a beast by themselves that is an eighth in respect of their ecclesiasticall power Now the Angel saith flatly they shall both go together into destruction that is both the Empire and the Papacy For as the dominion of the Popes goeth down so also their worship and religion goeth down with it and for this cause it is expressely set down in the nineteenth chapter that the beast and the false Prophet that is Chap. 19 2â— the Roman Empire and the Papacy were both destroyed together Sith then the holy Ghost hath spoken it twice for failing that Rome shall go into perdition and shall go into destruction I take it to be a very sound consequence that Rome shall fall and shal be destroyed But how shall it fall may some man say Or wherein shall it fall I answer that it shall fall in the credit and estimation of her doctrine How Rome shall fall it shall fall in wealth and riches it shall fall in power and authority And in all these it shall fall by degrees as it did rise up by degrees it shall not fall at once as it did not rise up at once Chap. 16.12 This is set down in the sixteenth chapter where the fall of Rome is compared to the drying up of the river Euphrates which was dryed up by degrees Thus it is Euphrates was a great river which did run very neer unto the old Babylon in Chaldea and it was the wall and fortification of the city in so much that Cyrus and Darius the kings of the Medes and Persians laying siege against it could not take it till by policy they digged water trenches and turned the waters another way and so dryed them up that the holy Ghost saith The way was prepared for them to passe over Now as this Euphrates was the strength and fortification of old Babylon so the honour wealth riches power and authority of Rome is the very fortification of it Chap. 16.12 But the punishing Angel is commanded to powre down the vial of wrath upon this Euphrates that is upon all that upholdeth or fortifieth Rome and forthwith it dried up that is all the credit power riches and authority of Rome did diminish daily doth diminish and shall diminish by degrees unto the end of the world For the utter destruction of Rome is not yet come but it is greatly decayed from that it was fourscore yeers ago and if it continue decaying eighteen yeers more as assuredly it shall then will it be brought to a low ebb Since Luthers time we know how the Popes Euphrates hath dryed up but there is yet much water left and it is yet too deep for the kings of the earth to passe over and take it But it shall ebb so low that the kings of Europe shall easily passe over and take it as wee shall heare anon But in the mean time we see that it falleth and that it is in falling and the work of God goeth forward every day For now in this age God be thanked many Kings and Princes with great multitudes of their subjects have their eyes opened to behold that the Romish religion is abominable and that the Papacy is the very kingdom of the great Antichrist And whereas before they worshipped the beast The kings of the earth in this age renounce the Pope now they hold up their hands only to the God of heaven and glorifie him in his Son Jesus Christ Now wee see that many lawes are made in sundry kingdomes and provinces to abolish that usurped power of the Bishop of Rome Many acts edicts and injunctions are set forth in sundry nations and kingdomes of Europe to destroy root out and deface all monuments of idolatry and superstition which Antichrist had erected in all kingdomes Now the Popes which were honoured as gods in the earth are counted and adjudged as the most vile and abominable creatures that live upon the earth Doth not all this experimentally shew that Babylon is fallen and that Babylon doth fall by degrees It is very palpable wee need no further proofe for this second point But here wee are further to observe that the Jesuites perceiving the great decay of Rome and the continuall drying of their Euphrates do bestir them to stop the leake The Jesuites bestir them and why that it might not dry up altogether Even as when men let out the waters of great fish-ponds so as the water waxeth low we see the fishes skip and plunge and take on wonderfully So the Jesuites perceiving the waters of their Romish Euphrates to empaire and dry up daily do mightily take on digging and searching every day to open the springs and to find out some fresh fountains to maintain their great fish-pond and to keep the waters deep enough that there may be no safe passage over for the kings of the earth to come and take their great Babylon All this doth appear out of the 16th chapter of this Prophecie where S. John in a vision seeth three unclean spirits like frogs Chap. 16.13 coming out of the mouth of the Dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false Prophet By which frogs the holy Ghost meaneth the Jesuites and seminary Priests The Jesuites compared to frogs and why which are compared to frogs for three reasons First that as frogs delight in filthy lakes and puddles so the Jesuites delight in the filthy puddles of idolatry and superstition Secondly as frogs make a great croaking in their marish grounds so the Jesuites make a great croaking in kings Courts in Noblemens houses and Gentlemens houses and almost every where where they can get any entertainment croaking and cracking of the Popes supremacy the Popes holinesse the Popes blessing the Popes keyes the Popes power Peters chair Peters successors Christs vicar and many good morrows I know not what Thirdly as frogs are all of one nature and quality delighting in croaking and living in puddles so the Jesuites are all of one mind and disposition in evill croaking every where to maintain their Euphrates and living daily in whoredome Sodomitry and all kind of outragious beastlinesse But that I may more fully perswade the conscience of the reader that by these frogs are meant the Jesuites and seminary Priests let us seriously weigh that which goeth before and that which followeth after in this text and we shall discern it to be very cleer and apparant First it is said Chap. 16.10 verse 10. that when the fifth Angel powred out his viall of Gods wrath upon the throne of the beast by and by his kingdome waxed darke that is the majestie power pomp credit and estimation of Antichrist began to be diminished obscured and to suffer a great eclipse which thing was fulfilled shortly after Luthers preaching And presently it followeth that they gnawed their tongues for sorrow that is they were full of fury and rage barking and grinning like mad dogs or rather like
or their Authority Moreover they have Crownes of gold upon their heads which sheweth and signifieth that they were the Conquerours of the Earth and Lords of the World and who but they for in those dayes no man nay no Lord or King durst quitch against a Monke a Frier or a pild Priest for if any did they were sure to smart for it They had also faces like the faces of men that is they set faire faces upon matters and pretended great devotion in Religion flattering the people and making them beleeve that they could give them pardon of all their sinnes and bring them to Heaven when as in very truth for their bellies and for their gaine they did cunningly smooth with the Nobles the rich and the mighty setting faire faces upon their proceedings and as Saint Peter saith Through covetousnesse with fained words 2 Pet. 2.3 they made merchandize of mens soules and did closely winde themselves into the hearts of the simple people by their fawning insinuations being in very deed nost notable flatterers and hypocrites They had haire as the haire of women that is they were altogether effeminate being given to delicacy lust and wantonnesse they were drowned in whoredome and all kinde of beastlinesse being a shole of most filthy villaines Their teeth were as the teeth of Lions to catch and snatch at all they could come by They devoured all the fat morsels every where they got the Church-livings into their hands they first made impropriations they incroached upon temporall mens lands they swallowed up all every where If we looke upon the Abbeyes Priories and Nunneries we may easily judge what teeth they had Moreover it is sayd they had Habbergions like to the Habbergions of Iron that is they were so strongly armed with the defence and countenance of the Pope that no Secular power durst once quitch against them Their wings were like the sound of Chariots when many Horses runne unto battell that is with flattering noise and terrible threatnings they strove to uphold their Kingdome Also in Churches and Pulpits they make a roring noise and take on terribly to maintaine their abhominable Idolatry They had tailes like unto Scorpions and there were stings in their tailes For with their poysoned Doctrine and stinging authority like Adders and Snakes they stung many to death Moreover power was given them to hurt men five moneths that is all the time of Antichrists reigne as before hath been shewed ver 10.11 They have a King over them which is the Angell of the bottomelesse pit whose name in Hebrew is Abbadon and in Greeke he is named Apollyon that is destroying As the Fowles have a King over them which is the Eagle and the Beasts the Lion and mortall Men some Chiefe Governour under whose protection and subjection they live so heere these hellish Locusts are sayd to have a King over them which is the Angell of the bottomlesse pit that is the Divell or the Pope which you will under whose Ensigne they fight and under whose defence they live Their Kings name in Hebrew is called Abbadon and in Greek Apollyon The words are both of one signification that is destroying for both the Divell himselfe and his Vicar the Pope are destroyers and wasters of the Church of God One woe is past and behold yet two woes come after this We have heard at large what this first Woe is namely the plage of the world by the Pope and his Clergie Now we are to heare of the second woe which is the most huge and murthering army of the Turkes wherein the third part of men were slaine Some do expound this second woe of the kingdome of Antichrist and his armies but that it is not so may appeare by these reasons following First the Angell denouncing woe woe woe denounceth three severall woes and therefore it is said One woe is past and behold yet two woes come after this It followeth then that this is a distinct and severall woe from the former and therefore cannot be the same Secondly this woe containeth specially a bodily slaughter of the third part of the world and of the wicked reprobates but the first woe was specially a plague of mens soules as we have heard and therefore this cannot be the same with the first Thirdly we are to understand that this booke describeth all the greatest calamities and plagues thaâ— should come upon the world in any age after Christ and therefore we may justly thinke that the kingdome of the Tuâ—ks is not left out seeing it was one of the greatest plagues that ever came upon the world But the kingdome of the Turks is described in no other part of this Revelation and therefore must of necessity be here described ver 13.14 Then the sixt Angell blew the Trumpet and I heard a voice from the foure corners of the golden Altar which is before God Saying to the sixt Angell which had the Trumpet loose the foure Angells which are bound in the great river Euphrates Now we are come to the description of the Second woe which followeth upon the blowing of the sixt Trumpet by the sixt Trumpet by the sixth Angell And first of all he sayth He heard a voyce from the foure corners of the golden Altar By the golden Altar is meant Christ as before hath been shewed with the reasons thereof From this Altar the voyce commeth to the Angell which blew the sixth Trumpet Chap. 8.3 that we might know it is the voyce of the mighty God and the commandement of our Lord Jesus The voyce commandeth the sixth Angell to loose the foure Angells which are bound in the great River Euphrates By these foure Angels which are thus bound at Euphrates is meant many Divels or Angels of darkenesse as we have heard before Chapter 7 Verse 1. Their binding signifieth their restraint by which they were held backe from doing that mischiefe which they desired to do Their loosing signifieth that power was given them to performe that which they wished They are sayd to be foure in number because they should raise an horrible plague in the foure corners of the Earth both East West North and South The sense is that the Divells have yet farther and greater scope given them to plague and destroy the inhabitants of the Earth These Divells had exceeding great power in the Kingdome of Antichrist but they are unsatiable in mischiefe and so after a sort lye still bound till they have their desire The place where they lye bound is Euphrates wherein is a mystery for Euphrates literally taken is a great River which ran so night the City Babylon in Chaldea that it was a mighty defence unto it so that the City could not be taken untill they that laid siedge unto it cut out trenches and derived the waters another way Now for the mystery it is this Rome in this book is called Babylon by a metaphor and after the same manner the great River Euphrates as we shall
therein are that time should be no more But in the daies of the voice of the seventh Angell ver 7. when he shall begin to blow the trumpet even the ministery of God shall be finished as he hath declared unto his servants the Prophets The summe of these three verses is that Christ giveth warning of the last judgement that men might awake and looke out in time Amo. 6 1. And because men for the most part are carelesse and secure putting the evill day far from them as the Prophet speaketh therefore here Christ bindeth it with a solemne oath and solemne gestures thereunto annexed as was the lifting up of the hand in antient time Genesis 14.22 The thing that our Lord Jesus disposeth is that time shall be no more that is Time as it is now or the state of things as they be now but he telleth us flatly that as six Angels have already blowne their Trumpets so when the seventh Angell should blow the Mystery of God shall be finished that is the time of punishing the wicked and rewarding the godly should come which is therefore called a Mystery because the world understandeth it not They thinke there is no such matter Mal. 3.14 They imagine there is no reward for the just or punishment for the wicked as the Prophet saith But the holy Ghost saith Verily there is a reward for the righteous Psa 58.18 doubtlesse there is a God which judgeth the Earth And here it is said that God hath declared it to his servants the Prophets And the voice which I heard from Heaven spake unto me agine verse 8. and said goe and take the little booke which is open in the hand of the Angell which standeth upon the Sea and upon the Earth So I went unto the Angell and said unto him give me the little booke vâ—rse 9. And he said unto me take it and eat it up and it shall make thy belly bitter but it shall be in thy mouth as sweet as hony Then I tooke the little booke out of the Angels hand and eat it up ver 10. and it was in my mouth as sweet as hony but when I had eaten it my belly was bitter And he said unto me verse 11. Thou must prophesie againe among the people and nations and tongues and to many Kings The briefe sence of these foure verses is that the Preachers of the Gospell being called allowed and authorized by Christ unto their ministery should study the Scriptures with great diligence even untill they had eaten up the booke of God and they should preach and publish unto all nations and Kingdomes that truth of God and doctrine of the Gospell which now a long time had lien hid in the raigne of Antichrist It is to be observed that John in this place representeth the person of all the ministers of the Gospell which should be raised up in these last daies for the overthrow of Antichrist and the restauration of true Religion for John himselfe did not live to these times Further it is to be noted that all godly Students and zealous Ministers do eate up the booke of God by reading study prayer and meditation and they find it sweet in their mouth that is they find and feele great joy and comfort in the study and meditation thereof especially when God revealeth therby great and hid secrets unto them and giveth them to understand the mysteries of the Gospell and counsels of his will which are locked up from the wise and prudent of this world This I say is sweeter unto their mouth than hony and the hony combe Concerning their phrase of eating up the Booke looke Ezek. 2.9 for here the holy Ghost alludeth thereunto This booke being so sweet in the mouth yet being eaten and digested is better in the belly There may be three reasons yeelded of this bitternesse First because it being once taken downe into our soule by godly meditation doth mortifie our corrupt nature and bring under our lust and therefore seemeth bitter to flesh and blood Secondly because afflictions and trialls do alwaies necessarily follow the sound digestion of the Gospell Thirdly because the doctrine of the Gospel being swallowed by the ministers therof must not be kept to themselves as it were closed up in their stomacks but they must out with it againe as if it were some loathsome and bitter thing which must needs be cast up againe And for this cause it is sayd in the last verse that they must prophesie againe among the people and nations and tongues and many Kings Now blessed be the name of the Lord our God who hath given us to live in this age wherein we do with our eies behold and see the fulfilling of all these things let us therefore praise God for this great worke which we see wrought in our daies and let us still more and more magnifie this little Booke which will utterly destroy Popery and bring downe the proud Antichrist do all that fight for him what they can CHAP. XI VVE have heard that the little Booke should be opened and the Gospel preached and published to many nations and Kingdomes after the great darknesse of Popery and that this was done by Luther Melancthon Calvin Peter Virit Peter Martyr Bullinger Bucer and all their faithfull successors unto this day Now in this Chapter we are to understand the effect and good successe of their preaching and publishing the Gospell which was that the Church should be restored reformed and built up thereby which a long time had been wasted and oppressed by the tyranny of Antichrist and that many should embrace this Gospell forsake their Idolatries and turne unto God with all their hearts yea whole Nations and Kingdomes in Europe should be converted to the faith as we see this day God be praised So then the principall drift of this Chapter is to shew those things which yet remaine to be fulfilled under the blowing of the sixth Trumpet which is the preaching and prevailing of the Gospel even unto the worlds end and also the things which follow upon the blowing of the seventh trumpet which is the resurrection and last judgement This Chapter containeth six principall things as it were six parts thereof First it sheweth how the true Church should be gathered together ver 1.2 and built up by the preaching of the Gospell and all the wicked refused and cast out ver 3.4.5.6 Secondly it describeth the builders that is all the faithfull Ministers which had and should resist Antichrist Thirdly ver 7.8 it sheweth how Antichrist should persecute the Preachers and Professors of the Gospell unto death and murther them by heapes Fourthly it sheweth that Papists Atheists and wicked worldlings ver 9.10 should rejoyce in the death of Gods people and not vouchsafe them so much as the honour of buriall but sends gifts one to another for joy that they were rid out of the Earth Fifthly it sheweth that
never set Popery here in England to stand and continue do what they can I must needs confesse that our sins being so horrible and outragious as they are and being grown to such an height and ripenesse doe deserve some fearfull vengeance and that God hath a just controversie against us as sometimes hee had against Israel Hos 4. because there was no mercy nor truth nor knowledge of God in the land but swearing lying killing stealing and whoring and bloud toucheth bloud and therefore saith God The land shall mourn c. But yet I hope for his covenant sake for his great mercies sake for his names sake for his glory sake and for his Churches sake he will be gracious and favourable unto us and not bring upon us that vengeance which our sins have deserved or at least wise though he correct us as indeed he hath just cause and we may justly fear it yet hee will doe it in mercy for our amendment and not in wrath to our destruction as hee saith by his Prophet I will not utterly destroy thee Jer. 30.11 46.28 10.24 but I will correct thee by judgment and not utterly cut thee off But howsoever it shall please the most wise God to deale with us yet this I say and am perswaded of that Popery shall never be established again in this kingdom my reason is because the everlasting Gospel carried abroad by the Angel that flyeth in the middest of heaven shall spread still more and more throughout all the kingdomes of Europe as appeareth chap. 14. v. 6. for otherwise how shall Rome fall how shall the Jewes ever be converted Rom. 11.24 how shall fire come down from heaven and devoure both Gog and Magog Chap. 19. as the holy Ghost fore-telleth shall come to passe and as we shall hear more anon Moreover S. John telleth us plainly Chap. 10.1 that in these last dayes the Gospel shall be preached to many people and nations and tongues and to many kings And further hee saith that in this age wherein we live many shall renounce idolatry repent and give glory to the God of heaven But some man may say How prove you that this kingdome is one of them which Saint John speaketh of and which hee meaneth wherein the Gospel shall be preached unto the end of the world I answer that it is proved out of the seventeenth chapter of this Prophecie where the holy Ghost telleth us flatly that those ten kingdomes of Europe which had a long time been the ten horns and strength of the beast Chap. 19.13 and being of one mind had given their power and authority unto the beast should now in these last dayes rise up against the whore of Babylon Verse 16. make war against her hate her and make her desolate But this kingdome is one of those ten hornes and one of those ten kingdomes which a long time had given her power and authority to the beast Therefore as this kingdome hath happily begun to hate the whore and to make her desolate and naked so undoubtedly she shall continue unto the end of the world * England other kingdoms which have forsaken the beast shal so continue unto the end of the world For if this kingdome and other kingdomes which now hate the whore doe not continue how shall she be made desolate and naked c. Then it should seem the beast shall revive and recover himselfe again and so St. John shall be found a false Prophet But God is true and all men are lyers and St. John shall be found a true Prophet and therefore these kingdoms of Europe which have begun to hate the whore shall continue and never give her over till as the holy Ghost saith they have eaten her flesh and burnt her with fire that is till they have utterly devoured her But here it will be objected that in the latter dayes iniquity shall have the upper hand I answer first that I find no such place of Scripture But this I find that our Lord Jesus fore-telleth his disciples that very shortly after his death and resurrection many seducers and false teachers should arise which should deceive many and draw them away from the love of the Gospel and saith he Mat. 24.12 because iniquity shall be increased the love of many shall be cold But this speech of our Saviour doth not properly concern our times but yet it must needs be granted that the wicked shall wax worse and worse and the world shall not amend but still be worse and worse and grow to a greater height and ripenesse of sin as appeareth in this Prophecie Yet for all this we must note withall that the number of true beleevers in those last daies shall be very many Ch. 11.1 11 13. as this book doth also teach But it may be objected How can this geare stand together that in the last dayes there shall be multitudes and millions of reprobates and most wicked and abominable persons and yet withall a great increase of true beleevers I answer that the world will be alwaies like it selfe impious and unbeleeving But the Church shall purely worship God and that with daily increasing even unto the end But now me thinketh I heare some man say What likelyhood is there of all this which you write touching the overthrow of Rome Doe wee not see that Rome is yet strong Doth not Italy Spaine the greatest part of France and Netherland and Germany stand for her defence Hath not the whore still many and great bearers and upholders What likelyhood is there then that ever she shall be brought so low as you speak of I answer that in this case wee must not ask the question We may not say What likelihood is there of this What likelyhood Wee must not consult with flesh and bloud wee must not take counsell of humane reason For God is marvellous in his devices and when he hath once decreed and determined of any future event hee will compasse it by means far surpassing all humane reach and capacity yea by such plots and devices as mans wit could never have once dreamed of For hee hath all means in heaven and earth in his hands and is admirable in all his proceedings and therefore wee may not ask this question What likelyhood or how can it be or how can it possibly come to passe What likelyhood was there an hundred yeeres past when Rome was in her delight and all the kingdomes of Europe stood for her that ever she should have been forsaken of so many of her old friends as at this day she is What likelyhood was there that when the Pope could command the Emperor and all the Kings of Europe and their kingdomes that ever hee should have been brought so low as at this day he is God be thanked What likelyhood was there that ever poor Martin Luther should stand out with the everlasting Gospel in his mouth against the
God that love the Church and that love the truth greatly to rejoyce in the destruction of Rome because this monster shall no longer oppresse the Israel of God And sure it is that the more zealous and godly that a man is the more hee will rejoyce at the destruction of Popery for a man cannot love God and his Church that doth not laugh in the destruction of that Antichristian and bloudy kingdome Let no man here say This is cruelty this is want of charity and want of pity to laugh in the destruction of any or to rejoyce at other mens harmes But the most wise God saith Chap. 8.6 Reward her even as shee rewarded you and give her double according to her works and in the cup that shee hath filled to you fill her the double In as much as shee glorified her selfe and lived in pleasure so much give yee to her torment and sorrow And therefore I affirme that no man ought to be moved with any compassion or pitie for the overthrow of Rome But herein that saying of the Prophet is true Psal 137.9 Blessed is hee that taketh and dasheth her children against the stones And again Bend thy bow Jer. 50.14 shoot at her sâ—are no arrowes for shee hath sinned against the Lord. Moreover wee are to observe that forasmuch as the Lord willeth and commandeth all men to reward Rome as she hath rewarded us and to give her double according to her works therefore we ought every one of us as much as in him lieth and as his calling will bear to doe his uttermost to pull down Rome the Magistrate by the sword the Minister by the word and the people by their prayers For even Christian Kings and Princes and all the Nobles of the earth must not be negligent to fight against Rome For herein that saying is true Jer. 48.10 Cursed is hee that doth the work of the Lord negligently and cursed is hee that keepeth back his sword from bloud For this cause I doe upon my knees night and day most humbly and instantly intreat the God of heaven that as he hath put into the heart of our most gracious and excellent King to hate the whore of Babylon and to be his greatest instrument in the whole world for the weakning and overturning of Rome and the defence of his most glorious Gospel which is his crowne and glory in all the Churches and his great renown in all Christian kingdomes so hee may constantly continue and never cease drawing out the sword of justice till he have utterly rooted out of his dominions all the cursed crew of Popish Jebusites and all such as have received the beasts mark and especially the Jesuites and seminary Priests which are the Divels brokers the Popes agents and the King of Spaines factors in all kingdomes Here also I do most humbly even upon my knees with dropping eyes yea if it were possible with tears of blood beseech and intreat the learned and reverend Fathers of our Church that they would bend all their power and authority with all their might and maine against the Romish strumpet and the rather because in these daies she seemeth to make a head again having so many and great favourers that she and her complices dare perk with their nebs and very boldly and confidently prate of a toleration Here also I doe most humbly and earnestly intreate all my learned and godly brethren the Ministers and Preachers of this Church of England that in all their publick teachings and private proceedings they would make strong opposition against Rome and Romish religion And I beseech the God of gods that we may all joyn together with united forces to march on valiantly against the armies of Antichrist and to spread the everlasting Gospel far and neer to the utter overturning and beating down of this western Babylon and that howsoever wee may amongst our selves differ in judgement in some things yet that there might be no breach of love nor alienation of affection amongst us but that wee may all goe together hand in hand and arme in arme to preach Gods everlasting truth and to set our selves against the common adversaries For if that we will not set our selves against them yet they will be sure to set themselves against us And thus much concerning the third main point which is the finall fall and destruction of Rome even in this world Now it followeth to speak of the fourth main point which is By whom and when Rome shall be overthrowne But for the better understanding of this point concerning the persons that shall overthrow Rome wee are to observe that Saint John describeth the whore of Babylon sitting upon a scarlet coloured beast Chap. 17.4 having seven heads and ten horns whereby is meant the Roman Monarchy as hath been shewed before After this the Angel expoundeth unto John what the heads and horns of the beast mean and saith that the ten horns are ten kings Verse 12. or kingdomes which yet have not received a kingdome but shall receive power as kings at an houre with the beast The sense is that these ten kingdomes had not received such power and authority under the Emperors as they should under the Popes for there was great difference in these kingdoms under the Popes from that which they had been under the Emperors For they received far greater power and they carried another mind toward the Papacy then the nations did before toward the Empire for they did submit themselves to the Papacy for conscience and love even as to the holy Church which they never did to the Empire And this is the reason why the holy Ghost saith They had not received a kingdome but should receive power as kings at an houre with the beast Which is not to be understood simply but after a sort for they had received kingdomes under the Emperors but not in such sort as afterward they did under the Popes For the Roman Monarchy under the dominion of the Popes was in his greatest height and altitude and the Kings of Europe grew up together with the Papacy in power might and dominion And Saint John addeth Chap. 17.13 that these ten kings or kingdomes were all of one mind and did give their power and authority unto the beast that is they did with might and main labour to uphold the Babylonicall strumpet But the Angel telleth John flatly that the ten horns that is the ten kingdomes of the Empire which before had given their names their power and authority to the beast to uphold her and defend her should now in these last dayes all change their mindes and turne against her For saith the Angel to John Chap. 17.36 The ten hornes which thou sawest upon the beast are they which shall hate the whore and make her desolate and naked and shall eat up her flesh and burn her with fire Here then it doth plainly appeare who they be that shall overthrow Rome
Jerusalem therefore lyeth foure-square because it can never be moved but standeth fast for ever as the Apostle saith Seeing wee receive a kingdome which cannot be shaken Heb. 12.28 let us have grace whereby we may so serve God that wee may please him with reverence and feare The Angel with his golden measuring rod measureth the square sides of the city both in length breadth height and depth of it and findeth each of them to be 12000 furlongs which after eight furlongs to the mile maketh in our accompt 1500 miles and so the whole square of this great city cometh to 6000 miles which is a goodly compasse and noteth unto us the great largenesse of Gods kingdome and that there is roomth enough for all the inhabitants thereof yea most pleasant and commodious rooms as our Lord Jesus saith In my Fathers house are many dwelling places John 1.4 if it were not so I would have told you for I go to prepare a place for you After this hee measureth the thicknesse of the wall and findeth it to bee an hundred and fourty and foure cubits thick which after our common account of two cubits to a yard amount to seventy and two yards which is a jolly thicknesse even so thick as no cannon can pierce and therefore altogether inexpugnable as hath been said before And the building of the wall of it was of Jasper Verse 18. and the city was pure gold like unto cleere glasse And the foundations of the wall of the citie were garnished with all manner of precious stone Verse 19. The first foundation was of Jasper the second of Saphire the third of Chalcedony the fourth of an Emerald The fifth of a Sardonix the sixth of a Sardius Verse 20. the seventh of a Crysolite the eighth of a Beryl the ninth of a Topaze the tenth of a Chrysophrasus the eleventh of a Jacinct the twelfth of an Amethyst And the twelve gates were twelve pearles Verse 21. and every gate is of one pearle and the street of the citie is pure gold as shining glasse As wee have heard of the forme of this goodly city so now we are to hear of the matter of it that is to say of what stuffe it is made First Saint John telleth us that the whole city is of most pure and glittering gold like unto glasse and that the wall was of Jasper most green and flourishing and also that the very foundation of the wall was beautified adorned with twelve sundry kinds of precious stones which hee reckoneth up We count it a great matter here below to compasse and close in our houses with a wall of brick and none can doe it but men of place but alas what is that to this wall What is brick to precious stones and pibbles to pearl But Saint John addeth that the gates were of pearle and the streets of the city of pure gold Oh how brave how beautifull how glorious how glittering how gorgeous how admirable a city is this for if the gates be of pearl and the streets of gold then what are the inner rooms what are the dining chambers and what are the lodging roomes But here we may not grossely imagine that the kingdom of God is of such metall and matter indeed as is here described But the holy Ghost would give us some taste of it and after a sort shadow out unto us under these things which are in most precious account amongst men what the glory and excellency of the immortall kingdome is For otherwise there is no comparison betwixt gold pearl and precious stones and those heavenly invisible and immortall things which wee looke for and hope for through Christ which in very deed are so great so glorious and so unconceivable that gold pearl and precious stones are scant so much as any shew shadow or resemblance thereof And I saw no Temple therein Verse 22. for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it And this city had no need of the Sun Verse 23. neither of the Moone to shine in it for the glory of God did light it and the Lamb is the light of it And the people which are saved shall walk in the light of it Verse 24. and the kings of the earth shall bring their honour and glory unto it And the gates of it shall not be shut by day Verse 25. for there shall be no night there And the glory and honour of the Gentiles shall be brought unto it Verse 26. And there shall enter into it no uncleane thing Verse 27. neither whatsoever worketh abominations or lies but they which are written in the Lambs book of life In this new Jerusalem there is no Temple as was in the old Jerusalem for there shall be no need of any no need of doctrine of sacraments of prayer in the old Temple wherein the law was taught sacraments administred sacrifices offered and many other rites and ceremonies observed But Saint John saith that now God and Christ shall be all in all They shall be the Temple of the most holy city And all the elect shall fully know them and dwell with them for ever And as the city hath no need of any Temple so hath it no need of any light either of Sunne or Moon for the glory of God and the brightnesse of the Lambe doe light it for ever whose incomprehensible brightnesse doth as farre excell the brightnesse of the Sun and Moone as they doe excell a little candle at noone day But it may be demanded Who shall dwell in this so glorious a city and in this so great a light Saint John answereth that the people that are saved shall walk in it that is all the Israel of God all true beleevers which are happy that ever they were born that they may come to the possession of such a kingdome as is here described For Saint John saith that the resplendent brightnesse of this city is so great that even the kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honour unto it And also that the glory and honour of the Gentiles shall be brought unto it Oh how unspeakable is the glory of this citie that kings shall throw downe their crownes and scepters before it accounting all their pomp and glory but as dust in respect of it For the magnificence and pomp of all the Potentates of the earth shall here be laid downe And albeit none of the Kings and Nobles of the Gentiles might be admitted into the old Jerusalem yet all the Gentiles that beleeve shall be admitted into this new Jerusalem and made free denizens thereof for ever And although the gates of this citie alwayes stand open both night and day as not fearing any danger of enemies yet no unclean thing shall enter into it but onely they which are written in the Lambes book of life Thus wee see how gloriously the holy Ghost hath described unto us this citie of the Saints
and receive a greater largnesse of supernaturall things for Daniel in prison Peter in a Tanners house Paul in a broken ship received a superabundant measure of grace more to bee esteemed then all the Gold of India Some write that this Isle of Pathmos is accounted amongst the Islands called Sporados which lie over against Asia and the City of Ephesus and was in the sight both of Europe and Affrica so that it sâ—emed to bee as it were a middle seat or Holy chaire out of the which CHRIST preached by John from heaven to the whole world And indeed the counsels of God are wonderfull and his goodnesse unspeakeable which revealeth so great mysteries to his faithfull as it were out of the Romish prison and Babylonicall captivity Moreover John declareth the cause of his comming into the same Iland for he sayth he was there for the word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ that is for the preaching and constant profession of the Gospell of Christ Histories do report that John was apprehended in Asia and by Souldiers led to Rome that he might pleade his cause before the Emperour Domitian who most savagely and cruelly condemned the innocent and caused him to be put into a cauldron of hot boyling Oyle out of the which when he by miraculous providence escaped without harme he was carried and conveied into the Isle of Pathmos But immediatly after Johns banishment God met well enough with this persecuting Emperor Domitian For in the fifteenth yeare of his raigne he was cruelly and most shamefully murdered by his owne Servants And thus much for the third circumstance Now it followeth to speake of the fourth circumstance which is the persons to whom this prophesie is written and that is set down in the first Chapter and first verse to be all the servants of God As many therefore as be the servants of God must attend unto this booke heare it reade it and remember it for to all such it is dedicated by the holy Ghost to all such it belongeth for all such it is written and recorded Some do falsely and foolishly imagine that it was given onely to John and that it might likewise bee given to some speciall men as to some great Scholers or deepe Divines which could tell how to use it and how to weild it But wee see how grossely they erre for the holy Ghost saith it belongeth to all the Servants of God And moreover John is willed and commanded to write all the things which hee saw in sundry visions in a booke together Cha. 1.11 and to send it to the seven Churches which is in Asia be-because the Lord would have it remaine in perfect record unto the use of the whole Church both that the Church might have the custody of this booke and allso that it might be a faithfull witnesse unto the end of the world that this booke was written and penned by Iohn the Apostle of whose truth sincerity the church had sufficient experience True it is indeed that there are but seven Churches named but under these 7. Churches all others are comprehended It had bin an infinite matter to reckon up all the particular Churches which were then in the world to have opened their severall estates therefore under these seven Churches of Asia and their particular severall estates the state of the universall Church militant is layd open I conclude therefore that the whole doctrine of Saint Iohns Revelation appertaineth to the Universall Church of Christ throughout all the World and in all times and ages since it was written and recorded And that as all Scripture is written for our instruction and comfort Rom. 15.4 2 Ti. 3.16 and as all Scripture given by divine inspiration is profitable to teach and convince c. so this booke of the Apocalyps is written for the speciall comfort and instruction of the Church in these last dayes And so I doe conclude this fourth point The fift circumstantiall point is the end and use of this prophesie Chap. 1.1 which is to publish and blaze abroad the things which must shortly come to passe that is all things prophesied in this booke and to be fulfilled even to the end of the World and whereas hee saith that these things must come to passe he doth us to understand how great the stablenesse and assurednesse of Gods determination is For looke what things are fore-appointed by Gods determinate purpose they are altogether unchangeable for the Lord is God and hee is not changed And he saith My determination shall stand Mal. 3.6 Esay 45 1â— Ma. 24.35 And Christ sayth Heaven and earth shall passe away c. It is therefore most certaine that every particular thing contained in this prophesie shall be fulfilled in Gods appointed time For GOD hath disclosed these things to hâ—s Sonne CHRIST not to the end he should shut then up againe in himselfe but that he should shew them forth to the Godly that the whole Church might fare the better by them It doth then stand us all upon to enquire and search into these things which must so shortly come to passe that thereby we may be strengthned and comforted against all future dangers And Christ saith Behold I come shortly Blessed is he that keepeth the words of the Prophesie c. Apo. 22.7 But how shall wee keepe them except wee know them And how shall we know them except we reade them and studdy them If therefore wee meane bee partakers of this blessednesse we must not onely esteeme this booke to bee very profitable but absolutely necessary for all the servants of God to be exercised in And if ever there were any time wherein it behoved to set forth to urge and to beare in this Doctrine to all the people of God then it is chiefly necessary to be done in this our time For this age of ours hath in the Popes Kingdome many sharpe and quicke wits which commend with marvellous praises both the Pope and the popish Church and buzze into the eares of the common people and unlearned sort many things cleane contrary to the Doctrine of the Scriptures The Jesuites and Priests are growne exceeding crafty and cunning The Papists are rich wealthy and full of armour and munition Popery seemeth to make a head againe and the Papists looke for a day It stands us then upon which love Christ and his Gospell that we should be well appointed and thorowly armed against them And for this purpose the Revelation of Saint John is of great use and necessity As I said before so I say againe that it is the Prophesie of our time written to this speciall end that by it wee might be both fore-warned and fore-armed If wee doe consider the whole matter of this booke we shall easily finde out the use and end of it For the excellent matter of it doth argue the excellent end and use of it Now then as concerning the generall matter of this
of Prophets in whom the will of God and all the counsels of the Father are revealed unto us The manner of Johns calling to receive this Prophesie is set downe in these words I John even your brother Ver. 9 10 11. and companion in tribulation and in the Kingdome and patience of Jesus Christ was in the I le of Pathmos for the Word of God and for the witnessing of Jesus Christ And I was ravished in the Spirit on the Lords day and heard behinde me a great voice as it had beene of a Trumpet saying I am Alpha and Omega that first and that last and that which thou seest write in a booke and send it unto the seven Churches which are in Asia c. Now out of these three verses five things are to be observed First that John is commanded by the voyce of Christ which he heard behinde him as loud as a Trumpet to write and record the visions which he saw being so writen and recorded to commend them to all the Churches for the common benefit and use thereof So that herein John doth nothing of himselfe nothing of his owne braine but all things by speciall warrant and authority from Jesus Christ and that Alpha and Omega which doth call him and authorize him to this great businesse which now he is set about Secondly Johns ravishment in spirit to the end he might be made more capable of all these heavenly visions which were shewed unto him Thirdly his great humiliation whereby also he was fitted to receive and understand these great mysteries For God will guide the meeke in judgement and teach the humble his wayes Psal 25. yea his secrets are with them that feare him Therefore although John was a great Apostle and hath seene wonderfull visions yet he is not thereby puft up with pride and conceit of himselfe but in the greatest humiliation of his soule calleth himselfe a brother and companion of all the faithfull Ver. 9. but specially of such as patiently suffer for Iesus Christ and his Kingdome Fourthly the time when Iohn was called which was the Lords day Fiftly and lastly the place where he was called which was the I le of Pathmos as formerly hath been shewed The description of Christ the Person that called Iohn to this new office is set downe in the next five Verses following wherein the excellent glory of Christs Person is described First Ver. 13 14 15 16. from the place where Christ did appeare unto him Secondly from the severall parts and members of his royall Person Thirdly from his provident care over his true Ministers and all his faithfull people Touching the place where Christ in a vision did appeare to Iohn he saith it was in the middest of the seven golden Candlestickes For saith hee I turned backe to see the voice that spake with me and when I was turned I saw seven golden Candlestickes and in the middest of the seven Candlestickes one like the Sonne of man c. The seven golden Candlesticks are interpreted by Christ himselfe in the last Verse of the Chapter to be the seven Churches The Churches are said to be of gold because Christ delighteth in them as we doe in gold he valueth every true member thereof as we doe gold for every beleever is all glorious within every true Christian is very faire and beautifull every regenerate man is as gold even as most pure gold It is said afterward that Christ walketh in the middest of the seven golden Candlestickes Ver. 11.13 that is Hee is alwayes present with His Church to feed it governe it defend it and comfort it The Prophet saith that Christ hath seven eyes which goe through the whole world whereby is signified his watchfull providence for his Church for he is alwayes looking out for the good of it to defend and protect it against all adversary power Which thing was figured in the Rammes skins wherewithall the Arke was covered to defend it against all violence of winde and weather Even so the mercifull protection of Christ as it were the continall covering of his Church As touching the parts and members of his royall Person he is described of his head and haire of his face of his eyes of his voyce of his feet of his garments and of his girdle As concerning his head and haire they are said to be as white as wooll and in snow which signifieth his great wisdome and knowledge to performe all things in his Church for wisdome and knowledge for the most part doe accompany white heads and gray haires His face shineth as the Sun in his strength Which signifieth that Christ is the same to his Church that the Sunne is to the World For as the Sun lightneth the whole World with his brightnesse so Christ with the brightnesse of his face enlightneth his whole Church His eyes are like a flame of fire that is exceeding bright and piercing into all places yea the very heart of men for nothing is hid from his sight with whom we have to doe Hee hath Eagles eyes to foresee all dangers intended and plotted against his Church that he may in due time prevent them His voyce is compared to the sound of many waters because it should sound throughout all the World by the preaching of the Gospell Waters is expounded Chapter 17. verse 15. of multitudes nations and tongues Christs voyce therefore is like many Waters because his voice should goe through many Countries and Kingdomes His feet are compared to fine brasse to signifie both the perfection of all his wayes and also his mighty power to tread downe all his enemies He is clothed with a garment downe to the ground to signifie that hee walked as King and Priest in the midst of the 7. golden Candlesticks For Kings and Priest in old time did weare long garments especially in the execution of their offices He is girded about the paps with a golden girdle For as Kings and Priests did gird their garments close unto them lest otherwise they might be hindred in the execution of their offices so Christ girdeth himselfe close to his businesse for he is no idle beholder of the state of his Church but one that continually worketh out the good thereof Concerning his provident care over his faithfull Ministers he is said to carry them in his right hand for he had in his right hand seven starres Ver. 16. Ver. 10. that is the Ministers of the Churches As Christ saith The seven starres are the Angels that is the Ministers of the seven Churches Ministers are compared to Starres because they should shine as bright Starres in this darke world both by life and doctrine Christ is said to hold them in his right hand because he alwayes defended them against the malice and fury of the World which of all others is most outragiously bent against them and their favorites But let men take heed of over-bold presuming to pull the Stars out of Christs right
these things fulfilled For when the Pope and his Clergie had murthered Gerbardus Dulcimus Navarrensis Waldus Nicholaus Orem John Picus John Zisca Visilus Groningensis Armerias Wickliffe Husse Jerome of Prague and many Preachers in Suevia and one hundred holy Christians in the Country of Alsatia and many other Countries and of all conditions of men yet for all that spight of their hearts God raised up others in their stead as Luther Calvin Zuinglius Peter Martyr Peter Viret Melancthon Bucer Bullinger and their successors yea the thousands of excellent Ministers and Preachers which are dispersed over all Europe at this day in whom all the former witnesses doe revive and as it were stand upon their feet againe And now a great feare is come upon the Pope and his Clergie and all his favourites for they did never so much as dreame of such an alteration but this is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes And they shall heare a great voyce from him saying unto them vers 12. Come up hither and they shall ascend up to Heaven in a Cloud and their enemies shall see them Here the Lords witnesses whom Antichrist had murdered and called and taken up into heaven that they may be crowned with glory and immortality having in the earth fought so excellent a fight of faith as they had for even as Christ their head was taken up in a cloud to the Heavens even so his faithfull members are here taken up in a cloud to raigne with him for ever Moreover it is here said that their enemies shall see them ascending up they shall as it were ascend up in their fight for from the fire and faggot swords and speares of their enemies they went directly unto God and the very consciences of their persecutors did witnesse so much nay some of them being in horrible convulsions of conscience did not stick to utter it avouching the innocency of Gods Martyrs as sometimes Pilate and the Centurion did of Christ But though they had not beene justified by their enemies yet are here justified by a great testimony for the voyce from Heaven the voyce of God doth justifie them and cleare them accounting them worthy to bee called up from the Earth to Heaven and received to eternall glory For howsoever the Pope and his Clergie condemned them for Heretickes and Schismatickes yet here they are justified and cleared by a voyce from Heaven which is more than the voyces suffrages and approbations of all men in the World And the same houre there shall bee a great earth-quake and the tenth part of the City shall fall and in the earth-quake shall be slaine in number seven thousand and the remnant were sore feared and gave glory to the God of Heaven As he hath shewed before that the world was very joyfull and jocond when they had made dispatch of Gods witnesses but afterward full of feare and terrour when they saw what followed So here in this Verse is shewed that at the same houre that is about the same time when they have persecuted the Saints see thousands of others raised up in their stead and as it were out of their bloud that there should immediately follow a great earth-quake that is horrible commotions seditions tumults and open warres among the Kingdomes and Nations of the world and amongst all people which should live after the breaking forth of the light of the Gospell as this day we see with our eyes For who now in these dayes doth not see and feele this Earthquake Who knoweth not what stirres there have beene and are every where about Religion Who is ignorant that all the warres seditions treacheries treasons rebellions that are this day in Europe betwixt one Kingdome another are especially concerning the matter of Religion But mark what followeth Behold the effect of this Earth-quake It is said that the tenth part of the Citty shall fall By the City here hee meaneth the great City of Rome mentioned before vers 8. which is therefore called the great City because it was the chief city of the Roman Empire and the very seat of Antichrist Now then the sense and meaning of the holy Ghost is that when there once beginneth to be an earth-quake that is broyles contentions alterations questions and disputations about religion and that the Popish doctrine which had so long prevailed in the world should be called in question yea openly preached against convicted and condemned that then Rome shall begin to fall and Romish religion to suffer a great eclipse yea the tenth part that is some part of the city of Rome I mean the doctrine and authority of Rome shall bee overthrown Now this falling of the tenth part of Rome was fulfilled within some few yeers after the broaching of the Gospel by Luther and his immediate successors but since it is gone back many degrees and hereafter it shall still ebb and consume away by degrees even till it come to nothing as God willing shall be plainly proved hereafter Moreover here is set downe another effect of this earth-quake which is that thereby shall bee slaine in number seven thousand that is many thousands for the number of seven is a perfect and universall number as formerly hath been declared But the sense of this clause is that all such as will not yeeld to the Gospel after matters once come in question and the light thereof breaketh forth but continue still in their blindnesse and hardnesse standing out sturdily against the truth shall feel the heavie judgement of God upon them and come to miserable and wretched ends as did here in England Stephen Gardiner bloudy Bonner and many other such open persecuters in other nations and countries as the book of Martyrs doth plentifully witnesse Last of all it is said that the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven that is the elect of God seeing these horrible judgments upon the persecuters of the Gospel and having their eyes opened through these contentions and broyles about religion should repent of their former idolatries blindnesse and ignorance should yeeld to the truth and give glory to the God of heaven Chap. 9. as at this day we see thousands doe God be thanked Wee heard before in the time of the Turks murthering army when the third part of men were slain that the rest repented not of their idolatry But now God be praised for it many doe repent every day and turne from dumb idols to serve the living God And therefore although the times wherein we live be sinfull and troublesome yet are they golden times and dayes in comparison of former ages wherein Antichrist did reign and rule over all Moreover from this place may plainly and strongly be concluded that the Gospel shall prevail more and more in all the kingdomes of Europe even untill the end of the world For here wee see it fore-told and prophesied that in the very last age of the world and even
as it were a little before the blowing of the seventh trumpet which presently hereupon is sounded as in the next verses appeareth many should repent and give glory to God The second woe is past behold Vers 14 15. the third woe will come anon And the seventh Angel blew the trumpet and there were great voyces in heaven saying The kingdomes of this world are our Lords and his Christs and he shall reigne for evermore Now cometh the third the last and the greatest woe which is the woe of eternall death upon all the ungodly both in their soules and bodies for ever in the last judgment The second woe was Turcisme and this third wo is the last judgment For it now followeth that the seventh Angel bloweth the last trumpet as our Lord Jesus sware before that when the seventh Angel should blow the trumpet there would be no more time Chap. 10.6 Therefore when we see all things fulfilled which do belong unto the sixth trumpet it remaineth that we should every hour expect and look for the blowing of the seventh trumpet and the end of the world For the holy Ghost telleth us that when the kingdome of the Pope and the Turke shall fall and the Gospel be preached in many nations and kingdomes that then the third woe will come anon that is the last judgment followeth presently upon it Now at the blowing of this seventh trumpet there were great voyces in heaven saying The kingdomes of this world are our Lords and his Christs and hee shall reigne for evermore These voyces in heaven are triumphing voyces of Gods elect who doe exceedingly rejoyce and triumph that the kingdome of Satan and Antichrist is overthrown and that the kingdome of God and of Christ is set up and shall stand for evermore For now all adversary power being overthrown Christ doth deliver up a peaceable kingdom to his Father as it is written Then shall be the end 1 Cor. 1.15 24. when he hath delivered up his peaceable kingdome to God the Father For hee must reigne over the Church militant till he have trod downe all his enemies under his feet and when the Son of God hath subdued all things to himselfe then shall hee be subject to his Father as hee is the Mediator of the Church and yet reign with his Church triumphant for evermore Then the four and twenty elders which sate before God on their seates fell upon their faces Verse 16. and worshipped God Saying Wee give thee thankes Verse 17. O Lord God Almighty which art which wast and which art to come for thou hast received thy great might and hast obtained thy kingdome These four and twenty elders do signifie all the elect both of Jewes and Gentiles Chapt. 4. as wee have heard before which all in most suppliant manner doe worship the onely everlasting God even in the Church triumphant and doe greatly rejoyce and give all praise and glory unto him because now he hath received the kingdome the power and the glory both Pope and Turk and Emperor and all his enemies being subdued under his feet Verse 18. And the Gentiles were angry and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be judged and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the Prophets and to the saints and to them that fear thy name and to small and great and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth Now he mentioneth the wrath and vengeance which is to be powred forth upon all the wicked at the last day and also the reward of the godly For whereas he saith The Gentiles were angry and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be judged the sense and meaning is that all the profane enemies of the Church which had their time in which they were angry with Gods people and in their wrath did afflict and vexe them very sore should now be judged and condemned in Gods wrath for now the day of his wrath and vengeance is come wherein hee will destroy them that destroyed the earth and seemed to carry all before them and where also he will give a full recompence of reward to all his faithfull worshippers both small and great both preachers and professors of his Gospel Then the Temple of God was opened in heaven Verse 19. and there was seen in the Temple the ark of his covenant and there were lightnings and voyces and thundrings and earth-quakes and much haile This is a further amplification of that which is set down in this former verse For now hee saith that the Temple of God should be opened in heaven that is an open door and passage should be made through Christ for all the elect to enter into Gods everlasting kingdome and reigne with him and his Angels for evermore By the arke of the Covenant is meant Christ who is said here to be seen in the Temple or kingdome of glory because through his mediation onely in whom the covenant of peace is established with his Church the twenty four elders are made partakers of their crownes and enter in with him and his Angels into the everlasting Temple made without hands and eternall in the heavens But on the contrary here is said that there were lightnings thundrings c. that is most horrible vengeance and wrath powred down upon all reprobates in hell-fire for evermore For when it shall be said to all the faithfull Come yee blessed c. then also shall it be said unto all unbeleevers Goe ye cursed into hell-fire c. Now for warrant of this exposition of the last verse that the Temple in heaven is to be understood of the kingdome of glory look chapter 15. verse 5 6 8. chapt 16. verse 1. The reason hereof is that as the doors of the Temple of Jerusalem being set open Gods people entred in and worshipped so the everlasting gates of the new Jerusalem and celestiall Temple being set open by Christ all the elect do enter in and worship God without wearinesse even as the Angels for evermore That the ark of the covenant is taken for Christ see 2 Sam. 6.2 Psal 78. vers 61 62. This ark of the covenant that is Christ is here seen in the Temple because Christ hath already taken possession of heaven as Mediator and Head of the Church and now doth set open the kingdome of heaven to all beleevers that through him they may have free accesse thereunto as it is written that through him onely we have an entrance unto the Father Eph. 2.28 That by thundrings lightnings earthquakes hail is meant that horrible vengeance and wrath which is powred forth upon all the ungodly see Psal 11. verse 6. Let this briefly suffice to satisfie the conscience of the reader And thus much concerning the second vision contained in these eight chapters going before wherein we have heard all things expounded that doe belong unto the opening of the seven seales and
as some doe take it but for seven severall governments Dan. 7.17 as it is taken in Daniel The foure great beasts saith the Angel there are four Kings that is four kingdomes governments or monarchies as all men know So here by seven kings is meant the seven severall regiments of Rome that is to say by Kings Consuls Decemviri Dictators Triumviri Emperors and Popes whereof the first five were then fallen when John wrote one was that is the Empire and one was to come that is the Papacy My last argument is this Babylon is that city which is situate upon seven hils but onely Rome of all cities in the world is situated upon seven hils therefore Rome is Babylon The proposition is avouched by the Angel which saith in the seventeenth chapter that the seven heads of the scarlet coloured beast are seven mountains whereon the woman sitteth that is seven hils whereon the city of Rome is situated whose names are these Capitolinus Palatinus Aventinus Exquilinus Celius Viminalis and Quirinalis as all Poets and Historiographers do testifie One saith thus of Rome Virg. Geor. Septem quae una sibi muro circumdedit arces Another thus Septem urbs alta jugis toti quae praesidet orbi Propert. Another called Rome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the citie with seven heads that is seven hils It is cleer then by these reasons that Babylon in this place signifieth Rome As for the exposition of the Papists which affirmeth that Babylon here signifieth the universall society of the wicked it is fond and ridiculous For the holy Ghost saith Chap. 18.7 Babylon is that citie which reigneth over the kings of the earth But to say that the universall society of all the wicked reigneth over the kings of the earth is absurd and ridiculous Therefore to say that Babylon is the universall society of the wicked is absurd and ridiculous The distinction of the Jesuits here is also as frivolous as their expositions for they say If Babylon be Rome then it must be understood of Rome under the heathen Emperors but not under the Popes But the Angel saith The woman that is the whore of Babylon or Antichrist sitteth upon seven mountains Ergo she sitteth at Rome and Rome is the seat of Antichrist and consequently Rome under the Popes is Babylon Moreover we may reason thus against the Popish dictinction That which was Babylon under the heathen Emperors is the same which is here prophesied to be the chiefe citie and seat of Antichrist But Rome was then Babylon Ergo Rome is now Babylon for Rome is that citie which the Angel saith should be the seat of Antichrist And this book doth shew that the great Antichrist should reign in the same citie where the heathen Emperors had reigned and therefore it standeth firme That Rome under the Popes is Babylon This being then granted that Babylon here is Rome it followeth that Rome shall fall for the holy Ghost saith Babylon is fallen speaking in the present tense as the manner of the Scripture is in prophesying of things to come For whatsoever God hath determined to come to passe is as it were already done because of the certainty of it and for this cause also the word is doubled It is fallen Rome shall fall it is fallen Wee see then most cleerly that almost 1500 yeers before Rome began to fall the certain fall thereof was fore-told This place it self is cleer enough to prove my second point which is That Rome shall fall But my purpose is to reduce and gather all the five chapters following to certain heads to prove the main points which I have propounded first then I reason thus to prove the second point that Rome shall fall That citie and kingdome which hath the seven vials of Gods wrath emptied and powred downe upon it cannot stand but must needs fall But Rome is that citie which hath the seven vials of Gods wrath powred downe upon it Therefore Rome cannot stand long but must needs fall The proposition is manifest and not to be denied The assumption is proved throughout all the sixteenth chapter and especially in the tenth and second verses in the tenth verse the vials of Gods wrath are expressely said to be powred down upon the throne of the beast and in the second verse of that chapter it is avouched that the second viall was powred downe upon the men which had the marke of the beast and upon them which worshipped her image How then can the throne of the beast hold out or how can they which have received the beasts mark stand up long For there is a great emphasis or vehemency in the manner of speech For hee doth not simply say the wrath of God Chap. 15.17 but the fulnesse of Gods wrath he doth not say should be a little sprinkled but powred down as it were by pail-fuls upon the kingdom of the beast How then can the kingdome of the beast stand which hath so many great Ordnance and so many double Canons discharged and shot off against it Surely it must needs fall Chap. 17.8 My second reason is this The beast that was and is not and yet is shall goe into perdition But Rome is the beast that was and is not and yet is Therefore Rome shall go into perdition The assumption is set down chap. 17. ver 8. For the Roman Monarchy was great in the dayes of Julius Caesar Augustus Claudius Tiberius and therefore it is said that it was But in the reign of Nero Otho Galba and Vitellius it was greatly decayed and therefore it is said It is not meaning so great as it had been and yet in some sort it was and therefore it is said And yet is Now this beast shall goe into perdition Therefore the Roman Monarchy shall be destroyed and consequently the Papacy for the Roman Empire holdeth up the Papacy as it is written that the woman or whore of Babylon sitteth upon the scarlet coloured beast which had seven heads and ten horns that is the Roman Monarchy which beareth up the whore and beareth up the Papacy but the holy Ghost saith this beast that is the Roman Empire shall goe into perdition Then it followeth that the Papacy shall follow after for if the beast that she sitteth upon and which beareth her fall under her then she must needs fall together with him But we see God be thanked that the Roman Monarchy is in a manner quite fallen therefore the Papacy cannot stand long My third argument is this Verse 11. The beast that was and is not being even the eighth and is one of the seven shall goe into destruction But Rome is the beast that was and is not being the eighth and one of the seven Therefore Rome shall goe into destruction The assumption is set down chap. 17. ver 11. For the Papacy or dominion of the Popes is the seventh head of the beast in respect of their civill power and yet
hel-hounds against all such as set the Gospel abroach whereby their Babylon began to shake For at the first when the Gospel began to peep forth they did despise it as a thing which they could easily suppresse but within a short time they found that neither by excommunication wherewith in former times they had even as it were with lightning and thunder caused kings and nations to tremble neither by force of wars and bloudy slaughters neither by any skill in learning nor by treacheries they could any thing prevaile but that the Gospel did still more and more lay open their filthinesse and shame then did they become and so do they continue unto this day even as mad-men in sorrow and rage which the holy Ghost expresseth in saying Chap. 16.11 that they gnawed their tongues for sorrow and blasphemed God c. whereby it is evident that the beast and all that received his mark are full of fiery hatred and malice and cannot tell which way to be revenged For the more they strive the more they lose Faine would they have Popery restored to his ancient credit and dignity and they devise what they can to bring it about but it will not be For their kingdome waxeth darker and darker weaker and weaker and that is a dagger unto them and a griefe of all griefe which maketh them gnaw their tongues and gnash their teeth for sorrow Chap. 16.11 But yet for all this they repented not of their works saith Saint John and therefore God is more incensed against them and causeth the sixth Angel to powr out another viall upon the great river Euphrates and the water thereof dryed up as wee have heard Now then observe carefully Note this and note it diligently that the frogs came forth upon the darkning of the kingdome of the beast and the drying up of their Euphrates For who knoweth not the Pope and his complices perceiving the weakening and diminishing of their kingdom have sent out these Jesuits and seminary Priests into all parts of Europe to repair the ruines of Rome if it were possible and this is one circumstantiall reason to prove these three frogs to be understood of the Jesuites But let us proceed to open the whole description of the holy Ghost that it may yet more plainly appear First Chap. 16.13 these frogs are called unclean spirits because they are the very limbs of the Divell full of all filthinesse and uncleannesse Secondly they are called spirits because they come out of the mouth of the Dragon the beast and the false prophet Thirdly they are called three in number being in truth neerer three thousand because they proceed out of three severall mouthes the Dragon the beast and the false prophet that is the Divell the Roman Empire and the Papacy three horrible monsters three terrible bug bears which with one consent conspire together against the Gospel to uphold their Babylon and to stop the leak of their Euphrates Now these three frogs are said to come out of the mouth of the Dragon the beast and the false prophet because they come with the very minde and message of the Pope and the Roman Empire and so consequently with the very mind and spirit of the Dragon For they are the very breath of the Pope and the spirits of the Divels as like him as if they had been spit out of his mouth They are sent on the Divels errand and the Popes embassage into all countries and kingdomes and are taught their lesson what they shall say and instructed what they shall doe and what courses they shall take with men both kings Nobles and the meaner sort and for this cause the holy Ghost saith they came out of the very mouth the very heart and the very bowels of the Pope and of the Divell And although these Jesuits and seminary Priests are called of the favourites Catholick Doctors The holy Ghost calleth the Jesuits the spirits of Divels Chap. 16.14 holy Fathers c. yet the holy Ghost saith flatly they are the spirits of Divels working false and fained miracles and with great efficacy of error deluding and deceiving the simple and blind multitude We see then that the holy Ghost in all this description doth plainly note out the Jesuites and seminary Priests for to whom can these things here spoken of agree but onely to them And do not wee which live in these dayes sensibly see and discern the fulfilling of all these things Surely wee cannot but see and feel them unlesse wee be wilfully blind and do of purpose blind-fold hoodwink our selves But the holy Ghost goeth yer further and doth more fully and as it were demonstratively point them out unto us describing them by their office which is to go unto the kings of the earth Verse 14. and of the whole world to gather them to the battell of that great day of God almighty Who is ignorant that the Jesuites and seminary Priests are sent out to all Kings and Nobles of the whole world that favour them and their proceedings Are they not croaking in corners thick and threefold in all parts of this land Are they not practising of treacheries and treasons against our most gracious King and the whole state Are they not plotting the destruction and subversion of this Church common-wealth Nay as the holy Ghost saith the chiefe end of their coming abroad is to solicite gather the kings of the earth unto battell against God against Christ and against all true professors of religion The battell betwixt them is here called The battell of the great day of God almighty that is that battell wherein the Almighty God will have the day and goe away with the victory For it followeth The Jesuites by their crafty perswasions shall bring the popish kings and their armies to a place where they shall be destroyed that the Jesuites and seminary Priests did prevaile with the seduced kings of the earth so far as to gather them together to a place which in Hebrew is called Armageddon that is to say a place where they shall be destroyed and that with such an horrible slaughter that the place shall take a name thereof For it was an usuall thing among the Hebrews to call the place where any famous thing fell out by a name which did report the same to all posterity as Kibroth Hataavah Numb 11. the graves of Concupiscence Hamon Gog Ezek. 39. the multitude of Gog and divers such like And so here Armageddon the destruction of an army because the kings of the earth and their armies which shall fight against the Church at the instigation of the Jesuites shall come to a place where they shall have a notable overthrow This word Armageddon may fitly be derived of two Hebrew words that is to say Cherem which signifieth destruction and Gedudh which signifieth an army that is the destruction of an army or as some say and that very judicially it may come
of Genermah Gidnon which signifieth the subtilty of destruction because the blind Kings and Nobles of the earth shall by the subtilty and crafty perswasions of the Jesuits and seminary priests be intised to fight against the Protestants in a place where they shall have a famous foyl Some derive Armageddon of Har which in Hebrew signifieth a Mountain and Megiddo which is the place where the godly king Josias was slaine and so this place should be called Armageddon the Mountain of Megiddo for the slaughter of kings that shall be there To the which the Prophet Zecharie alludeth Zech. 12.11 saying In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddo Well we do see that all these significations and derivations of Armageddon come to one thing in effect which is that the great armies which assemble themselves in battell against the Lord shall be destroyed and therefore it is not much materiall to dispute which is the more likely signification of the word But this let us observe for our comfort that whensoever wee shall see the Kings and Captains Nobles and Potentates of the earth being solicited by the Jesuites Priests and the false Prophet to levie great armies and make great powers to fight against the Gospel and the true professors therof for the maintenance of great Babylon they shall not prevaile but be utterly overthrowne and destroyed as in part wee see fulfilled in the yeer of our Lord 1588 when the great and invincible Armado of the Spaniards as they thought which was long in preparing against us and at last by the instigation of the Jesuites brought upon us came to Armageddon as we know GOD be praised And in all time to come in the like case let them look for the like successe Well now to grow to some conclusions of this point we do plainly see that Rome falleth their kingdome waxeth dark their Euphrates dryeth up and they espy it The Dragon the Beast and the false Prophet send out their frogs into all countries and kingdomes hoping to prevent it by the help of the kings of the earth and especially the king of Spaine but alas all in vain for they must come to Armageddon when they have done all that they can For God fighteth from heaven against them God bringeth them down and no power of man is able to uphold them But now let us proceed to prove the third maine point which is that Rome shall fall finally and come to utter desolation For all sound Divines are perswaded of the fall of Babylon and doe grant that it falleth and is in falling but all are not so throughly perswaded of the finall fall thereof in this life Therefore now I will prove by manifest Scripture that Rome shall fall finally Rome shall fall finally First if the things be deeply considered and narrowly looked into which S. John saith shall fall out upon the powring forth of the seventh viall of Gods wrath by the seventh Angel they do fully portend a deadly downfall and utter overthrow of Rome For the seventh viall is not powred upon the earth or sea or fountains of waters or on the Sun Chap. 16.17 as the first foure vials were which signified some particular judgment but it was powred forth into the very air which signifieth the universality of it and containeth the most generall and most grievous judgment and vengeance of Almighty God upon the whole body of the kingdome of Antichrist a little before the last day The text saith that upon the powring forth of this viall Verse 17. there was a loud voyce heard out of the Temple of heaven from the throne that is from the very presence of God saying It is done it is dispatched the utter overthrow of Rome is fully concluded of and all things finished which belong to the powring forth of the seven vials which containe the seven last plagues wherein the whole wrath of God is fulfilled as appeareth chap. 15. As before it is said Babylon is fallen Chap. 15.1 because it should certainly fall so here God himselfe saith It is done because it shall certainly be done For whatsoever God hath determined to be done is as it were already done because it shall most certainly be effected Sith then the Lord hath pronounced this of Rome there remaineth nothing but a daily accomplishment of it and let all the Papists know for a certainty that they must goe to their geere they must come to their payment there is no way of evasion For hath the Lord spoken it and shall it not come to passe Now upon this that God saith It is done followeth presently that there were voyces and thundrings Chap. 15.18 and lightnings and there was a great earth-quake such as was not since men were upon the earth even so mighty an earth-quake Chap. 6.12 What is meant by thundrings lightnings and earth-quakes in this book I have before shewed to wit commotions seditions tumults uprores and alterations of states kingdomes and common-wealths and then the meaning of this place is that there shall be horrible shakings concussions tumults and great alteration of state in all the kingdomes which are subject to Antichrist none of them shall escape For this seventh viall of Gods wrath upon the kingdom of the beast is compared to a most horrible and blustring tempest raised up in the whole aire that is in all places of Antichrists dominions And it is specially to be noted as a thing of great moment that the holy Ghost saith there was never such an earth-quake as this since the world began and since men were upon the earth For assuredly so soon as the seventh Angel powreth forth his viall the kingdom of Popery shall goe down amaine which shall not be long before the end of the world as all circumstances here doe shew After all this Saint John telleth us the effect of this thundring lightning and extraordinary earth-quake which is Chapt. 16.19 that the great city was divided into three parts that is there shall be a most horrible rent and division in the city of Rome and throughout all the Popes dominions What this rent and division is and how it shall be I cannot determine being a thing to come as all the rest comprehended under the powring forth of the seventh viall But this I am sure of that Rome shall goe down and there shall be such tumults uprores rents divisions disputations and concussions in Rome and throughout all the Romish jurisdiction as never were heard of nor read of since the world began For Saint John addeth Verse 59. that Babylon came in remembrance before God to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fiercenesse of his wrath that is God doth now at length call to mind all the wrongs done to his people and all the righteous bloud shed for the space of seven or eight hundred yeers by the whore of
this their cheer and their dainties are reckoned up to be the flesh of Kings and Captains c. Now out of this may be strongly concluded that hereafter in all time to come when the armies of the Pope which is the beast the armies of the king of Spain who hath given his power and authority unto the beast and is his great upholder when the armies of the Cardinall his great confederate when the armies of the Leaguers his great adherents yea when all these and all other Popish armies shall joyne and band themselves together against the Christian kings and defenders of the Gospel they shall have a notable overthrow insomuch that their dead carcasses shall even cover the earth and the fowles of the air shall come to their great supper which the Lord of hosts will make ready for them For assuredly and out of doubt they that live shall see the fulfilling of all this and shall see the Popish armies goe down by heaps in all countries and kingdomes and be made meat for the fowles of the air The Popish armies shall go down by heaps Chap. 16.6 Chap. 13.10 For the holy Ghost saith They shall come to Armageddon that is the place where their armies shall be destroyed And again If any lead into captivity hee shall go into captivity If any kill with a sword he must be killed with a sword For as the Popish forces have in former times taken captive the people of God and cruelly murthered them so now the time draweth on apace wherein themselves shall be taken and put to the sword And therefore now at last I conclude that Rome shall fall finally and come to utter destruction in this life For as Rome did rise up by degrees in this life so Rome shall fall by degrees in this life as Rome grew up to her full height and highest pitch in this life so it shall come to her lowest ebb and greatest declination in this life I meane before the coming of Christ unto judgement For the falling down of haile like talents upon the kingdome of the beast shall be in this life The extraordinary earth-quake upon the dominions of Antichrist shall be in this life Rome shall be utterly destroyed in this life The coming of the Popish armies to Armageddon shall be in this life The mourning of the kings merchants and mariners for the overthrow of Babylon shall be in this life The great battell betwixt the beast and him that sitteth upon the white horse shall be in this life before the day of judgment The powring forth of all the seven vials of Gods wrath upon the kingdome of the beast shall be even in this life For it were an absurd thing to say any of these things shall be after this life or to say that these things shall not be till the very coming of Christ for they are all things to be effected here in this earth and the holy Ghost doth describe them as things to be done upon the face of the earth for otherwise we could have small comfort in any of these things if they should not be done here in earth or if they should all be deferred till the very coming of Christ and in the meane time Antichrist shall prevaile But it will be objected that S. Paul saith The Lord shall consume Antichrist with the spirit of his mouth and abolish him with the brightnesse of his coming 2 Thes 2. Therefore before his coming he shall not be utterly abolished True it is indeed An objection answered he shall not utterly be cut off in all his members till the very coming of Christ For there will be some Papists remaining in all countries even unto the end there be some nay many that will carry the beasts mark even untill the last day But the holy Ghost in this Prophecie speaketh of the revolting and falling away of kingdomes and countries from the See of Rome whereby it shall come to passe that it shall be exceedingly weakned and brought so low that the kings of the earth shall easily take it or as the holy Ghost speaketh Chap. 16.26 shall easily passe over their Euphrates being dryed up and enter their Babylon But then will some man say Shall there be no Pope at all a little before the coming of Christ I answer and not I but the holy Ghost for me hee shall be a poor Pope a naked Pope Chap. 17.16 The Pope shall bee brought very low 2 Sam. 3. a desolate Pope a Pope whose flesh shall be torn whose flesh shall wither as we shall hear anon Hee shall be such a Pope as Ishbosheth was a King when Abner and all Israel fell away from him He shall be such a Pope as the king of Portugal is a king But it will be objected How know you this are you a prophet can you fore-tell of things to come I answer Saint John was a Prophet and indued with a Propheticall spirit in this matter of his visions and revelations and I speak no more then Saint John hath set down And therefore I hope I speak within my compasse for I doe but relate Saint Johns words and explain them in such measure as I am able This Prophecie doth plainly declare that Babylon shall fall Rome shall come down the Pope shall never be esteemed again and I do beleeve it to be so I beleeve God I beleeve his word I beleeve all that is spoken in Scripture and I do indeavour to perswade others also For sith the holy Ghost hath so plainly and so fully fore-told it why should we not beleeve it why are wee so slow to beleeve all that is written in the Scriptures Hath God spoken it and shall it not come to passe shall any jot of his word fail shall we think he jesteth with us when he doth so often and so seriously tell us of the downe fall of Rome Surely surely the cause why men are not fully perswaded of the finall fall of Rome is because they do not diligently peruse this book of the Apocalypse But let them be studious and diligent in this book and they shall be out of all doubt that Rome is the great whore of Babylon that the Pope is Antichrist and the Papacy the beast But now me thinketh I hear some men say How is it like that Popery shall fall down more and more here among us sith it hath so many friends backers and upholders and seemeth to gather strength and make an head again I answer that all is but a lightning before death I answer that all is but the stopping of a water-brook or making a dam overthwart it which will cause it to swell more and to break over with great violence I answer that all is no more then is fore-told that the Jesuits shall come forth like frogs out of their puddles and marish grounds and keep a croaking for a time till they have croaked their own destruction and many others For they shall
Pope Emperor and as it were the whole world and yet die in his bed in a good old age What likelyhood was there that King Henry the eighth of famous memory should renounce Rome oppose himsefe against the Pope and suppresse the Abbeyeâ— Priories and Monasteries in this kingdom and take their lands and livings into his owne hands Therefore I conclude that when God hath decreed the utter overthrow of Rome wee must not ask this question How can it be or which way shall it be brought about For the Scriptures do teach that God in all ages hath done the greatest exploits either by himselfe alone without means or else by weak means or contrary to all means 2 Chron. 20. By himselfe without meanes hee overthrew the Moabites Amorites and them of Mount Seir which made war against good king Jehosaphat Exod. 14. By himselfe he destroyed Pharaoh and his army in the red sea Josh 6. By himselfe hee overthrew Jericho that great city 2 King 19. By himselfe he slew the huge army of the Assyrians that made war against Ezekias 2 Chro. 14. By himselfe he smote the great and dreadfull army of the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah 2 King 6. By himselfe hee smote the Syrians which besieged Dothan the citie where the Prophet Elisha was Judg. 7. By weak meanes he overthrew the innumerable army of the Midianites even by Gideons three hundred By weak meanes hee slew a garrison of the Philistims 1 Sam. 14. even by Jonathan and his armour-bearer By weake means hee overthrew the kings of Sodom and thereabouts Gen. 1â— even by Abraham and his family He overthrew Goliah by David 1 Sam. 17. Judg. 4. Judg. 6. Sisera by Jael Abimelech by a woman Contrary to means hee saved the three children Dan. 3. from burning being in the fire Contrary to means Jonas 2. he saved Jonas from drowning being cast into the sea Contrary to means Dan. 6. he preserved Daniel from devouring being cast into the lions den Contrary to means Exod. 14. hee kept the Israelites from drowning being in the bottome of the sea Contrary to meanes and all expectation Josh 1â— hee caused the Sun to stand still at noon day whilest hee overthrew the five kings of Canaan by Joshua Therefore I conclude that forasmuch as God in aâ—l ages hath effected the most strange and admirable things The 〈◊〉 overthrow of Rome concluded of either by himself without means or by very weak means or contrary to all means â—herefore it is in vain to ask this question How or by what means shall Rome be destroyed For it is enough for us to know that it shall be destroyed and come to utter desolation And in my judgment the holy Ghost hath so often and plainly affirmed this that no man should any more make any doubt of it or once call it into question For what can be more plain Chapt. 14.8 Chapt. 16.2 Chapt. 17.8 Chap. 17.11 Chap. 18.21 Chap. 18.8 then to say Rome is fallen Rome shall fall Great hail-stones like talents shall fall upon it It shall goe to perdition It shall fall to destruction It shall be cast downe like a great mil-stone into the bottome of the sea It shall be burnt with fire Chap. 17.16 Chap. 18.22 It shall be made desolate and naked It shall be without inhabitants All the Popish sort Chap. 18.9 both high and low shall with great mourning and lamenting bewaile the desolation thereof Chap. 16.16 Their armies shall come to Armageddon Chap. 19.28 The beast and the false prophet shall be taken and their Captains and souldiers slain by infinite heapes and their carcasses made meat for the fowles of the air If all this be not plain enough I cannot tell what can be plaine enough True it is indeed the holy Ghost doth not name Rome but it is apparant by the circumstances that all these places must needs be understood of Rome of Romish power and of thâ—â—omish armies For there can no other sound sense be given of them as all divine writers and interpreters doe affirme both new and old And therefore I conclude that Saint John in this prophecie could not speak more plainly except hee should have named Rome for hee nameth Babylon he nameth the great city which then reigned over the kings of the earth he nameth the city situate upon seven hils he nameth the city which had seven severall governments And therefore out of all doubt he meaneth Rome Well then sith it is so that Rome and all Romish power and authority shall fall flat down and come to utter destruction and desolation in this life let all men take heed how they joyn with Rome how they joyn with the Romish Church and how they receive the beasts mark for assuredly they shall all be destroyed together both in this life and that which is to come as wee shall hear by and by Let all the wise men therefore and all such as have any care of their salvation follow the wholesome counsell and advice of the holy Ghost which saith Chap. 18.4 5. Go out of her my people that yee be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues for her sins are come up to heaven and God hath remembred her iniquities Our only wisdome then will be to separate our selves from the whore of Babylon that is from the Church of Rome and to joyne our selves with all speed unto the Church of God that is the Church of the Protestants for this shall stand and flourish the other shall fall down and perish But what then shall we be sorry for the fall of Babylon Gods people are to rejoice in the overthrow of Rome Chap. 18.20 and the ruine of Rome No no the holy Ghost counselleth us greatly to rejoyce in her destruction and overthrow saying O heavens rejoyce over her and ye holy Apostles and Prophets because God hath given you judgement on her Wee are therefore to be so far from mourning and lamenting for the desolation of Rome the kings merchants mariners and other her friends as that it ought to be the very joy and rejoycing of our hearts For Saint John saith that not onely the holy Angels Prophets Apostles and Martyrs shall rejoyce at the destruction of Rome but also all the Saints and all the whole body of the Church And therefore he saith that after the utter overthrow of Rome Chap. 19.1 2. Hee heard a great voyce of a great multitude in heaven saying Hallelujah that is praise yee the Lord for hee hath condemned the great whore which did corrupt the earth with her fornication and hath avenged the bloud of his servants shed by her hand And againe saith Saint John they said Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah thrice together thereby expressing the great joy and thanksgiving for the destruction and overthrow of the great whore and even so ought all that love
and by whom it shall be destroyed to wit by the ten kings of Europe or kingdomes of Europe which some very learned do reckon up to be these England Scotland Germany France Spaine Denmarke Sweveland Poland Russia and Hungary * If the holy Ghost by the ten horns do not meane a definite number that is just ten yet assuredly he meaneth all the kingdoms of Europe and whatsoever else did once uphold the beast Saint Johns words are plaine that these kingdomes which took part with the beast shall take against her and pull her down But we know that all the kingdomes of Europe did take part with her Therefore it followeth that all the kingdomes of Europe shall take against her And therefore it is very probable that in time a It is probable that France Spain and Italy shal forsake the whore France Spaine and Italy shall turn against the beast Wee know that the rest of the kingdomes are already turned against the beast and the beast hath lost seven of his horns the eighth which is France beginneth to be somewhat loose and to shake a little which if it fall off the rest will follow after apace The reason why the kingdoms which were subject to the Roman Empire are compared to horns is because that as hornes are the strength and defence of a beast wherewith also hee pusheth down other creatures so the strength and defence of the Roman Empire and the Papacy was in the kingdomes which were subject unto them and took part with them whereby also they did mightily push at other nations and kingdomes Moreover we are to observe that whereas Saint John saith the same horns which did uphold and defend the whore shall pull her down it is not to be understood of the same men but of their successours in the same kingdomes For the king of England Scotland Denmarke Polonia and other countries which gave their power and authority unto the beast are dead and gone And if we respect the persons of men those which succeed them now in these kingdomes and pull downe the whore are other persons but because they succeed and governe in these kingdomes they are said to be those ten hornes of the beast Then thus it is these ten kings which now hate the harlot are called the ten horns of the beast not because they be any defence and strength unto him but because they sit upon the same thrones of their ancesters which did uphold and maintaine him But this one thing is very cleer and apparant out of the interpretation of the Angel that the same kingdomes which have maintained Popery shall put it down as we see already fulfilled in England Scotland Denmarke and the rest which have imbraced the Gospel And it is very likely that the other kingdomes which as yet have not imbraced the Gospel shall in Gods good time imbrace it For this seemeth unto me to be a very good argument taken from the words of the interpreting Angel Those ten kingdomes which have upheld Rome shall pull downe Rome But France Spaine and Italy have upheld and doe uphold Rome Therefore France Spaine and Italy shall pull down Rome To this may be added for confirmation Chap. 14.6 that the everlasting Gospel shall be preached in these last dayes to every nation and kindred and tongue and people Which I understand of all the nations of Europe which were subject to the Roman Empire and the Papacy And further that the holy Ghost saith that the preachers of the Gospel from Luthers time shall publish Gods truth among people and nations and tongues and many kings which I understand as before I am not ignorant that some good Divines make it doubtfull whether Rome shall be overthrown by the kings of Europe only or by the Turk also and the kings of the east For mine own part I dare not resolutely determine of it being a thing to come but the event shall declare and they that live shall one day see it It may be the Turk and the Easterne Princes may have some hand in this businesse for the Roman Monarchy did stretch farre that way when it was in his highest elevation But that which is alledged of the drying up of the waters of Euphrates Chap. 16.11 that the way of the kings of the East might be prepared proveth nothing because it is an allusion to Darius and Cyrus which were kings of the East and took old Babylon by drying up the waters of Euphrates and leading over their armies as wee have heard before I doe thus then resolve and conclude that the Turke and the Easterne kings may happily have some stroke in this work The kings of Europe shall overthrow Rome but it seemeth most probable unto mee that the kings of Europe shall be the greatest agents in this action For the words are plain that the kings of the earth which sometimes were subject to that monstrous beast should now at last shake off the yoke of her servitude and withdraw the obedience of their subjects from her and shall hate and abhor the harlot of Rome and should make her desolate by withdrawing their subjects from her obedience and naked by spoyling her of her treasures and shall eat her flesh Chap. 17.1 and tear her in pieces for very hatred and burn her with fire that is bring her to utter destruction So that she which before at her pleasure might command all princes to begin war to cease from war to defend her quarrels and to annoy her enemies now is glad to flatter a few seduced Princes to take her part that shee be not utterly forsaken of all men whatsoever Or else to practise by treason and treacherie suborning the Jesuites those rogues and vagabonds to stirre up tumults amongst the people and to trouble godly estates and common-wealths that despise her dominion but assuredly without all hope ever to recover her ancient tyranny But here it may be objected that the preaching of the Gospel is the greatest and strongest meanes to overthrow Babylon And therefore how can it be done by the Christian Princes I answer that it is true indeed that of all other meanes the Gospel is the strongest but the thing is this First the Gospel being set abroach shall detect and discover the whore of Rome and all her abominable doctrine and filthinesse which the Christian Princes espying shall renounce her make warre upon her and slay in the field thousand thousands of her souldiers as we heard before And hitherto concerning the persons that shall overthrow Rome Now it followeth to speak of the time when it shall be destroyed which of all the rest is a thing most hard to be decided For the holy Ghost saith Job 24.1 Why should not the times be hid of the Almighty so as those which know him should not fore see the times appointed of him Dan. 12.9 And againe the words are closed and sealed up untill the time determined And againe