor vnder the earth was able to open them nor looke thereon Fourthly some of the Interpreters haue laboured to reduce the Seales Trumpets and Phials to certaine numbers of yeeres but seeing the text in many places doth giue vs the knowledge of the visions by the onely diuersitie of the mutations which befall the Church wee may not tie our selues to numbers but onely where the text doth bound the mutations with numbers Fiftly when as godly men had truly found that the tyrannie and corruptions of the Church of Rome are liuely described in some parts of the booke they haue also laboured to applie all the texts to Rome which doe containe the description and properties of the enemies of the Church But because in the booke is also handled of other enemies besides that the booke is obscured by this course the enemie is aduantaged that espieth our weaknes and the propheticall spirit is very much preiudiced which being more generall is wronged by restraint Sixtly the Historians who in the iudgements of all men are to be best helpes first haue bin carelesse in setting downe the exact times of the occurrences which they write of so that somtimes it is worke more than enough to agree them And then they haue rather consulted with their friends than with S. Iohn for the heads of their obseruations For the most of them doe labour rather to magnifie their Patrones and to set a glasse vpon a faction than to deliuer the truth Hereby it commeth to passe that hee that readeth most of them shall be sure to finde much wearines to the flesh howsoeuer he may happily here and there finde a wise and vpright sentence Seuenthly there hath been found no age till of late so free from ostentation and selfe-loue but that the leaders of the times haue made it as good as mortall to reprooue the monstrous conditions of the time which are liuely described here by the true interpretation of this booke so that vpon paine of death it must be made to speake nothing at all or any thing rather than against the time whatsoeuer be the truth Eightly some also haue not let to blaspheme this kinde of studie as phantasticall and curious containing either verie little or that which God hath put in his owne and onely power and that no doctrine can be enforced out of Scriptures of this kinde Lastly these things together with the multitude of bookes to be read which neither pouertie can prouide nor weaknes studie and the want of due conference of this booke with the former prophecies to whom it sendeth his reader I take to be some of the effectuall reasons which haue impeached the labours of many herein It remaineth now that I giue an accompt how I am perswaded that the proiect which I haue laid is the onely true and easie meanes of vnderstanding the booke First the text doth say that it serueth to shew the things cap. 1.1 which must shortly be done Whereupon I
did write CHAP. II. The second period containing a second battaile in heauen betweene the man Childe of the woman and the Dragon WHen the troubles of the Church were ouer which were in hand when Saint Iohn did write the Lord did a cap. 4.2 Psal 156.1 76.2 erect his throne openly in heauen by a manifest gouernment of his Church in the world So that now the truth of that Tabernacle is amongst the Christians whereof the Iewes in the wildernesse b Heb. 9.8.9 had the type and figure for the present time c Heb. 8.2 euen that true Tabernacle which God hath pitcht and not man Then the Christian Churches haue Mount d cap. 14.1 Sion the e Heb. 12.22 1. Cor. 3.17 Temple and in it f cap. 7.15 Heb. 4.16 the throne of grace or mercies-seate and hereupon g cap. 4.4 the Lord sitting hauing h Psal 93.1 put on glorious apparell Here i Psal 122.5 also are the thrones of the house of Dauid euen the thrones of iudgement k Heb. 12.23 for the first begotten whose names are written in heauen l cap. 4.5 Ioh. 16.13 Here also are the seuen Lamps the holy Ghost which enlightneth euery one that commeth into the world to leade them in all trueth The m cap. 4.6 1. King 7.23 Ephes 5.26 Tit. 3.5 Matth. 3.11 Sea pure as crystall the true lauer of regeneration by which men are baptized vnto repentance The n cap. 4.6.7.8 Ezech. 10 2. Psal 99. glorious Cherubins betweene whom the Lord sitteth and raigneth This throne is compassed with innumerable o cap. 5.11 Heb. 12.22 1. King 6.29 Gen. 3.24 Angels who now defend the godly and speake peace to them hauing palmes in their hands which heretofore had flaming swords to keepe them from the tree of life Here is also the p cap. 6.9 Leuit. 4.34 altar of burnt offering on which the Saints are slaine and their blood powred at the foote of the altar q ca. 8.3 9.13 Psal 141.2 The golden altar with his odours and hornes Salomans r 1. King 7.15 cap. 3.12 pillers c. The onely difference is that wee haue the trueth without shadowes and therefore our Tabernacle hath neither vaile nor couering nor boardes to inclose it but standeth erected openly in the world vnder heauen Hereupon the ſ cap. 12.7.3 Dragon the diuel beginneth new warres in heauen and in earth There was a great battaile in heauen that is in those places of the world where the Gospell of the t Matth. 13.19.24 kingdomè of heauen was publikely professed Of this battaile we are to consider the enemies their manner of fight and the successe The enemies in this battaile u cap. 12.7 are Michael and his Angels which fight against the Dragon and his Angels By Michael is ment the * cap. 14.1 Dan. 12.1 lambe Iesus Christ fighting by the man childe which the woman brought foorth that is the godly learned and valiant Christians which sprung vp of the doctrine of the Apostles when the Church had peace after the first troubles The first seale The a cap. 6.1 manner of the fight is so wonderfull that one of the Cherubines doth call as with the voyce of thunder to all men to come and see both him and his furniture to this warre Wherefore first Saint Iohn doth b cap. 6.2 behold and loe a white horse c Psal 68.13.14 white for honour and a horse for d Zach. 1.10 speede He e cap. 6.2 that sat on him had a bow with f Psal 45.5 sharpe arrowes to pearce the hearts of men by the preaching of the Gospel and spreading of it by word and writing For the learned men of that time did labour g Euseb 4. 14. 18. 20. 21. 26. 28. 5. 9. c. by preaching and wrote diuers treatises some of instruction in the points of religion others of confutation both of the gentiles and heretikes h cap. 6.2 Psalme A crowne is giuen vnto him to reigne in the world For when i Euseb 8. 1. as by the graunt of Adrian the royall commandement of Antoninus Pius the crowne was set vpon the head of Christ the Gospel spread abroad very speedily and with much glory getting honour and estimation amongst all men as well Greekes as Barbarians The Christians gouerned in principall offices amongst the nations They with their families most familiarly did triumph of the profession of their faith euen in the palaces of Princes Bishops were in most high estimation and price amongst all men Very populous were the assemblies of the professors and euery day the places for their congregations were made more large all things prospered and increased in a word they were happie dayes And being thus furnished k cap. 6.2 he rideth forth conquering that he might ouercome l Euseb 5. 19. For the doctrine of saluation did subdue the mindes of all sorts of men vnto m Ibm. the holy religion of one the God of all Now these things were intolerable to the diuel by nature enemie to euery good thing and enuious thereat n cap. 12.7 And the Dragon by the Romane Empire as yet heathen and his Angels both Princes or Proconsuls with the people and heretikes c. did warre against him that sat vpon the horse The Emperors like the bloudie Dragon the diuel did often times moue very extreame persecutions o Geneb p. 508. p 519. Euseb l. 4. Carion For after Marcus Aurelius the philosopher monsters held the Empire to Constantines time This Marcus with his colleague Verus moued persecution After them Seuerus and Aurelius opposed themselues against Christ commaunding that none should become a Christian vnder a grieuous paine Maximinus persecuted the Doctors Bishops and other chiefe professors Decius was a most cruell firebrand Valerius a bloody persecutor Aurelianus a grieuous aduersary Dioclesian in the East and Maxentius in the West stirred vp most barbarous persecutions against the Church which sincerely professed Christ a Euseb 4. 15. 5. 1. For after innumerable torments and kindes of death they would not suffer the godly to be buried but after their bodies had laine for euery body to gaze vpon some were eaten with dogges some burned and their ashes cast into riuers c. There sprung vp also innumerable heretickes b as false b Euseb 4. 21. 27. 5. 15. 13. c. Christs false Prophets false Apostles whom the enemie of the Church of God hating good and louing euill omitting no meanes or opportunitie to lie in waite to hurt man raised vp These not onely deuided the vnitie of the Church with peruerse doctrines against God his Christ and all godinesse but also were violent and double diligent to bring the godly into persecution and to execute torments vp on them Among these was c Euseb 4. 37. 5. 2. Tatianus a violent enemie of
of Israel being resembled vnto them which contended with the Cananites for the land of promise For these also contend with these vnchristian Cananites for the true doctrine and meanes of saluation promised by Iesus Christ Those who are sealed according to the doctrine which they keepe and with which they worship the Lord in the secret of the Almightie * Psal 91.1 are a b cap. 7.9.10 multitude which no man could number of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues like holy and these ascribe all saluation vnto our God that sitteth vpon the throne and to the Lambe c Euseb 10. 4. de vi Con. 2. 19. For the people lately redeemed from the former persecutions praysed God the King and Christ the onely Sauiour Yea the Emperors did acknowledge thus much writing it on pillers to bee read The seuenth scale open After the sealing of the seruants of God followed the emotions which are comprehended in the seuenth seale which the Lambe openeth In the declaration whereof first is set downe the vniuersall disposition of all to bring into action and to behold the visions And this is a d cap. 8.1 Euseb vit Con. 3. 10. 11. graue silence both in the preparation and expectation of that which should follow Secondly the instruments which are to bring about these troubles are seene and are said to be e cap. 8.2 seuen Angels with seuen trumpets For the future alterations were to be wrought by the diuersitie of doctrine and perswasions which should induce men to stirres In the third place is shewed the principall matter which is to be the argument of the troubles that these trumpeters should sound which is concerning the doctrine of the mediation of Christ which while some should labour to maintaine precisely according to the doctrine of the East and others should corrupt much trouble would arise in the world The mediation of Iesus Christ is presented by an f cap. 8.3 other Angel differing from the foure Angels which were to holde the windes as also from the seuen trumpeting Angels The thing he presenteth is the readines of Iesus Christ to make reconciliation betweene God and man For he stoods before the altar of incense which was before the throne hauing a golden censor as the g Leuit. 16. priest in the law was prepared to make reconciliation betweene God and the people By this is signified the readines a Euseb vit Con. 3. 13. of Constantine and all godly Bishops at the Councell of Nicea to heare with pacience and to vnderstand in sinceritie and to iudge with truth the questions and differences which were made in that time Hereof first the godly make a good and religious vse for by them much b cap. 8.3 odors was giuen vnto him c Rom. 12.1 Psal 141.2 that is reasonable seruices and petitions to offer with the prayers of all Saints that is that euery man labored for an d Euseb vi 3. 16. 18. 4.36 vnitie and to be made members of the vniuersall Church as it was required according to the prescript of the word of God The effect hereof is an vniuersall reconciliation and peace both in heauen with God and in earth amongst men the e cap. 8.4 Leuit. 16.2.13 smoke of the odors going vp out of the Angels hand before the presence of God For in the Councell of Nicea which f Caranza was held Constantine being Augustus and Licinius Caesar there was g Euseb de vit Con. 3. 16. diligent enquirie into all things till there was pronounced a sentence pleasing and acceptable to God that beholdeth all things for the concord and consent of the mindes of men And that so that there was nothing that seemed leaft to breede any matter of discord or controuersie of faith In this Councell was h Caranza f. 37. b. 39. â— acknowledged the necessitie of confessing the Godhead of Christ against Arius As also the heresies of Photinus Sabellius c. were condemned Againe when new contentions did arise i cap. 8.5 this Angel filleth his censor full of coales of the altar readie to make an atonement but because men now doe not bring odors but hypocrisie he casteth the coales into the earth k Rom. 1.21 that is reiecteth their seruice and deliuereth them ouer into a reprobate minde to doe things not conuenient For when as the peace of the Church was not sought but men gaue themselues onely to pretextes of good things there was great corruption l Socr. 1. 10. 18. 19. 20. For Constantine hauing recalled the Arians who had made a very hypocriticall submission he so farre trusted them that he committed the hearing and determining of the questions of the time to the discretion of such which pretended to be Catholickes but were Arians in heart And then m Euseb vit Con. 4. 40. 43. Massaeus 10. p. 136. 137. Soc. 1. 9. 22. 4. 18. began it to be esteemed more religion to build certaine places and to pray in them rather than in others and to liue by some prescriptions and will-worships of Monkes Eremites c. than to walke by Gods word The effect is that hereupon are n cap. 8.5 made voyces and thundrings and lightnings and earthquakes that is great and very fearefull emotions both for the matter and manner of them Here therefore doth the Dragon take the opportunitie to make his purpose appeare For his Angels doe holde now the foure windes that is do bring in an a â— Thes 1.11 vniuersall strong delusion that men should beleeue lyes that they might be damned which loue not the truth which is done by the restraint of the spirit of the truth By this delusion he first maketh warre b cap. 12.13 against the woman the Church which had brought forth a man childe and after against her seede In his warre against the woman by strong delusion he at once persecuteth some and corrupteth others In his persecution he first laboureth to destroy the Church peecemeale and fayling of his purpose the second time endeuoreth to drowne it altogether In this first battell we are to consider the enemies with their seuerall manner of fight and the successe The enemies are the woman the Church and the Dragon on earth that is the diuel by his deputy The woman is the selfe same before described in the first battell which was in heauen namely those Christians which came out of the former c cap. 7.14 tribulations and great persecutions vnder the heathen Emperors continuing the faith which was persecuted in the first battell in Saint Iohns time whereof some had been marked with an eye put forth and their hamme cut to haue stoode against Arius before and in the Nicene Councell These are said to be of the twelue Tribes of Israel that is by their true profession of the Christian faith and circumcision of the heart to be d Rom. 2.29
the throne of God doth wipe all teares from their eyes that is godly Princes are a comfort vnto them as was Iouianus and Valentinian who as in the time of h Soc. 3. 11. Iulian they refused all honours for the loue of the Gospel insomuch that i Theod. 3. 16. 19. Valentinian when a holy-water-clarke of the gentiles would haue cast water on him he tooke him a boxe on the care for fowling his clothes and that in the presence of the Emperor so k Soc. 3. 19. 20. when they came to be Emperors they much fauored the truth For Iouianus l Theod. 4. 1. refused the Empire saying he was a Christian but the souldiers required him not to refuse the Empire for they would be Christians and he should be the Emperour of Christians And after the persecutor Valens Gratian m Soc. 5. 2. c. and Theodosius Emperors recalled the Christian exiles and by lawes authorised the truth There was also by Theodosius a Councell held at a Caranza Constantinople against heresies especially the Macedonians that denied the holy Ghost to be God b Socr. 5. 13. 14. Before him the tyrant Maximus fled notwithstanding the triumphs and rumors which the Arians made to the contrarie And whereas the wicked inhabitants of the earth the heretikes had often felt such distresse by the Gothes Saracens and the professors of the truth that they were faine to make their peace by composition these things were as an c cap. 8.13 cap. 12.12 Angel flying through the middest of heauen crying woe woe woe to the inhabitants of the earth for the soundes of the three Angels which are yet to blowe their Trumpets manifestly foretelling three woes to come vpon the wicked The end of the third period and first battell on earth CHAP. IIII. The fourth period and second battell on earth in which the Dragon casteth a floud out of his mouth after the woman flying and is also the first woe to the inhabitants of the earth WHen the Dragon had failed in his hope to destroy the Church by his former trumpeters peece-meale for the Church did rather encrease than was diminished he now taketh a new course For being enraged he laboureth to drowne the Church altogether albeit with all he bring a lamentable woe vpon such which are his owne instruments of mischiefe Of this attempt or battell are shewed the enemies their seuerall manner of fight and the successe The enemies are the Dragon the Diuell by forraigne and heathen people which make incursion vpon the countries of the Church euen both the imperials and the visible Church Of these strangers is set downe First the meanes by which they come abroade then the kinde of the mischiefe which they doe and lastly the manner how they hurt The meanes by which they come abroade is the Diuell For the Serpent a cap. 12.13 cast out of his mouth water like a flood that is by his words sent foorth infinit nations b Isai 59.19 Ezech. 26.3 Amos. 8.8 after the woman the Christian Church that hee might cause her to bee caried away of the flood being drowned by Gentilisme or other corruption To this purpose he * The fifth trumpet cap 9.1 bloweth the fifth Trumpet against the Church whereupon a starre falleth from heauen vnto the earth bringing in such Apostasy into the world that some principall Christian falleth from the care of heauen to the loue of the earth so desiring to possesse the earth that he is contented to loose heauen if that might any thing further his ambition This was accomplished at the death of c Anno 395. Theodosius the good Emperor who had d Massaus 21. p. 154. appointed three principall Generals of his warres to helpe his sonnes faithfully to administer the common-wealth Ruffinus in the East Gildo in Africa and Stilico in the West For these three persons vpon the death of their Lord Theodosius fell from their Christian duty and sought for the Empire Ruffinus e Abb. vrsp 117. resolued to displace his Lord Arcaedius Emperor of the East and to take the roome himselfe Stilico sought to wring the Empire from his maister Honorius Emperor of the West and to aduance his sonne Eucherius to that dignitie And Gildo vsurped the Empire in Africa Their absolute authoritie is said to be that the f cap. 9.1 Isai 22.22 key of the bottomlesse pit was giuen them as a meanes to induce them to this apostasie The persons hauing power in their hands to let loose as dangerous persons as the diuell himselfe is if they would For all the barbarians were to be disposed of by their direction When they had resolued of this apostasie which was a sinne neuer heard of before among Christian Princes they laboured to couer their g Isa 29.15 28.15 drifts with damnable policie as opening the h cap. 9.2 bottomlesse pit so that there came smoke from thence as the smoke of a great fornace euen the craft of the Diuell By their secret and close cariage of things they did not onely conceale their purpose from men but also the sunne and the aire were darkened by the smoke of the pit That is Christ and his holy Gospell were so obscured as if the fault had been to be layed vpon the Christian faith that the times were so troublesome For when a Lud. Viues praef in Aug. de ciuit dei Ruffinus sought for the Empire for himselfe and Stilico for his sonne they both resolued on this aduice that for perfecting of their ambitions it was behouefull to raise vp warre that all things being in confusion by that kinde of tempest their desires might be the more secret and easilier compassed the Princes being amased with the terror of warre graunting any thing to that principall Gouernor that was next to them For they knew that in peace as in a cleere sky and open weather the darkenesse of their mindes might easily be discouered and punished Yea there b Amb. lib. 5. epist 31. Aug. de cuit dei lib. 1. c. was for this trouble a generall murmuring against Christ and the Gospell as if these afflictions did befall the Empire because the heathen gods were abolished and Christ onely worshipped Now out of the smoke came these dangerous c Geneb p. 590. Abb. vrsp p. 117. 118. enemies For these protectors by their speeches and letters powred as a flood all barbarous nations into the Empire The persons against whom they are brought foorth are first the woman the Church formerly described with her man childe the 144,000 which attende the Lambe on mount Sion And these are d cap. 9.4 Luc. 21.18.19 Ezech. 17.24 called the grasse of the earth euery greene thing and trees for the glorious royall apparell which they did weare hauing put on Christ Iesus and for the fruitfulnesse of them their lips being as a tree of life Against these did the diuell bring them forth For
Stilico laboured to inuest his sonne Eucherius into the Empire who e Abb. vrsp 118. euer of a childe did lay traps to ensnare the Christians Secondly they were sent forth by the Lord to be a woe to the f cap. 3.13 9.4 imperials which sought to inhabit the earth though they felt from heauen to get the possession of it And these because of their earthly ambitions c. are said to be such which haue not the seale of God in their foreheads that is did not openly shew any testimonie that they were the seruants or sonnes of God The manner of the fight of these strangers is g cap. 9.3 fearefull they being as a monstrous kinde of vermiâ—e compounded of Locustes and Scorpions at first in their inundation vexing the world like Locustes but afterwards those which followed hurt men as Scorpions For vnto them is giuen power such as the Scorpions of the earth haue to hurt But in their manner of fight we must marke diligently their diuers procceedings against the Church and imperials and that as they are compared to Locustes and to Scorpions The forme a cap. 9.7 of them as Locustes is that they be innumerable armies of horsemen prepared to battell b Strab. Geog. l. 7. quod Gâ—og l. 2. For these nations of the Gothes as all people in the North were altogether horsemen none of them goeth on foote but both great and smal did vse to ride Their martiall discipline is to serue vnder c Cabellicus Kings which it ment by that which is said that on their d cap. 9.7 heads were set as it were crownes For howsoeuer they had no kingdome yet their heads were called e Abb. vrs p. 100. Kings They also are said to haue crownes because that in the end of f cap. 17.12 these troubles diuers Kings did arise of them g Luc. 9.52 For the faire pretexts which they set vpon their actions they are said to h cap. 9.7 haue faces like the faces of men For besides that they were i Abb. vrs of a manly countenance they were of a singular humanitie towards all men insomuch that they were called k Strab. Geo. l. 7. iustissimi populorum the iustest nation in the world And l Lud. Viues in praefat Aug. de ciuit dei when they came into the Empire they shewed themselues willing to entertaine any reasonable condition of peace discouering the treasons of Stilico which they knew neither did they violate the peace once concluded but vpon extreame necessities And they had m cap 9.8 haire as the haire of women For the Gothes were called Gens n Visperg p. 96. Gentâ—â— capillata The nation with the long haire For the most part of that countrie people doe weare long haire and doe o Quad. Gâ—â—g 2. vse to poll their heads behind but before of their haire they make two long tricaâ— tresses or lockes like vnto our women which they cast behinde their eares very amorously By this kinde of dressing is p Strab. 7. p. 205. c. also ment their effeminate and enticing conditions and common vse of women It is further said that their q cap. 9.8 Ioel. 1.6 teeth were as the teeth of Lyons for the horrible waste that these Locustes doe make r Plin. l. 11. 19. For as the naturall Locustes doe gnaw with their teeth whatsoeuer they light vpon euen the dores of mens houses sometimes so did these Å¿ Abb. vrs pag. 102. barbarians they deuoured all things as the manner of Locusts is Their courage is vnconquerable as t cap. 9.9 if they had habergiont or curets like to curets of yron of the best proofe u Viues praes in Aug. For they haue a certaine religion that their soules doe returne to others when they be slaine after the doctrine of Pythagoras or else are placed in a better roome or at least that death is better than life wherefore they are said in their warres to come vp close to the swordes length It is reported a Strab. Geo. 7. that when their Orators were asked of Alexander the Great what they feared most they answered Least the sky should fall vpon their heads The cause of their audacious resolution is b Abb. vrsp p. 100. attributed to the patronage of Mars whom they honour When a Heardsman had found a sword in the ground with which a beast was wounded as he was grasing he brought it to Attilas with this Present he grew so couragious as if he were made by this sword supposed to be the sword of Mars the Prince of the whole world These people make a fearefull incursion into the Empire as terribly as the c Plin. 11.29 Locustes that make a noyse with their wings like other fowles doe seeme to those whose fields they are feared to light vpon d cap. 9.9 Iudg. 4.3.13 Hab. 1.7.8 For the sound of their winges was like the sound of many chariots when many horses runne to battell They were e Viues vbi sup so many that no one land was able to finde them foode for f Abb. vrsp their countrie is called the shop of nations And as they were alwayes knowen to be a fierce people for Alexander would not meddle with them Caesar auoyded himselfe of them Pyrrhus abhorred them so was their comming into the Empire terrible both g Bergomensiâ— for the multitude of wagons and horses which they brought with them For the people did tremble and quake at their comming These first h Anno. 405. Carian came into Italy vnder the leading of Rhadagasus in the yeere of the Lord 405. As for the persons against whom they came they proceeded diuersly namely the Church and imperials As for the Church God so commaunding these strangers proclaimed a very i Aug. Ciuit. dei lib. 1. cap. 1. Viues sup strange law Namely that the souldiers should spare the Churches and all whosoeuer fled to the Churches and vpon paine of death hurt none of them as if it had k cap. 94.5 been commaunded that they should not hurt the grasse c. but onely those men which haue not the seale of God in their foreheads They l Geneb p. 592. 594. testified that they warred with the Romanes but not with the Saints and Apostles of God For there was in this nation a certaine religion to respect the worship of God as farre as their knowledge would serue for which they were called m Strab. 7. p. 205. Godworshippers Towards the imperials and such which haue not the seale of God in their foreheads they are permitted to vse more violence yet with a strange limitation that they should not n cap. 9.5 kill them but that they should be vexed For these barbarians proclaimed a a Berg. in Alarico Viues vbi sâ—p law amongst their souldiers that as much as was possible they should abstaine from blood But as they were
Prophets of Kings c. * cap. 19.20 And for these such like causes he is called The false prophet that prophesieth lies c. But he is like vnto the first monstrous beast in this that he doth k cap. 13.12 exercise the power of the first beast before him taking vpon him as an Emperor in the time presence of the Emperour labouring to be as absolute ouer the Clergie as the Emperour is ouer the temporaltie exempting his Clergie from ciuill iurisdiction * 2. Thess 5.2 Yea exalting himselfe aboue all Yea he proposeth to himselfe to be Monarch of all and therefore what euer be his pretext hee in his priuate drift causeth the l cap. 13.12 earth and them that dwell therein to worshippe the first beast whose deadly wound was healed that is to worshippe an Ecclesiasticall Monarch which he laboureth to establish in the roome of the former ciuill Monarchie which was ouerthrowen in the West by the former incursions of strangers and onely healed by the Popes The a cap. 13.13.14 meanes which he vseth to further these ambitions are great wonders and deceiptfull in the fight of men and of the beast that is seeming miracles to the Prince and people howeuer there may be a better and truer construction made of them to be deceipts These his miracles therefore are b cap. 18.23 called inchauntments wherewith all nations are deceiued c 2. Thes 2.9.10 And this is that of which S. Paul speaketh when he saith of the aduersarie of Christ Whose comming is by the effectuall working of Sathan with all power and signes of lying wonders and in all d Aug. Ciu. Dei 20. 19. deceiuablenes of vnrighteousnes Which are wonders either so seeming when they be but impostures or else if true they be the workes of the diuell to gaine credit to the great enemie of the Gospel Particularly for instance it is said that he e cap. 13.13 caused fire to come downe from heauen on the earth in the sight of men that is he seemeth to men to cause God f Isa 9.5 37 36. to send downe vengeance from heauen vpon men that doe not respect him applying all the calamities that befall them that loue him not to be iudgements of God to reuenge the contempt offered to this beast The Popes were famous far g Chro. Chr. miracles when they had once gotten purple The opposition of the Saints is something though very small contenting themselues that h cap. 14.3 they were bought from the earth hauing nothing to doe with the ambition of this beast that onely minded how to possesse the earth wincking at much corruption when they saw it About i Fasc Tem. f. 47 b. Frising Chro. 4. cap. 3. the possessions of the Church which the Prelates at this time began to haue there was often a great contention among the Doctors Some said it was iust and profitable that the Church should abound in temporalties and haue earthly honours others thought not But the Bishops of Rome accepted of these honours And they of that Church doe thinke that k Geneb p. 552 553. it much concerned God in some place to haue a visible Ecclesiasticall Monarchie which by diuine authoritie by causing fire to come downe from heauen vpon men might restraine terrifie smite with lightning and bring into obedience tyrants hereticks schismaticks c. Wherefore the Bishops of Rome which was the chiefe citie in the world endeauoured to attaine vnto that dignitie and to inrich the Church by all meanes possible These things will appeare more particularly in the stories of the Popes wherof doe follow some briefe collections The complement Siluester I. * Ann 315. admirable for l Fasc Temp. f 47 a. miracles or great wonders For he is reported to a Pet. de Nat. haue clensed Constantine of a leprosie But b Volat. 23. f. 270. the booke of that miracle is Apocrypha manifestly dissenting from the Doctors and altogether to be reiected as a c 2. Thes 2.9 cap. 13.14 lying signe He is said to haue reuiued a dead d Pet de Nat. Ball to binde a Dragon that killed men with his breath a false miracle e Gesn l. 5. For Dragons doe not hurt with their breath hereby he laboured to gaine reputation to his profession He forbad f Caranz f. 4â— 37. a. Subdeacons to marrie heare the voice of the Dragon Hee deuised the Chrisme with which the Bishops should signe them that were baptized to confirme them against the perswasion of Heretickes The manner is this g Poly. inuent 5. 3. the Bishop maketh the signe of the crosse in the forehead of the partie to be confirmed and saith I signe thee with the character or token of the crosse and confirme thee with the chrisme of saluation i Berg. 9. He commanded that no laie man should presume to cal a Clergie man into a ciuill court nor that any Clergie man should sue before a secular Iudge and decreed that k Caranz f. 46. a. neither Emperour nor Kings nor all the Clergie may iudge the Pope exercising the power of the first beast euen before him c. Marcus appointed l Berg. 9. that no Clergie man might by any meanes be drawne vnto secular businesse Ann. 334. Hee built two Churches in Rome Constantine enriched him with many gifts The beast doth rise out of the earth Iulius reprehended the m Anno 341. Chr. Chro. Arians especially that they called a Councel at Antiochia without the authoritie of the Pope of Rome when as without his authority he said it neither ought nor could be He decreed that whosoeuer suspected his iudge might appeale to the seat of Rome the Pope Liberius was o Poâ—â—â—r banished for standing against the Arians Ann. 35â— in the meane while by his Counsell the Clergie of Rome ordained Felix Pope This Felix proceeded seuerely against the Arians Wherefore Constantius the Emperor reconciled Liberius for he seemed more easie to the Arians Liberius then being ouercome with the griefe of exile and glad that he was Pope againe assented and fell into heresie and subscribed p Massaus 11. thereto But Felix and the q Fasc Temp. s 48. b. Catholikes hauing admonished him and finding him to bee contumacious cast him out of the Church as an heretike wherefore Liberius cast Felix out of the Papacie held the Churches violently and by strength so that there was a great persecution of the faithfull and the Clergie and priests that fauored Felix were slaine in the Churches and Liberius forbad it not a Vol. 22. And Felix himselfe was slaine as defending the truth This Felix was b Geneb p. 574. also reported guiltie of heresie But such is the force of the Apostolicall chaire saith Genebrard that it would rather make a martyr than heare an heretike Here wanteth some helpe to reconcile these popish Chronologers
first digested in a booke and commēded to the Church by many deceitfull miracles and reuelations to further the new doctrine which they say is found out of the state of the dead Herein trusting the reports of some which heard the things reported by others that some came from the dead Hereby the Poets fables become good diuinitie it beeing now acknowledged that the riuer Acherou is in hell where also a iudge sitteth like Minos Eachus and Radamanthus purgatorie in Aetna and in bathes c. that the dead might be holpen by masses burials in Churches praiers of Monkes and Priests a Lib. dial 4. cap. 41. The reason which hee rendreth why so many things are now discouered of the soules of dead men which hitherto lay hidde is that the end of the world is at hand and as it were in fight Take b 2. Thes 2.1 ◠Luk. 21.8 Isaiah 47.10 heads and be not deceiued for many will come in my name and say I am and the time draweth neere follow ye not them therefore In this booke is deliuered this doctrine As c Dial. 4. c. 5. the soule is knowne to liue in the bodie by the motion of the members so the life of the soule of the Saints when it is out of the bodie is to be esteemed by the vertue of miracles And d ibid. c. 20. that the merit of the soule sometimes is not shewed when it departeth from the body but is declared more truely after death A ready foundation for such Priests and Monkes which had the keeping of the places of burials to build vp the credit of their impostures about graues as if they were miracles And for them to obtrude vnto the world whom they liked to bee onely reputed as Saints This booke of Dialogues is so contrarie to the Reuelation of Saint Iohn that it may iustly be e 2. Thes 2.6 called the Reuelation of Antichrist This kinde of learning serued so to raise the beast out of the bottomlesse pit that some doe say that Gregory to shew this power of the beast in the bottomlesse pit recalled Traian f Pet. de Natal alij from hell baptised him and sent him to heauen A cup full of abhominations c. He was g Lib. 9. epl 9.71 angrie for breaking of images and called them lay mens bookes which were to be kept because the Gentiles vsed them to reade vpon He h Beda Eccl. hist lib. 1. C. 30. forbad to destroy the Temples of idols or to remoue the manner of the Gentiles worship i Epiph. l. 32. haeres 79. but required to continue the externall mirth to allure the people to serue God He worse then the heretikes called Collyridiani that worship the virgin Mary carried the k Mass 13. p. 180. image of the virgin Mary in procession as the Gentiles did their gods to driue away the plague He instituted the l Geneb p. 660. worship of the crosse barefoote on good friday and remitted canonicall penance and promised m Poly. inuent 8.1 cleane remission of sinnes to such as frequented Churches on set dayes that men might be allured to worship the Dragon He made a daungerous decree n Par. Abb. Vrsp in eplu Hysderi c. 1. p. 414. of this heresie that like the Maniches Electi the Clergie should not haue knowledge of their wiues but when more then sixe thousand childrens heads were brought vnto him out of his fish pond he confessed his owne decree to be the cause of this murther and condemned his owne decree He o Pet. de Nat. miraculously terrified Mauricius the Emperor by one p Otho Frist l. 5. c. 7. Mass Ab. Vrsp c. who in the habite of a Monke stoode with a drawne sworde and shaking it foretolde that he should be slaine with the sworde for persecuting of Pope Gregory from which sentence neither by almes prayers nor teares he was deliuered but was caused to drinke of the wine of the wrath of the whore and she is drunken with blood for both himselfe his wife and children were murthered by Phocas Which a Lib. 11. Epist 1. 36. 43. 44. was no sooner don but Gregory as accessary with the Clergie sung gloria in excelsis latentur cali exultet terra for ioy caried the images of Phocas and Leontia his wife into the Church of Casarius the whole Clergie shouting for ioy and singing Exandi Christe Phoca Augusto Leontia Augusta vita And as the forerunner of Antichrist wrote to Leontia to make especially S. Peter the protector and patrone of the Empire in earth and intercessor in heauen meaning that the Bishop of Rome should be in greatest estimation for the beast riseth out of the earth This Pope like the b Ang. har 46. Maniches which preferre apocrypha writings before the new Testament esteemed the foure generall Councels as the c Dist 15. sicut foure Euangelists and like Montanus the heretike d Regist lib. 12. accursed euery one which brake the least thing which the Pope commaunded and obeyed it not altogether He caused e Volat. lib. 22. f. 251. the auncient monuments in Rome to be cast into Tiber least by their beautie they should distract men from the religion newly instituted In his f Aug. Curie l. 1 Geneb p. 655. time Mahomet doth openly professe himselfe the onely Prophet of God and that whosoeuer durst gainesay his law should be slaine Many of his kinsfolkes allies friends and clients who were throughly perswaded that he was such a one indeede as he professed himselfe and would seeme to be followed him in the yeere 593. So in the West the g Geneb p. 661. Lombards English Spaniards Venetians Ligurians c. receiued the faith of the Church of Rome and followed her This Pope h Beda Eccl. hist l. 1. cap. 25.27 sent Augustine into England to conuert the English men They which were sent like those that built Babel neither vnderstoode the Scriptures nor the language of the people The first point of religion which they shewed was this They spread forth a banner with a painted crucifixe and so came in procession to the King singing the Letanie in a strange tongue and shewing some deceitfull miracles He laboured to reduce the whole land to the example of Rome as Montanus did all Churches to Pepuza and therefore became enemie to the seuen Churches of the Britones who followed the custome of the East Churches and would not submit themselues to his pride but cast him out and measured him not as a man of God because he learned not of Christ to beare his yoke who was humble and meeke He wrote to Augustine a Bed eccl hist l. 2. c. 2. dis 15. 4. denique that the Clergie should in quinquagesima abstaine from flesh milke meates and egges which b August de haeres 46. meates the Manachies electi or priests forbare There were in c Ex regist
exhausted the King of Englands treasure k P. 882. 891. 895. 904. He also continued strange exactions of mony in England binding Monasteries c. to pay his creditors vpon paine of interdiction c. l P. 897. This exaction cooled mens affections towards the Pope m P. 910. In his time the preaching Friers had much dammaged the Christian saith by preaching Reade more hereof before Anno 1200. reading teaching certaine doctrines new dotings taken out of the book of Abbas Ioachim condēned by Gregorius the ninth They also had composed a booke which it pleased them to intitle The euerlasting or eternall Gospel which now they inforced to roote out the Gospell of Christ written by the foure Euangelists They also vrged many other things not to be spoken Hereupon grew so many and great scandales one preaching against the other that the vniuersitie of Paris with great counsaile and deliberation sent sixe men very excellent for learning and of noble blood to the Pope in commission for the repaire of the decay in faith The Friers sent speedy messengers to resist these great men to their faces before the Pope At length after much a doe their new Gospell is commaunded to be burned secretly without any scandall to the Friers And so was that Gospel abolished that by a false Prophecy threatned the cessation of the Gospell written by the foure Euangelists The n Geneb p. 978. Mass 17. pag. 238. Fo◠Marty 326. Speculum minorum tract 1. f. 10. b. Pope also commaunded that the booke which Gulielmus de sancto amore had written of pouertie against the Friers going vnder the name of the masters of Paris intituled a treatise of the perils of the latter times should be abolished publikely and banished him France For this Pope much fauored the Friers and o Spec. min. tract f. 7. b. wrote his bull requiring all that had disputed or preached against them to recant teach and preach the contrary vnder paine of suspension and excommunication For he esteemed the Friers as the a cap. 11.4 two golden candelstickes and two great lights that shined in the Church of God b Fox Marty 326. Yet did Laurentius a master of Paris strongly and stoutly teach preach and write in the defence of the said Gulielmus against the Popes and their Friers This Pope exceedingly encreased the bloudie lawes made against them which the Church of Rome calleth heretikes c Dec. 5. tit 2. cap. 2. He decreed that whosoeuer wittingly should bury heretikes or their beleeuers receiuers defenders or fauorers should bee excommunicate till with his owne hands openly he cast those dead bodies out of their graues againe Hee forbad lay men priuately or publikely to dispute of the Catholike faith vnder paine of excommunication as d Carion Mahomet did of his law vnder paine of death He also furnished the inquisition with many bloudy and vnmercifull lawes e 6. Dec. 5. tit 2. c. 4. denying mercy to the penitent and confiscating the goods of such as died before sentence f Par. Vrsp p. 332. One beyond the seas called himselfe Iesus by magicke he wrote prodigious miracles and many armies being vnited to him he subdued many kingdomes vnder him g Geneb p. 979 Ludouicus King of France instituted many things to the profit of the kingdome He would not haue offices and dignities sold and branded them in the forehead with a hot yron that blasphemed or sware by God in vaine he forbad stewes he thrust stage players out of his court Anno 1261. Vrbanus the fourth h Trith p. 249. Clemen 3. tit 16. de reliquijs ven instituted the feast of Corpus Christi day and to encourage the people to keepe it he gaue pardons to such as were present at the seruice a cup of abhominations i Geneb p. 982. c. The host was caryed about in a box as the arke in the time of the law and the booke of the law is among the Iewes or rather k Moris pap p. 58. as Iupiter and Isis were caryed among the Gentiles and it was worshipped l Geneb p. 982. Thomas Aquinas composed the office of this feast This m Part. 3. q. 25. an 31. Thomas wrote that images must be worshipped with the same worship as is due to them whose images they be n Trith p. 249. The Pope conferred the kingdome of Sicilia which Monfred held vpon Charles the French Kings brother and by Legates called him into Italy who draue out Monfred and possessed Sicilia not without much bloodshed The Pope also o 6. Dec. 5. tit 2. cap 9. decreed that the lawes of no place should hinder the proceedings of the inquisition In his time the p Curio Saracens draue the Christians cleane out of Syria yet q Geneb p. 985 granted the free preaching of Christ in Aphryca Anno 1265. Clemens the fourth r Trith 250. p. 251. in his time the monasteries of the order of Benedict in Germanie were filthily corrupted the Monkes and Abbots rushed violently into the very sinke of all vices Carolus the French kings brother whom Vrbane the fourth had made king and a Geneb 986. Clement annointed at Rome vnder condition to paie to the Pope yearely 42,000 crownes in name of a tribute cruelly killed Monfrede And when after him b Par. Vrsp p. 243. Conradine the next heire a very gallant gentleman went to take his inheritance in Apulia by Clement and Charles he was iniuriously repulsed taken by treason derided and by the commandement of the Pope was put to death miserably by c Carion a common executioner That as many as would not worship the beast should be killed Hee d Decr. 5. Tit. 2 c. 10. c. informeth the inquisitors to feare no man but to proceede rigorously to censure with the aide of the secular arme any preachers religious persons vniuersities or other priuiledged places that are impediment to their inquisitiō To cause all ciuill and militarie magistrates to sweare and cause all them that were vnder them to sweare to obserue the lawes made against heretickes their fauourers hearers defenders their sonnes and their nephewes Thus the beast with his hornes maketh warre with the Saints f Geneb p. 986. In his time Antioche was sacked by the Sultan And Ludouicus king of France signed with the crosse in the siege of Tunetum and one of his sonnes died of the pestilence and so the siege was raised Gregorius the tenth g Trith p. 252 worthy the honour Ann. 1271. if a mortal man can be worthy to be Christs vicar in earth who raigneth in heauen Hee h Westmon p. 403. held a Councell at Lugdunum for the holy land to which purpose he decreed that all Ecclesiasticall liuings for seauen yeares space should paie a tenth There i Geneb p. 989. was also handled the reconciliation of the Greeke Churches which was
p. 3â—3 wrote to the French king that himselfe was Lord of all spirituall and temporall estates through the world Thus he exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called God And said that because the French king would not take his kingdom of him hee deserued to bee depriued The French king burned his letters and despised his Legates In a Councell at Paris calleth the Pope a schismaticke hereticke and inuader of the state by the pragmatical sanctier diminisheth the Popes authoritie in France c Par. Vrsp 344. The Pope confirmeth the election of Albert vnder condition that he would take vpon him the kingdomes of Romanes and France d Fox Flores hist The king of England also couragiously withstood the Pope in the title of Scotland e Bergo 13. Trith p. 268. The French king caused him to be apprehended in his bedde and carried prisoner to Rome where hee died with sorrow c. In f Geneb p. 1004 1007. 1008. his time Ottoman the first Emperour of the Turkes arose a great plague to the professors of Christ Now the Church of Rome leaueth to reckon from the passion of Christ as before and accounteth from his Natiuitie The Mariners compasse is found out A fit instrument to spread the name of Christ where it was vnknown Clement the fifth g Mass 17. p. 244. was consecrated in France at Lugdunum going to the pallace the people thronged a wall fell Ann. 1305. and hurt many the Popes crowne fell from his head and out of it a Carbuncle esteemed worth 6000. florens An euill presage For h Trith 269. Geneb 1009. he translated the Popes seate from Rome to Auinion to the great damage of Italie Rome and all Christians i Trith 271. The Princes elected Henrie the seauenth Emperour a good man and valiant worthy the imperiall seate He k Par. Vrsp 349. sent his Orators to the Pope for his imperiall crowne And l Bergo 13. in Henr. the Pope confirmed his election vnder condition he would go into Italie to receiue his crowne according to the manner of the Emperors passing through a Par. Vrsp 349. 350. Italie he found and subdued many rebels came to Rome and is crowned and gaue out lawes concerning traitors and rebels which Rome as the head of the world and saieth in her head I sit as Queene adorned and confirmed in these words I the crown of crowns confirme vnto my Prince his power c. doe subiect vnto him cities nations of countries Eagles defend my glorie behold the Gentiles Departing from Rome he had more rebels that opposed themselues against him ouer most of whom he triumphed Then came newes to him to come into Apulia where he should finde Rupertus king of Apulia depriued and deliuered to him The Emperour went towards Apulia The b Clemen 2. tit 9. de iureiurando Pope sendeth to him to make peace with Rupertus vpon his oath of fidelitie and obedience which hee made to the Pope But the Emperour by publike instruments declareth he made no such oath Then c Par. Vrsp 350 came there a d Geneb p. 1011 Dominican Frier vnto the Emperour promising to reconcile vnto him certaine cities that stood out against him desiring to minister the Eucharist to him with which he poysoned the Emperour as e Berg. 13. in Henr. he was hired by the Florentines For that which was execrable in the Saracens f Mat. Paris p. 769. namely to poyson their prisoners is now practised by Friers against Emperours and that like the children of the mother of abhominations euen in the sacrament His death was the safetie of Rupertus and the Florentines For this murther at the place and time of the worship of God according to his word there was euery where a famine after which followed a very great pestilence The Pope in a Councell openly declareth the oath of the Emperour now murthered to bee an oath of fidelitie and obedience and requireth it alwaies so to be vnderstood g Clem. 2 tit 9. in gloss verb. futur Out of which decree is gathered that the Emperour is not Emperour before he be crowned by the Pope He h Clem. 5 tit 3. de haeres c. 1. also prouided that the walles and lockes might bee sure and that the Keepers should bee sworne where heretickes were imprisoned Hee i Clem. 3 tit 16 de vener sanct confirmed Corpus Christi day and gaue large indulgences to them that were present at the solemnitie There were at this time diuers that held many things against the church of Rome as the followers k Mass 17. p. 244. Berg. 13. f. 207. a. of Dulcinus of whom were 6000. and of them were apprehended more than 400. who were of the reliques of those whom Bernard writeth of in the Canticles vz. Petrus Abailardus c. There l Clem. 5. tit 3. c. 3. were also certaine called Begnardes that held against adoration of the Eucharist at the eleuation Moreouer very m Trith 274. 275. many euen to the number of 80,000 were of the opinion of Lolliardus who held against Transubstantiation extreame vnction c. that the Church of Rome was not the Church of Christ but of the infidel Gentiles and despised the prelates authoritie they held also against distinction of meates Of them many were burned by the inquisition The same time was a most extreame famine Buchel Anâ— 1315. Trith p. 273. that the parents restrained not themselues from the most filthie carkasses of their children and after that followed a great pestilence euery where so that in a manner the third part of mankinde was consumed Thus Michael fighteth for the word of God Many wicked things are obiected to these of Dulcinus the Begnardes and Lolliards opinion But because in the time of the heathen Emperours the diuell did accuse the brethren and in this time of Antichrist the beast doth blaspheme them that dwell in heauen their accusation may iustly be suspected to be slanderous Especially seeing they confesse that the Boemians in the time of Hus were of their sect who are very well known to maintaine none of these impieties a Paral. Vrsp 351. Arnoldus de noua villa attempted to prooue by Daniel and Sibyllaes prophecies that Antichrist and the persecution of the Church should bee betweene the yeares 1300. and 1400. b 345. 346. This Pope also put downe the Templars for their horrible wickednesse contempt of Christ and abhominable idolatrie and that they betraied Ludouicus king of France into the hands of the Soldan when he was in the holy land Hee c Berg. 13. f. 207. interdicted Venice for taking Ferrara Wherefore d Sab. En. 9. l. 7 Franciscus Dandalus a Noble man of Venice laie bound in a chaine at the Popes feete to batter his anger against Venice and to procure him to free it from interdiction The Knights of the Rhodes began Anno 1315. Iohn the twentith two
of diuels and holde of all foule spirits and a cage of euery vncleane and hatefull bird The reasons of this fearefull iudgement are first a cap. 18.3 because she made all nations to drinke of the wine of the wrath of her fornications by diuerse interdictions execrations exactions tumults treasons rebellions murthers massacres c bringing greiuous calamities vpon such as refused to bee subiect vnto the idolatrie superstitions and other filthie constitutions of that policicie or citie Secondly because the kings of the earth haue committed fornication with her giuing their power to be executioners of her fornication which is the cause why the holy people depart from the vngodly commaundements of them both Thirdly because the Marchants of the earth are waxed rich of the abundance of such things which were gained by the marchandise of the word of God and of the kingdome of heauen c. which were sold of her pleasures as pleased her to bestow them For now were sold both Sacraments and Church and heauen They doe also abound in pleasures Now because of this abundant riches and fatnes of the great and princely Marchants followeth as a third argument of this riders confidence namely a publike proclamation to all sorts of greedy people to take away the liuings of the popish Clergie be they great or small And to this purpose b cap. 19.17.18 Saint Iohn saith I saw an Angel stand in the sunne that is openly in all mens fight who cryed with a loud voyce by preaching and teaching and saying it is lawfull to all the fowles that did flie by the middest of heauen euen all couetous hungrie and needy persons which were in estimation with Princes c. to gather themselues together vnto the supper of the great God which he had prepared by the hands of the popish prouiders and builders who had cooked their liuings for gentlemens mouthes c. That they may eate the flesh euen the fatte liuings of such as were aduanced in the world as Kings and the flesh of high captaines namely the Cardinals and Abbots c. who now became Generalles of warres c. Contrarily on the other side the deputies of the Dragon the diuel namely c cap. 19.19 the beast the popish policy and the Kings the tenne principalities which inhabited the two third parts of the earth formerly subiect to the Romane Empire and their hast of iudges inquisitors secular arme of familiars executioners and souldiers c. gathered themselues together to make warre against the word of God which sate vpon the horse and against his armie all those faithfull people which did stand for the authority and sense of the Scriptures The successe of this bloudie fight is begun in this chapter but finished afterwards and is that the lambe and they that are on his side though first a cap. 13.10 ouercome yet by patience in the ende doe ouercome the Kings that warre against him For the beast b cap. 19.20 which consisted of the Romane policie the Hierarchie with the Princes their aides was taken so conuicted by the equitie of the cause of innocentes that they were able but onlie to answere like a rauenous beast viz to gnashe vpon the saintes c. With the beast is also taken the false Prophet which deceaued the world with lying reuelations to wit the Friers Monkes Popes which gloried in this kinde of vanitie and all their subtile and scholasticall sophistrie profited not but was sifted and confuted so effectually as that they were not able to make it appeare to be the truth yea that false Prophet is taken which wrought false miracles and lying signes before the beast the Princes whereby he deceiued them that receiued the beasts marke his superstition and armes and deceiued them that worshiped his Image esteeming the Hierarchie as a God All their iugling is knowne and detested The meanes by which the false Prophet is taken is the c cap. 20.1 restraining the diuell the lying spirit in the mouth of wicked prophets and by the setting vp of true iustice according to the word of God In the prophecie of the diuels captiuitie first the person is shewed by whose ministrie it is done who is said to be d cap. 18.1 and 20.1 The Angel that came downe from heauen hauing great power to declare the power of almightie God Secondly are shewed the instruments which he vsed in this waightie worke first The key of the bottomlesse pit namely the true and faithfull opening of the doctrine of hell and damnation as it is set downe in the word of God farre different if not contrarie to the doctrine of hell and purgatorie c. as it is deliuered by Antichrist Secondly he hath a great chaine in his hand that is * Psal 149.8.9 the doctrine of the iudgements of God as it is written different from that which Antichrist doeth teach of binding and loosing Now by these two meanes the Lord togither working mightily a cap. 20.2 he apprehended the Dragon that is manifestly prooued that the superstition of the Gentils brought into the Christian Church by the Popes was abhominable This Dragon was the olde serpent euen the same that by his subtiltie b Gen. 3.1 c. beguiled Eue and now againe by lying signes and reuelations and by sophisticall schoole-learning deceiueth the world Hee is the Diuell and not the spirit of God in the mouthes of popish Prophets and Sathan an aduersarie alwaies an enemie to the good of mankinde especially to the Saints in their prophecie now reuiuing the persecutions which their ancestors the Gentiles and Arians vsed against the truth This wicked spirit of the Antichristian prophets is bound by restraint by the power of God and c cap. 20.3 cast into the bottomlesse pit all men assuring themselues that the spirit of popish prophets is the diuell of hell who now is shut vp and sealed that he should deceiue the people no more but that al the sleights of Antichrist should bee as manifest as was the madnesse of d 2. Tim. 3.8.9 Iannes and Iambres The iudgement also vpon the beast and the false prophet which are the whole bodie of Antichrist is that e cap. 19.20 they both were cast aliue into the lake of fire burning with brimstone not onely knowne to belong to hell but in the meane time seeing plagues like vnto those of Sodome For the Princes henceforth doe beginne to f cap. 17.16 hate the whore for her inuentions wil-worships and idolatries c. and make her desolate forsaking her and naked taking from her her costly ornaments and eate her flesh by taking away her large reuenewes and burne her with fire like Sodom in the end of her iudgements The time of which destruction appeareth by the computation of the raigne of Antichrist namely 1260. yeres from the time of Pelagius the angel of the bottomlesse pit to bee neere the yeare of Christ 1820. As touching the restoring
supper of the Lord vnder one or both kindes Podiebrachius who was next vnto the King was moued by a parasite why he liked not their religion of popery required by the example and authoritie of so many and great Princes rather then the Hussites He answered we doe those sacrifices which we beleeue are pleasing to God neither is it in our owne choyce to beleeue what we list The minde is ouercome with great reasons c. I am perswaded of my ministers religion If I follow thy religion I may perchance deceiue men contrary to my soule I cannot deceiue God which looketh into the hearts of men c. p Bucholcer Par. Vrsp 406. Calistus the third in his second yeere Mahomet with a 150,000 beseeged Belgrade Capistranus a Minorite Frier stoode to encourage the Souldiers But he vsed not any superstitions For crying out he said Iesus looke on vs be present with thy people that suffereth for thee where are thy mercies of old Come and defend thy people least they say among the Gentiles where is now their God c. The Christians got a rich and noble victory In memory whereof the Pope according to his wonted superstition foolishly instituted the feast of the transfiguration of Christ Hunniades who had been a noble victor ouer the Turkes after this his last battaile fell sicke but hee would not haue the Sacrament brought to him as the superstitious manner was but commaunded himselfe to be carried to the Church where after the confession of his sinnes he receiued the Eucharist c. Thus much of the two witnesses and the things which fell out vpon their death and resurrection Thus the remnant giueth to glory to God And now the q cap. 11.14 second woe to the inhabitants of the earth by the Turkes c. seemeth to be past But the third woe will come anon CHAP. XII Of the third a cap. 11.14 woe to the inhabitants of the earth by Kings conuerted to Christ WE are now come to speake of the third woe which shal be inflicted vpon the inhabitants of the earth namely such which doe rather desire to possesse the earth then to inherit heauen And this containeth the abolishing of the kingdome of Antichrist and the victorious reigne and triumph of the word of God That which is spoken hereof is comprehended in the doctrine which came abroad when b cap. 11.15 the seuenth Angell blew the trumpet The summe whereof is manifestly knowne and euidently spoken by all godly men as if there were great voyces in heauen expressing their assurance of the things that are to come to passe And the summe is this that certainelie it can not be but the kings will also be conuerted to the Gospell by whose onely and holy administrations The kingdomes of this world are to be our Lords and his Christs and he shall reigne for euermore Hereupon all godly magistrates and ministers called by the name of the c cap. 11.16 foure and twentie elders which make any consciecne of their places as those which sit before God on their seates First doe humble themselues euen falling on their faces and subiecting themselues to this kind of administration Secondly they doe also leaue the seruice of idols and men and in their places worship God both with praises and administration of iustice As for their praises they do in effect say d cap. 11.17 we giue thee thankes Lord God almightie which art and which wa st and which art to come euen the same God which art euerlasting for that taking the power out of the hands of mortall weake and mutable men who of long time haue trodden thy sanctuarie vnder foote thou hast receiued the entrance and possession of thy great might and hast obtained thy kingdome in due time to bee fully and alone administred by thee As for their sincere administration of iustice they shew that they so regard the faithfull profession of the Gospell that thereupon such which rather professed the vanitie of the Gentiles then Christ euen the Antichristian Papists were a cap. 11.18 angrie The cause of their anger is first that the time is come of the wrath of God to be inflicted vpon whosoeuer shall deserue it without respect of persons Secondly because they see that the time is come of the dead which haue been martyred for the witnes of Iesus that they should be iudged whether they died as innocents or not so that the proceedings against such come to be looked into and examined againe by iustice faithfully which they are angrie should be knowen Thirdly because that God hath raised vp Christian Kings that God by them should giue rewarde vnto his seruants the prophets which doe sincerely speake the truth from the Lord whereas Antichrist did tread them vnder foote Yea because the time was come that he by Princes should giue reward also to the Saints and to them that in deede doe feare his name to small and great whom Antichrist exposed to death and confiscation loading them with reproches c. Fourthly because the time is come that God by Princes should vtterly destroy them which destroy the earth be they Turkes or Papists The aduancement of the godly and destruction of the wicked according to the exact rule of iustice in the word of God being thus drifted by godly Gouernors those of the spirit of Saint Iohn b cap. 15.1 saw another great and marueilous signe in heauen the Church of God Namely that God hath prepared seuen Angels hauing the seuen last plagues which he would inflict vpon his enemies for not by men but by them euen by a diuine hand is now to be fulfilled the wrath of God Of these plagues we are to consider the place whence these Angels doe receiue them and the powring of them forth These plagues are deliuered vnto them in the temple which after the godly doe put on zeale and thankesgiuing is opened Concerning the zeale of the godly first is declared how the true doctrine of Christian baptisme is restored namely that Christians ought to be vndefiled and zealous in the cause of Christ For the lauer of regeneration is now figured a cap. 15.2 by a glassie sea mingled with fire godly Princes and people being baptised b Mat. 3.11 with the holy Ghost and fire whereas hitherto they were baptised vnto repentance with patience Here therefore stand the Boemians which had gotten the victorie ouer the beast the ciuell estate which beareth vp the whore of Babylon and of his image the Ecclesiasticall policie and his marke of superstitious ceremonies and of the number of his name his armies which he sent against them These I say stand constantly at the glassie sea mingled with fire continuing sincere and zealous professors being so farre from being ouercome that contrarily they haue the harpes of God to sing praises vnto their God for their deliuerance from Antichrist And they being deliuered from the kingdome of Antichrist which spiritually
is called Egypt c cap. 15.3 sing the like song as was that of Moses the seruant of God when he was past the red sea And they sing also the song in praise of the Lambe Iesus Christ who had deliuered them from the beast of vnsatiable rapine c. The argument of the song was in effect Great and merueilous are thy workes d cap. 15.4 Lord God almightie iust and true are thy waies king of sainctes Who shall not feare thee O Lorde and not men and glorifie thy name with the contempt of men For thou onely art holy and the worlde by the kingdome of Antichrist is filthie and corrupted And also how euer yet Antichrist doe lift vp himselfe and doe fight to maintaine his kingdome yet all nations shall forsake Antichrist and come and worship before him that is God almightie by the conuersion of all Princes to the Gospell For proofe whereof his iudgements are made manifest to all that are not wilfully blind and all godly men doe see what in the end shall come to passe a cap. 15.5 cap. 11.19 After this zeale is found in the people of God the temple of God euen the temple of the tabernacle of the testimonie was opened in heauen For as yet the b Mat. 21.12 Act. 3.1 temple called the porch or vtter court is for the most part troden vnder foote by the Gentiles The tabernacle of the testimonie being opened c cap. 11.19 there was seene in the temple the arke of the couenant of grace the doctrine of iustification beeing clearely taught other points beeing yet in question among many of the Saints And hereupon arise great emotions of lightening and voices and thunders and earthquakes and much haile by excommunications and alterations c. The complement In d Fox Mart. p. 695. 696. 697. the last yeare of Calistus when foure mightie princes were dead vz. Wenceslaus Sigismundus Albertus Ladislaus who with the assistance of all the Popes in their times had attempted with all their mights to extinguish the religion planted by Hus in Boemia the Lord by the constancie of the Hussites continued the religion For when Ladislaus the great enemie of the Gospel was dead as he was prouiding for his marriage and for a strong confederacie and assistance against the Hâ—ssites e Bucholcerus Georgius Podiebrachius succeeded him in the kingdome who did openly fauour the cause and publikely professed the religion of Hus and so the kingdomes are Christs c. Pius the second f Volat. 22. his ambition defiled all his vertues Ann. 1418. g Par. Vrsp p. 416. 417. 418. c. He sent vnto Germanie to extort the Annates or first fruits condemned in the Councel at Basil Him Diatharius the Archbishop of Mogunce withstood for the exactions which hee robbed the countrie by vnder pretext of warre against the Turkes Wherefore the thundring Pope depriued him The causes of his depriuation were these 1. He would not consent to the exaction of a tenth twentith thirtith 2. He would not be sworne to the Pope not to conuent the Princes Electors for the affaires of the empire without the Popes leaue 3. He suffered not the Popes Legates at their pleasure to conuent the Clergie The Pope excommunicated him who writeth to the Princes of Germanie against the Pope to discharge Germanie of these exactions to appeale to a Councel Some of the Princes ioyne with him and write sharpely to the Pope requiring the release of these exactions for shee is fallen because her marchants were rich and complaining of the grieuance offered to the Archbishop shee is fallen for making all nations drinke of the wine of the wrath of her fornication Par. Vrs p. 418 The Pope persecuteth the Archbishop also for aduancing the Empire and depressing the Papacie and because to speake truth against the Pope is contrarie to the oath of Bishops a Supra 3. Thunder Crantz Met. 7. required by Alexander the third Hereupon b Pencer 5. f. 225. c. arise warres or earthquakes But the Princes despised the ratles of the Popes excommunications and preuaile in the warre The Pope excommunicateth and accurseth the Archbishop and his complices forbidding any to bring them victuals or armes Againe the Archbishop and his friends forbidde the Papists letters and processes vnder paine of their heades Revvarde as shee hath rewarded you c Par. Vrsp p. 419. c. Iohannes de Wessalia lifteth vp his voice preacheth against the ciuill authoritie of the Prelates and teacheth the scripture which hath a name that none doth know but it selfe must be interpreted by scripture Hee was also against indulgences the glosse c. d Buchol anno 1460. Par. Vrsp 407. c. The Pope also excommunicated Gregorius Heimberge doctor of the lawes Against whom this Gregorius did oppose a vehement writing in which he equalleth the rest of the Apostles to Peter and prooueth the Pope to be subiect to the Councels c. c Chro. Chro. He also excommunicated Georgius Podiebrachius and all Boem but in vaine f Par. Vrs p. 411. 412. c. Fridericus the third Emperour was besieged but releeued by Podiebrachius This Pope held many things which he left in writing as marriage was to be restored to Priests with more reason than it was taken away He said the striuers were birdes the Court the fielde the Iudges were nets the Proctors be fowlers c. g Fasc Temp. f. 89. b. At this time was a great reformation of Monasteries And note that often such reformations are read of but none continued for in time they returned to their old corruptions h Hunnius labor Illiric claui Scriptura Cusanus a learned Cardinal a thing as rare as a blacke Swan liued in this time but held horrible blasphemies of the scriptures vz. that the sense of them is changeable as please the times c. For the beast and his hoste maketh warre against the word of God that sit on the horse Paulus the second i Volat. 22. something like Licinius the tyrant Anno 1468. neither learned nor well conditioned Hee held a Platina it learning enough to write and read and affirmed that himselfe had all lawes in the cabinet of his own breast and that at his pleasure he might approoue and abolish the actes of others In b Geneb Caranza his time all offices and Ecclesiasticall preferments were sold to them that would giue most and all things were disposed to them that would make money of them he deuised many of the Cardinals ornaments and by name c Polyd. inuent 4. 6. their scarlet robes for this beast is scarlet coloured d Volat. 22. He opened a gap to all vice as The mother of whoredomes and abhominations of the earth For e Peuc 5. p. 227. b. he was most notoriously infamous and exeble for most filthie sodomie of male stewes and diuellish artes or sorcerie
Exod. â—â— â—â— expedition with great honour And what they must doe is committed vnto them For one of the d cap. 15.7 foure beasts or Cherubines which beareth vp the throne of God gaue vnto the seuen Angels seuen golden Phials or Censors full e Exod. 10.2 of the hot burning coles of the wrath of God which liueth for euermore as Alpha and Omega to whom is no variablenes nor changing And by their ministerie the temple the profession of the Gospell is as truly sanctified as was the f Exod. 40.34 35. tabernacle which Moses made or the g 1. King 8.10.11 temple which Salomon built when it was filled full of smoke of the glory of God and of his power which there was in Sacrament and Type but here is in deede and truth And as there Moses nor the Priests were able to enter into the tabernacle of the congregation because of the cloude so here the luster of the glory of God doth keepe men h cap. 19.8 N. B. that none can enter into the temple till the seuen plagues of the seuen Angels be fulfilled All things being thus prepared now followeth the effusion of those plagues In the prophecie whereof first is set downe the speciall vocation of these Angels to the effusion and then their powring of them out Their vocation is from the Church the godly which doe sincerely professe the Gospell newly restored and because of the manifold and grieuous persecutions they crie for and daily threaten vengeance vpon all their Antichristian foes For therefore it is said that that I Iohn and those of my spirit i cap. 16.1 heard a great voyce of such which suffered affliction and vnderstoode the word of God crying out of the temple where they worshipped God and saying to the seuen Angell which are the executioners of Gods wrath Goe your wayes and powre out the Phials of the wrath of God vpon such Antichristian enemies as labour to possesse the earth rather than heauen The particular plagues are seuen k cap. 16.2.3.4 8.10.18.17 First Sores secondly death by sea thirdly death by land or riuers fourthly heate of the sunne fifthly the obscuring of the throne and kingdome of the beast sixthly inuasion and slaughter by the kings of the easte seuenthly the declaration of the truth and proceeding accordingly by prayer destruction c. The manner of the opposition of the beast is a cap. 11.18 cap. 16.9.10 21. that the gentiles be angrie gnaw their tongues for sorrow blasphemies c. but cannot mend themselues The speciall plagues shall be shewed in their proper places when their execution beginneth to be accomplished The complement Anno 1492. Alexander the sixth b Guicciard lib. 1. entring his papacie c Jouius hist sui tem lib. 1. the world was quiet and not beaten with any tempests of warres Especially Italy enioyed the best peace that euer it did from the time of Augustus in any mans memorie d Crantz Met. lib. 12 1. p. 814 Diuers men were in great expectation what would bee the successe of things euen many that followed the Pope as e f 262. b. in Pio 3. Volateran c. But the godly foresaw the vengeance to come For besides others elsewhere g Guies 2. p. 82. Sauanorola a man continually exercised for many yeares in the publicke preaching of Gods word at these times when there was in Italy no other appearance in mans reason then of common tranquillitie would in his sermons prophecy of the comming of forreigne armies with so great astonishment of men that neither walles nor campes could withhould them from comming to heare him h Fox Mart. p. 706. He held and preached iustification by faith for the arke of the couenant is seene and also threatned Italy with the wrath and indignation of God and prophecied before vnto them that the land should be ouerthrowne for the pride and wickednesse of the people and for the vntruth and falshood of the Clergie which God would not leaue vnreuenged i Par. Vrsp 437 That Italy was to be purged with the whipes of God for the manifolde sinnes of the Princes both Ecclesiasticall and secular and so bid the Angels powre out f their Phials For besides the sinnes of other Princes the Pope Alexander the sixth was k Jouius lib. 2 a man of too high a witte and that alwaies craftily liberall was elected for his bribes when beaten men were put by For a Guicc 1. p. 4. he brought by the consent and knowledge of euery one partly for money and partly with promises of offices and dignities many voices of the Cardinals who reiecting the instruction of the Gospel were not ashamed to passe to him by sale an authoritie power to make Marchandise of the holy treasures b Volat. 22. But hee was cruellie vngratefull to the Cardinals that elected him Hee chiefely sought by the example of Innocent to aduance his bastards buâ— with farre greater honours He c Moris papatu p. 95. approued the order of the flewes in Paris which was instituted by a Minorit and d Guicc 3. 179 himself liued incestuouslie with Lucreca his bastard daughter who was likewise common to her two bastard brethren And as e Jouius lib. 1. he defiled the Papacie with diuerse corruptions so he greatly troubled the ciuill estate of the Italian affaires And here is powred out the first Phiall The first Phiall f cap. 16.2 The first Angell therfore according to the commination which came out of the Temple went forth and powred out his Phiall vpon the men that sought only the possession of the earth The effect whereof is there fell a * Deut. 28.35 â—aysome and a grieuous sore vpon the men which had the marke of the beast being as superstitious as any of the Gentiles and vpon them that worshipped his image the Pope the very image of the heathen ciuill Monarchie And here is no mention of the number of his name because these vpon whom the plague first fell were not souldiers to the vse of the Papacie but went to gaine the countries to their owne subiection The complement Charles the eighth g Iouius 1. p. 66 king of France made an expedition into Italie to get Naples At Asta in Italy Ludowick Sforee the regent of Millan met him bringing with him his wife and the choicest women of that countrie knowing the young King to be delighted with such There fell vpon him a vehement sicknes of sores and paines which not somely afflicted his face and armes After his sicknes recured he h 2 89. c. 94. 86. marcheth to Rome with great pompe vpon his vowe to visit the temples at Rome and to worship the altars of Peter and Paul for his health and felicitie and so hee hath the marke of the beast As also humbly to adore the Pope which being the image of the beast held the highest dignitie of pietie and
yeere So did Danie But especially Iohn hus and Ierom of Prage e Geneb p. 1109 Elias Leuita a Iew publisheth his Hebrue Grāmar to the great benefit of Christians Luther f Par. Vrsp p. 447. writeth to the Pope of indulgences Ann. 1518. complaining that the pardon-preachers to the scandall and mockerie of the Ecclesiasticall power and blasphemie of God did write and preach with insatiable couetousnesse the like whereof was neuer heard of before requiring the confessors by oth to enioyne them that confesse to them to buy their pardons terrifying all men with the name of the Pope threatning fire and the reproch of heresie to them that refused to buie their pardons He shewed that with his schedule of articles which he had set vp he onely purposed to prouoke the learned to disputations That it seemed miraculous to him that his propositions were so soone gone abroade as vpon a white horse posted in all the earth That against his will he made himself so publike that he could not recall his propositions a Par. Vrsp p. 448. Hee also answered a dialogue of Siluester Pierius teaching that b 1. Thess 5. All things are to be tryed c Galat. 1. an Angell must teach no other doctrine Fathers may erro and concludeth thus Let opinions remaine opinions and no burthens to the Church Opinions may not be equall to scripture Let the diuines be ashamed of these and such like speeches which they bolt out Thus would I speak in schooles but yet doe not tel any bodie it cānot be prooued by scripture c. Luther before the Legate a Cardinall d Par. Vrs p. 449. iustifieth his doctrine Wherefore the Pope citeth Luther to Rome and commandeth the Princes to deliuer him prisoner to the Legate excommunicating and accursing all Princes and interdicting their landes which would not bee assistant excepting none but the Emperour and giuing plenarie indulgences to them that obeyed e Mass 20. p. 273. Luther appealeth from the Pope not well informed to the Pope to be better informed and after that to a general Councell f Nou. Orb. Cortesius discouereth to the south By g Peuc 5. f. 266. b. Luthers bookes and sermons when godly men in monasteries did heare that idols were to be fled from they according to the commaundement h cap. 18.4 Come out of her my people and be not partakers of her sinnes c began to depart from that wicked seruitude and so were the monasteries left emptie i Par. Vrs 250. c. Anno 1520. There was a disputation of the Popes authoritie c at Lipsia Luther auoucheth his articles which were condemned by the Popes bull k 454. 455. and wrote against the three fortifications of poperie which are 1. The ciuill Magistrate hath no power ouer the spirituall but the spirituall Magistrate hath power ouer the ciuill 2. If they be vrged with scripture they say None can expound the scripture but the Pope c. 3. If they be vrged with a Councell they faigne that none can call a Councell but the Pope c. Erasmus writeth to the Archbishop of Mogunce of Luthers cause saying that the Monkes and Diuines doe condemne the things in Luthers bookes for heresie which in the bookes of Bernard and Augustine are read as true and godly c. They were heretofore heretikes that dissented from the Euangelists and from the Articles of faith c. Now if any dissent from Thomas hee is an heretike Whatsoeuer pleaseth them not what they vnderstand not is heresie to vnderstand Greeke to speake good Latine is heresie with them The * Buchol Ann. 1520. Geneb 1106. diuines of Louane and Colen doe adiudge many of Luthers bookes to the fire to be burned which the same yeere by the commaundement of the Pope and Charles the Emperor was done in Germany a Mass 20. p. 273. Luther at Wittenberge openly burneth the Popes lawes the decretals and decrees with the Popes bull saying b cap. 18.6 I haue done to them as they haue done to me rewarding her as she hath rewarded me c Buchol c. 1521. Luther among other bookes which hee published wrote an exhortation to the nobilitie of Germany of the reformation of the Christian affaires Luther answereth before the Emperour at Wormes where the Emperour proscribed him d Geneb 1110. This yeere began that long and bloudie warre betweene Charles the Emperour and Francis the French King both Papists and this lasted 38. yeres Thou e cap. 16.5.6 Geneb p. 11 10. Lord hast giuen them blood to drinke because they killed thy Saints f Par. Vrs p. 457. Ignatius Layolo a Spaniarde began the order af the fellowship of Iesus and Luthers bookes are burned at Antwerpe and Gant Pope Leo died as it was thought by poison And now is powred forth the fifth Phiall The fifth Phiall Henceforth to the former foure Plagues the fifth Angell powreth out the plague which he was to inflict g cap. 16.10 And the fifth Angell powred out his Phiall vpon the throne of the beast that popish Antichrist and the wonted glorious administration of his kingdome waxed darke and obscured being regarded euery day lesse then other Wherefore the Gentiles the Papists are angrie and gnaw their tongues for sorrow and griefe Yea whereas the Lord plagued them also by the other Phials a cap. 16.11 1521. they blasphemed the God of heauen for their paines and for their plague sores and repented not of their workes but became as cruell proud couetous and euery way as wicked as before though they saw their sinnes The Complement When b Eucholce the Emperor had proscribed Luther c Slei lan 1. f. 18. a. Fridericus the Elector of Saxonie consulted with Erasmus about the doctrine of Luther and standing at the glassie sea mingled with fire protested to despise all dangers for the truth Beeing satisfied by Erasmus that Luther had the truth hee committed Luther to certain Nobles whom he trusted to bring him safe to a castle where he might be vnknowne d cap. 16.10 Thus was the kingdome of the popish beast obscured Here Luther wrot many bookes and calleth the place his Patmos or wildernesse so that in him e cap. 10.11 S. Iohn doth preach againe Ann. 1522. Adrian f Par. Vrsp p. 458. the sixt acknowledging the faults of his time attempteth reformation at Rome g Lanquet ann 1522. Hee sent his letters to the Councell at Argentine charging them to see that none of Luthers bookes were printed and that they which were alreadie printed should bee burned Hee also by his Bull required Fridericke the Elector of Saxonie to maintaine the Church of Rome and by his Legate hee commanded the Princes of Germanie Lanquet anno 1523. assembled at Norimberge to proceed against Luther and his fellowes as against men alreadie heard and condemned Howbeit because the Phiall was powred on
many of them But m Euseb 9. 8. vnder Maximinus was the greatest pestilence of all the people died in the streetes in great multitudes the dogges eat many of them halfe dead their carcasses lay naked open and vnburied a most lamentable spectacle to those that beheld it And as Michael the lambe with his Angels doe fight that he might ouercome so did the Dragon and his a cap. 12.7.8 Angels fight that they might preuaile and keepe their places of idolatrie and superstition The Dragon doth warre b cap. 12.10.11 first by accusing the brethren and then by shedding their blood Many grieuous accusations were laide to the charge of the Christians first that c Euseb 3. 17. Christ was King and so would dispossesse Princes Then d Epiphanius where as some heretikes did vse women in common eating horrible meates as young children and womens menstrues c. the e Euseb 4. 7◠same things were obiected to the faithfull Christians Yea the tyrants in their edicts published f Euseb 9. 5. 7. very blasphemous accusations against Christ and Christians They slaundered the Christians that when they assembled to their Sabbaths vnder the colour of seruing God they polluted themselues with promiscuous whoredomes That the iniquitie of the Christians was the cause of the famine earthquakes warre and mortalities and that the heathen gods did thereby reuenge the indulgence of the Princes towards the Christians Of these and such like slaunders they write books which they giue to the schoole-masters to teach their schollers As also they hang them vp vpon pillars in all publike places to be read of all men Yea they forbade g Polychro lib. 4. f. 169. any man that would not sacrifice to their idols to buie or sell or take vp water Besides their slaunders and disgraces they added hereunto most barbarous persecutions h Massaeus 10. P.p. 131. 133. determining and commanding to roote out the Christians The Churches in many places were i Euseb 8. 2. pulled down and the scriptures burnt and destroyed Yea k Geneb p. 543 Polych 4. c. 25. in one night twentie thousand Christians were burned as they were assembled in the Church seauenteene thousand died of most horrible and vnnaturall torments in the space of thirtie daies Euery l Euseb 8. 6. 7. 10. 12. in alijs suis libris one was the more esteemed for his wisdome and obseruance to his Prince by how much he was able to deuise and execute torments most barbarous vnnaturall horrible and painefull they spared no sexe nor age nor regarded any persons of honour nor affinitie nor consanguinitie Then was there no place of refuge The fift seale cap. 6.9 11. nor time of resting from these tyrannies Yet is the successe happie for the Saints who got the victorie and triumph and a Cap. 12.8.9 miserable to the Dragon and his angels whose place was no more found in heauen but he was cast out euen into the earth and his angels were cast out with him The victorie is first begged of God and then executed Those which obtaine the victorie get it by deprecation and are said to be the b cap 6.9 soules that is c Gen. 9.4 Numb 9.4 Leuit. 17.14 the persons and carkasses of them that had beene killed for the word of God and for the testimonie which they maintained to wit the martyrs which d 2. Tim. 4.6 were killed or offered so that e Leuit. 4.34 their blood seemed to bee poured at the foote of f cap. 11.2 Exod. 21.14 the Altar beeing slaine in the place of Gods most immediate and sincere worshippe for the Gospel and profession of Iesus Christ of whom is spoken before They crie g Gen. 4.10 Heb. 11.4 aloud for vengeance beeing slaine as Abels blood did crie against his brother Caine. They are honoured with white robes which were giuen them euery h Euseb 5. 2. godly man esteeming honourably of them that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for the Lord Iesus Christ Yea they also were honoured with the victorie ouer their persecutors For howsoeuer the estate of the Christians in the former troubles was very desperate yet the Martyrs by the power of Christ did so constantly endure all the torments of their persecutors that they ouercame them i cap. 12.11 by that word of their testimonie in that they loued not their liues vnto the death k Euseb 8. 12. 13 For whē the tyrants had made proofe of all kind of torments and were not able to augment their tortures they dispaired in themselues as not hoping to preuaile by that course Then grewe they wearie with killing them and were glutted with blood They also by reason of certain wise and iust Apologies which the Christians published in the defence of the flocke of Christ feared least the Princes should iustly incurre a publik note of infamie for the barbarous effusion of innocent blood And so the persecution did slacke Thus the victorie beeing obtained at the hands of God The sixt seale cap. 6.12 c. it was presently pursued with diligent execution by the Lambe now throughly angred To which purpose there was a great earthquake that is a a Isai 24.17.18.19.20 Ioel 2.20 generall doubtful tottering in the minds of men not knowing what to settle vpon Which grew by reason that b Ann. 311. Constantinus the sonne of Constantius who fauoured the Christians was saluted Emperour Then c Abb. Vrsp was there a great motion in the Christian world The common wealth was held by foure new Emperours which had euery one their drift to be the chiefest which caused the people to be infinitely distracted Besides that others d Mussaeus p. 132. sought partly by treason to take away Constantine as Maximinianus partly by the souldiers to place themselues as Valens in the East and Alexander at Carthage yea the Romans e Vrsp p. 79. Massaeus were so perplexed with the tyrannie of Maxentius that they called to Constantine for reliefe By the stirring of Constantine the Princes were distressed and confounded as if the Sunne were f cap. 6.12 as blacke as sackecloth of haire and the Moone was all made like blood so g Amos. 8.5 Ioel. 3.15 that their daies were vncomfortable and in the night they were in feare to be slaine For his h Euseb 8. 14. 9.9 comming offended Maximinianus much and his proceedings made Maximinus sadde Maxentius was also in exceeding feare that he durst not go out of Rome gates The Nobles and i Isai 13.10.13 7.2 principall ministers of estate such as loued the workes of darkenesse fell from their places of eminencie as k cap. 6.13 if the starres of heauen fell to the earth and so violently were they mooued out of their places as a figge tree casteth her greene figges when it was shaken of a mightie winde The publike face of l Isa