Mountaine anciently threatning it but now burning turneth it all bloody with a great destruction as well of living creatures or fishes living therein as also of the navy That is the destruction of Rome the great Citie once or twice taken spoyled and burning with hostile flames brake out to the ruine of the largenesse of the Romane iurisdiction the Barbarians now at their pleasure fiercely entering into the Provinces thereof by reason of the weaknesse of the head so afflicted and dividing them into new kingdoms with an irreparable slaughter both of the legions there abiding for defence as also with losse of all aydes of retaining and upholding as of traffique the authoritie thereof The Sea of the politique world as I have said is that fulnesse of dominion compassing all the inhabitants in the communion of the same politique right By this representation the Dominion of Babylon is expressed Ier. 51. 36. where the Lord threatneth that he will dry up the Sea thereof and make the spring thereof dry which vers 44. is expounded holding the same Metaphor the nations shall flow no more unto her The amplitude also of the Assyrian kingdom is so described Ezek. 31. 4. The waters made her to wit the Assyrian Cedar to grow the deep or the sea hath exalted her Happily also the dominion of Pharaoâ— is the Sea Esa 19.5 where concerning the destruction of his kingdom it is said the waters shall faile from the Sea thereof that is his Dominion shall be taken away Whereupon those great Empires in Daniel are beheld to ascend out of the Sea that is to arise out of the largenesse of Dominion Now that the third part of the Sea that is the Romane sea is said to become blood we must know that blood first is take for slaughter then for Death also without blood but that Death in a manner is taken for ruine even of a thing wanting life see Ezec. 14.19 3.18.20 ct 18.13 Amo. 2.2 Rom. 7.9 whereupon to become bloody is a representation of a thing that suffereth ruine to wit as it were like a living creature slain or butchered bleeding That therefore here the Sea is said to become bloody by the fall of a great Mountaine it sheweth nothing else but that it suffered by that fall a certaine Death or a violent Ruine That which in the phyals where the same representation is is a little more plainly said * Chap. 16.3 that it became as the blood of a dead man that is of one slaine the Romane Dominion or fulnesse was overthrown cut in pieces rent destroyed Chap. 8. The like mysterie of a Mountaine signifying a Citie is found of old Babylon Ierem. 51. 25. Behold I come unto thee ô plague-bringing or destroying Mountaine which destroyest the whole Earth and I will stretch out mine hand c. and I will make thee a Mountaine of burning where the Septuagint have it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a mountaine on fire in the same sence wherein Iohn here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a mountaine burning with fire Concerning the same Esay 13. 2. upon the high Mountaine lift up a Standard Targum upon the Citie dwelling without feare The like Chap. 37. 24. to Senacherib King of Assyria Thou hast railed saith he on the Lord and said by the multitude of my chariots I have ascended the height of the mountains Targum I have ascended into the defence of their Cities but whether rightly I doubt Furthermore that a Mountaine is here said to be put or cast into the Sea it is the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 elegancy of the figure since a Mountaine can no otherwise hurt the Sea then by being thrown into it And remember that this hath place in the following Trumpet also concerning the falling Starre Vers 10. As concerning the History Rome was first taken in the yeere 410 and that by the same Alaricus King of the Gothes who had brought in as it were the entrance of the destinie in the former Trumpet but now after the death of Stilichâ— making new stirres and preparing a new and fatall expedition into Italy whereby he brought Honorius into such streights that the Barbarian himselfe could make a new Emperour of Rome namely Attalus with whom he besieged Houorius Augustus at Ravenna now in despaire of his estate thinking to flye into the East leaving the West But the enemy repenting himselfe wholly restored Honorius Attalus being deposed from the Empire The rending of the Romane Dominion immediately followed this destruction of the Citie of Rome I call Sigonius to witnesse The miserable destruction saith he of Italy the continued warres of France and Spaine and the new Empires now at last of the Barbarian Kings in both the Provinces have succeeded the Romane overthrow For first Honorius that he might recover Rome with the Empire having made a league with Alaricus was constrained to yeeld the Countries and Kingdom in France to the Gothes Two yeers after in the yeere 412 the Hâ—nnes running over Chap. 8. Panonia which the Gothes had left the same Honorlus being destitute of power to make resistance in so great difficulties made a league with them giving and receiving Hostages Afterwards in the yeere 413 Constantius Captain of the same Honorius least happily he should fall into any streights of warre did willingly receive into friendship and seated upon the Rhone the Burgundians who in these former yeers the Estate being so disordered together with the Vandales had betaken themselves into France To conclude in the yeere 415 the same Honoriuâ— as Procopius delivereth when the Gothes a little after had passed over into neighbouring Spaine he granted to the Vandales also with their King Gundericus being lately driven out of Gallia by the Frankes the places which they had entered to be inhabited upon condition of making warre upon the Gothes He that desireth to know more let him reade the forementioned Sigonius concerning the Westerne Empire lib. 10. 11. whence we tooke these things And so thence forward the largenesse of the Romane Dominion is daily more and more rent and cut off untill again in the yeere 455 Rome being taken and spoyled by Gâ—nsericus the Vandale the whole Body of the Empire the next yeere or not much after appeared to be divided into ten kingdoms which together with the names of the People and of the Kings and the Provinces over which they reigned and moreover certaine things noted out of the History to give greater light the following Table will shew A type of the rending of the Empire or Romane Dominion in Chap. 8. the yeer of Christ 456 and so forward The Kingdoms The Provinces wherein they reigned The names of the Kings reigning in the yeer 456 Certaine things to be observed 1 Of the Brittones In Britaine Vortimer  2 Saxons Hengist  3 Frankes First in Gall. Belg. shortly in Celt ca also Childerick  4 Burgundians In Gall. Sequan and Lions Gunderick The kingdom of the Buâ—gundians
was subdued and uâ—teâ—ly destroyed by the Franks in the yeer 526. But for the making up of the number of ten fitly the dominion of the Ostrogothes at the same time was parted into two kingdoms Panonia which â—itherto had obeyed them taken by the Longobards and Italy only left to thâ— Kings of the Ostrogothes 5 Wisigothes In Aquitane and part of Spaine Theodorick 6 Swedes Alanes In that tract of Spain which is contained in Galaecia and Lusitania Riciarius 7 Vandales In Africa but a little befoâ—e in Spain Gensericus 8 Allmanes In that tract of Germany which was called Rhetia Sumanus 9 Ostrogothes In Panonia the Huns being vanquâ—shed neither was this age past but they enlarged their kingdom into Italy also Theodomirus The kingdom of the Alemans from the yeer 475 became one with the kingdom of the Heruli so long as they reigned in Italy to wit 16. yeers 10 Grecians In the residue of the dominion of the Empire For the Empire of the ancient Rome being dissolved the Empire of the Grecians is to be accounted one of the kingdoms into which the dominion of the citie reigning sometimes largely was divided Marcianus The â—ongobards succeeded the Ostrogothes also in Italy being called out by Narâ—etes after he had destroyed the kingdom of the Ostrogothes in the yeere 567 but then delivered their seats in Paâ—onia to the Huns Avares to be enjoyed afterwards And at length after this manner these tenne Kingdomes into Chap. 8. which the holy Ghost had foretold as well by Daniel as by Iohn the Romane Empire at the last should be divided seeme to be reckoned and not at all to be esteemed according to so many bare names as usually is done of so many regions or tracts of land but rather Kingdomes into which the Dominion and Lordship of the Empire should be rent Yet notwithstanding let us not thinke that the limitation of this number of tenne is to be so strictly construed that it excludeth at any time more Kingdomes or any manner of governments but that the Empire should be severed into ten at the least or into ten principall Kingdoms That which even from that originall rending which we have set forth untill our age under so many fates and alterations I think to have been alwaies the truth although it were sufficient for confirmation of this truth if onely in the beginning it had been divided into so many Kingdomes howsoever happily afterwards the number were diminished But the like prophesie concerning the rending of the Monarchie of Alexander may teach us that so as I have said and not otherwise that limitation of the number of ten Kingdomes is to be understood in which although besides these foure principall Kingdomes of Macedonia Asia Syria and Egypt a fift also Thracia was added Lysimachus being the founder yet the holy Ghost bounded that multiplicitie in a number of foure Reckon them to be so many at the least or so many principall Kingdomes For there was no succession in the Kingdome of Thracia though it began together with the rest and endured forty yeeres but it ended with the first King Lysimachus and therefore not to be brought into the number The like hereunto is to be judged of this ten fold Romane division Wherefore let it move no man if besides the Kingdomes reckoned up in France he shall happily finde there the Kingdome also of the Alanes of Orleance and also the dynastie of the Cities of Baitaine continuing from the Empire of Honorius untill these times For he shall finde the latter to be but of a very meane Dominion the other to have from thence endured but a small time to wit tenne yeeres at the most Neither of them therefore to be reckoned with the rest for like place and order nor if any be to be found of the same sort otherwhere The third Trumpet Chap. 8. The third Trumpet did utterly throw downe and extinguish Vers 10. the shining starre to wit the Romane Hesperus or the Western Caesar even now from the time that Gensericus the King of the Vandals had spoyled Rome being taken falling headlong and as it were struggling a little while with death under these names of Caesars of no account Avitus Maioranus Severus Anthemius Olibrius Glycerius Nepos dying with mutuall treasons and slaughter at length in the yeere 476 fetching his last breath under the fatall name of Augustulus and pulled from the heaven of his authoritie by Odoacer King of the Heruli sent against him this being the most bitter fate of the Rivers and Fountaines that is of the Provinciall Cities and Magistracies The Hesperian Caesar here I call him who after the division of the Empire into East and West established even from the death of Theodosius the first remained as yet Emperour of ancient Rome and the West but of a very short continuance as who should utterly fall from his heaven at the sound of this Trumpet after the yeere 91. For whereas the Bishop of Rome more then 320. yeers after that this Hesperian Caesar had set in Augustulus did anew surrogate the Kings of France who were afterwards of Germany into that name and title he brought no other thing to passe but that by this coverture of Caesar revived or of the sixt head of the Beast yet reigning he himself might not at length be so apparently accounted for the last head that is Antichrist by men of ordinary understanding But this papall Caesar pertaineth not to the heads of the Roman Beast but to the hornes or Kingdomes into which the Empire of the sixt head now about to yeeld his roome to the last head was to be rent Neither indeed after so great a space of time as is of 325. yeeres for so many they are from Augustulus to Charles the Great could there be a succession as it were of a continued series of Hesperian Caesars But goe to let us give further light to the Text of Iohn that the reason of the interpretation may be manifest And there fell saith he a great Starre from Heaven burning like a Lampe He seemeth to descâ—ibe a blazing Starre or Comet amongst the kinds of which reckoned by Pâ—iny Lampadias is one specially so called And surely not unfitly is Caesar of the West figured by such a starre Chap. 8. for short duration Concerning whom therefore it will be said Chap. 17. When he cometh he must continue but a small time But the Starre was a great one as the fitter to resemble a Supreme Majestly Vers 10. whose excellency the Sunne otherwhere in Prophetique parables doth represent And surely it is knowne there have been Comets which have seemed to equall even the Sunne in magnitude of which sort that this Starre was happily he shall not erre who affirmeth it Now the like parable of a falling Starre least thou doubt of the application Esay useth Chap. 14.12 of the fall of the King of Babylon How saith he art thou fallen from heaven O Lucifer
Mr Mede professeth to be vncertaine and now amongst us First in Ireland then in England and that by the Antichristian generation with so manifest oppositon unto truth and holinesse under a Protestant Prince as I thinke the like was never known since the beginning of the world After this strange warre and slaughter of the Witnesses which hasteneth to a Period the continuance of it shall be but three years and an half in which space of time they that dwell on the earth shall rejoyce over them and make merrie and send gifts one to another because these prophets tormented them that dwelt upon the earth But after three dayes and an halfe when the Spirit of life from God should enter into them and they stand upon their feet great feare should fall upon them which saw them And a voyce shall bee heard from heaven saying unto them Come up hither And they shall ascend up to heaven in a cloud and their enemies shall behold them But certainely when that comes to passe the same houre there shall be an Earthquake and the tenth part of the Citie shall fall This Citie undoubtedly is Rome which Master Mede proveth curiously to be at this day precisely the tenth part of the Citie of Rome as it was in Saint Iohns dayes when this prophecie came forth and in the Earthquakes shall be slaine of men of names of men seaven thousand which Master Mede interpreteth men of qualitie It followeth The second Woe is past Now that Woe was the plague of the Christian world by the Turkes whereby is signified the destruction of the Turkes which people I take to be all one with Gog and Magog in Ezekiel represented there as the great enemies of the Iewes invading the land of Jewrie And the Hebrew doctors conceave that warre of Gog and Magog to be yet to come Here it may be objected that the Turke is Lord of the land of Canaan already I grant it but when the time shall come for the calling of the Iewes which Master Mede conceaved should be wrought in a strange manner by the appearing of Christ unto them as he appeared unto Paul at his conversion Saint Paul acknowledging that grace to have been shewed to him first implying that the like grace should be shewed to others after him Then I say upon this their conversion they shall gather themselves together from all places toward the land of Canaan where shall be the place of Christs throne in his glorious kingdome here on earth upon which coming of the Iewes into the land of Canaan the Grand Seignior will be moved to raise all his power gathered together out of all Nations under him to oppose them and at first shall prevaile as we read Ezekiel 28. and Zachariah 14. in the beginning but in the issue the Iewes shall prevaile For Saviours shall come up on Mount SION and the Kingdome shall bee the Lords Obadiah 21. Thither shall the Lord cause his Mightie ones to come downe Let the Heathen bee awakened and come up to the valley of Iehoshaphat for there will I sit to judge all the Heathâ—n round about Joel 3. 11 12. And the Lord shall be King over all the earth in that day shall there bee one Lord and his Name One Zachariah 14. 9. So that this implies the calling of the Iewes a little before And whereas both Gog and Magog shall be destoyed by fire Ezechiel 39. and the Man of sinne by fire 2. Thessalonians 2. Master Mede was of opinion that all this is but one and the same fire even the fire that shall bee at Christs comming 2. Thessalonians 1. 8. and 2. 8. Then follows the second Resurrection of the dead and Christs Kingdom the contents of the seaventh Trumpet Revelation 11. 15. Even so come Lord Iesus Come quickly William Twisse The Translator to the Reader GOD at sundry times and in divers manners Heb. 1. 1 2 spake in time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets He hath spoken unto us in these last dayes by his SONNE by whom not onely the Gospel of Salvation is communicated unto us but also the revelation of future events to Revel 1.1 fall out in this last age of the world to be shewed to his servants signified by his Angels unto Iohn one of his Witnesses and Apostles most necessarie for our knowledge as appeareth by the Blessing pronounced to him that readeth and them that Revel 1.5 heare the words of the Prophecie and keepe those things which are written therein For the time was then at hand when some of them should fall out and all in their severall seasons foreset The obscuritis of this as of all other Prophecies untill the event should manifest them hath discouraged many in bestowing their time to read and meditate therein not considering that the Almightie Lord who having the abundance of Spirit Matth. 13. 34. could have set forth all things easie to the understanding of the simplest hath so disposed his Treasures that by prayer and diligence men might be enabled through the guidance of the Spirit to attain unto them and so have them in greater estimation Many learned men have written Expositions of parts of this Revelation some of the whole amongst them I fell upon this learned Commentarie of Master Medes with the Apocalyptique Key before it The Exposition and Methode so pleased me though the phrase were something difficult that to make the better impression of it in my memorie I undertooke to translate it and did finish it long since I communicated it with some friends and subjected it to their correction hence it comes to passe by their desire that it is made publike I humbly crave pardon if my ill expression hath detracted from the Authors learned labour I confesse I have followed the Latine phrase so neere that howsoever the true sence may be expressed yet there wants the English elegancâ—e and if I mistake not the Author himselfe hath so many Hebraismes and Graecismes as make the Latine more crabbed and lesse intelligible but in my poore opinion none hath more accurately and deepely searched and found the sence of those obscure places of Scripture which he hath handled in this and other his writings It were to be wished that his intended larger Commentarie which I am perswaded he hath written and purposed to put forth as he promised at the end of the 14th chapter had not been hindred as I finde by some of his letters they were That opinion the pretended cause of restraint of his further progresse concerning the 1000 yeeres Râ—igne of Christ grounded upon the 20th chapter of the Revelation with the authorities and reasons for the same howsoever it be not received by many as Orthodox yet is delivered with that moderation and subjection to the censure of the Church that it can displease no man nor is it for ought I can see contrary to the Analogie of Faith and may bee usefull for the conversion of the Iewes who
1â— The times of the Beast and of the woman dwelling in the wildernesse begin at the very same instant of time to wit the conquest of the red Dragon and the thrusting him downe into the earth therefore since the said times are of aequall continuance it must of necessity follow that they did concurre in the whole in termediate space of time and likewise at length end their course together That the times of either of them do commence from the same beginning or terme is manifest out of the 12. chap. for when as the dragon is cast downe by Michael then the woman escapeth from his presence into the wildernes ver 6 and 14. The Dragon being angry that hee had in vaine attempted to destroy her now entring thither in the 15 16 and 17. ver he went to make war with the rest of her seed to wit those which she should bring forth in the wildernesse vers 17. * For without doubt it is to bee read with all the latine translations the greeks of Aldus an 1518. and the Syriaque Interpreter who out of the greeke turneth it et steâ—tit and he stood not as at this day the greek copies have it et steâ—i and I stood And standing upon the sea sand vers 18. To the ten horned Beast thence ascending chap. 13.1 he gave his power and his throne and great authoritie there verse 2. Chap. 11. The Synchronisme of the Beast and the prophecie of the witnesses The times of the Beast and of the prophecie of the witnesse being likewise aequall are finished together at the end of the sixt trumpet therefore it is manifest that they also begun together and through the whole space betweene did Synchronize Now that the times both of the Beast and of the witnesses of God prophecying in sackcloth ended together with the end of the sixt trumpet that also appeareth out of the 14. ver of the 11. Chap. where aswell the ascension of the witnesses into heaven which is the period of their mourning prophecie as that great earthquake wherewith the Imperiall citiâ— being overthrowne the kingdome of the Beast was abolished is marked out by the moment wherein the second woe which is the sixt trumpet went out and the third woe or seventh trumpet should forth with ensue for in that moment of time the witnesses whom the Beast which had ascended out of the bottomles pit had slaine being even ready to finish their testimony in sackcloth for this when they sâ—all finish is meant by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reviving by God ascended up into heaven verse 7. 11. 12. and the tenth part of the city fell by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 meanes of the great earthquake the same houre ver 13. and the matter came to that passe that the 7. trumpet sounding all the Kingdomes of the world became our Lords and his Christ verse 15. The Synch of the Witnesses and of the Court or holy city Chap 11. possessed by the Gentiles That the times of the Witnesses and of the Court or holy citie possessed by the Gentiles do contemporize it appeareth as well by the meaning of the text Chap. 11. v. 2 3. as also by the wrath of the Gentiles now cast out in the beginning of the seaventh Trumpet that is from the end of the sixt when also the dayes of the witnesses shall end as it hath already been manifested for the Gentiles which in the 18. verse are said to be enraged at the found of the seaventh Trumpet are the very same which hitherto by the space of forty two monthes had troden underfoot the court of the outer Temple that is the holy city and which now therefore come to be destroyed by the wrath of God And surely this Synchronisme is called into question by none to my knowledge or remembrance The Synch of the Witnesses of the Court of the Beast Chap. 11 12. 1â— and of the Woman If the treading under foot of the court and holy city did agree â—n time with the prophecy of the Witnesses it will agree in time also with the Beast with which the Witnesses agreed in time and therefore also with the Woman in the wildernesse to which thâ— Beast agreed in time So the Woman in the wildernes the dominion of the Beast the treading of the holy city under foot and the prophecie of the witnesses do synchronize each with other The second Synchronisme Of the two borned beast who is also the false prophet Chap. 13. with the ten horned Beast which is also called the Image of the Beast For the two horned Beast is the founder or erector of that seaven headed Beast wearing crownes upon his ten hornes which after his deadly wound to the great hurt of the Saints he anew restored according to the image of a certain former estate wherein he was to rule full 42. moneths chap. 13. v. 3 5 12 14 15. which being done he doth exercise all his power in his presence and also doth shew or worke great wonders in his sight verse 12 13. and chap. 19. verse 20. At length this very same two horned Beast which Iohn calleth elswhere the false prophet together with that other Beast in whose presence hee had done the wonders as inseparable companions are taken and both cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone Chap. 19. v. 20. when therefore the ten horned Beast give me leave for plainnesse so to call the seaven headed Beast restored and the two horned false prophet are not separated one from the other either in their rising or in their ruine Moreover whereas the one excrciseth the power of the other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is in his presence who seeth not that they necessarily contemporize through their whole time But that the whole matter may bee rightly perceived it is to be understood that there is no other state of the seven headed Beast described cha 13. then that of the instauration or of the last head which was tenne horned that which the whole order of the description doth make evident For whatsoever evill the Beast is said to have committed whatsoever worship or adoration is given unto him by the inhabitants of the earth all that is said to be done after his instauration or healing of his wound Furthermore that the ten hornes doe belong to the last head or state of the Beast which is the state of his â—stauration is manifest by the interprâ—tation of the Angel Chap. 17. For there when five heads had fallen that is had fulfilled their Verse 10. courses and the fixt even then in Iohns time was in being yet the time of the hornes is said not to be as yet come Therefore of necessitie it must belong unto the seventh or last head An apendix concerning the mutuall interchanging of the names of the Beast and the falâ—e prophet likewise of the Beast and the image of the Beast For of both these the title of the
whether those elogies of the Angel of the bottomlesse pit and Abaddon can agree with any other besides him Howsoever it is certainly Satan was not then bound the bottomlesse pit as there it is said was not shut upon him and sealed up but as you may see chap. 9. 2. open and that so that the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a great furnace and the sunne and the aire was darkned by the smoke of it To conclude but that this libertie of the Dragon or Satan in deceiving the people continued even to the very destruction of the Beast and therefore was altogether of one time with the six first trumpets I thinke no man can doubt which shall well mark what is read to be done from the effusion of the sixt Viall to wit that when the seventh that is the last by and by was to be pouâ—ed out and therefore the finall ruine of the Beast was even then at â—and out of the mouth of the Dragon and the Beast and false prophet his Vicars three uncleane spirits spirits of devils working miracles shall goe out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battell of that great day of God Alâ—ightie Chap. 16. 13. 14. So the 1000. yeeres of Satans being bonnd that he should not â—eceive the people any more can have no place neither under the six first seales noâ— under the six first trumpets therefore they are â—o be left in the sevenâ—h trumpet 2 Arg. After a thousand yeers being fulfilled Satan being let loose cut off his prison for a short time hee had raised new stirs the scum of the deceived people which hee had gathered together being conâ—uâ—ed with fire fallen from heaven the deceiver himselfe being taken and arrested is said to be sent into the lake of fire and brimstone * Chap. â—â— 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where were both the Beast and the false prophet Marke here reader the chronicall caracter by which is intimated that this whatsoever it is concerning Satan being taken and condemned after his second loosing it succedeth the vision of the former Chapter concerning the Beast and the false prophet being vanquished taken and thereupon cast into the lake burning with fire and brimstone by him which sate upon the white horse as in order of narration so also in the time of the thing done For otherwise it should not have been said that Satan was sent thither where both the Beast and the false prophet were except both the Beast and the false prophet had been sent thither first Neither can any man of judgement say by way of evasion that this war after a thousand yeeres of this 20th chapter is not differing from that of the former chapter when as not onely the character already brought but also all the circumstances on both sides are repugnant the parties the battell and the manner of the slaughter there with the sword here with fire yea and the event of either war unlike as anon the matter being demonstrated shall be made plaine there the binding of Satan onely for a time but here a condemnation to eternall fire The war therefore wherein the Beast and the falsâ— prophet being taken are sent into the lake of fire seeing that it is different from this last to which Satan at length to be cast into the same lake had stirred up the nations presently after his loosing either it must needs be waged within the very same thousand yeeres or els when they were not yet begun It couâ—d not be waged within the thousand yeeres because so long Satan is said to be bound and shut up in the bottomlesse pit that he should not deceive the people any more untill the thousand yeeres should be consummate chap. 20. vers 3. But in the war wherein at length there is triumph over the Beâ—st and the false prophet and their companions if ever at any other time hee was most free and loose to deceive as appeareth by those things which even now wee have alleadged out of the sixteenth chapter concerning the preparation of this war to wit that from the effusion of the sixt Phiall when as now the seventh wherein the Beast was utterly made an end of was ready to be poured out out of the moâ—th of the Dragon out of the moâ—th of the Beast and of the false prophet * Chap. 16. 13. 14 three uncleane spirits the spirits of devils shewing wonders went forth to the kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them together to the battell of the great day of God Almightie Because therefore the * Raâ—â—â— state of the thousand yeeres doth no way admit such Satannicall troubles and stirs it must needs be that this warre of the Beast shall in time goe before them and so at length the 1000. yeeres of Satans binding shall contemporize with the space from the slaughter of the Beast which was to be demonstrated 3. Arg. To conclude since through those thousand yeeres wherein Satan is kept in prison Christ is said to have reigned in that Emperiall and Magnificent Kingdome with his thereupon by the same arguments and marks by which the Synchronisâ—e of either is established the other also will be confirmed Therefore that that Emperiall Kingdome of Christ doth begin with the seventh trumpet or from the destruction of the Beast is now for us to shew The fifth Synchronisme Of the 1000. yeeres of Christ his Emperiall raigne and of the seventh trumpâ—t or the space from the destruction of the Beast 〈…〉 1 The excellent and Emperiall Kingdom of Christ often and again mentioned in the Revelation and upon the coming whereof the quire of the Beasts and triumphant elders are wont to sing hymnes and thanksgivings to God every where succeedeth in order the conquest of and the triumph over the Beast and Babylon For first where this reign of a thousand yeers is proâ—erly handled in chap 20. of the number of those which reign with Christ are 〈◊〉 4. they who had not worshiâ—ped the Beast nor his image nor had received his marke in their foreheads or in their hands doe not these words sufficiently shew that this reign of Christ succeeded the reign of the Beast his image and his stigmatized followers For wherefore should this elogie be given to those sons of the kingdome that they had not worshipped the Beast c except the Beast had now gone before For certainly the desert in time goeth before the retribution and reward But now this kingdom is given as the order of the narration sheweth to the Saints as a reward of their faith and constancie and that after their cause was first discussed in open Court of which Session as iâ— were there is a description in these words * Veâ—â—e 4. And I saw thrones and they sat upon them and judgement was given to them that is to say to them was given authoritie of judging c. Therefore the time
wherein the Saints approved their faith and constancie to â—od while the Beast ruled went before the judgement the reward followed the decree then made 2 The same doth yet further appeare out of that hymne of praise â—ung of the elders and beasts at the overthrow of Babylon câ—ap 19. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hallâ—u-jâ—h for the Lord God that Almightie one hath reigned ver 7. Let us be glad and rejoyce and give glorie to him for the mariage of the Lamb iâ— come his wife hath made herself ready For I doubt not but that the kingdom is the same in both places 3 But of all most clearely out of the 11. chap. ver 15 16 c. where at the found of the seventh trumpet the dayes of the witnesses and of the Beast and the moneths of the Gentiles being runne out there is proclaimed in heaven the kingdomes of this world are our Lords and his Christs and he shall raigne for evermore And the foure and twentie Elders fitting before God in their thrones fell upon their faces and worshipped God saying We give thee thanks Lord God Almightie which art and which wa st and which art to come for thou hast received thy great might and hast entred thy Kingdome This is that finishing of the mysterie of God declared by the Prophets which the Angel had foretold before the tenth Chap. ver 7. should come to passe about the the time of the sounding of the seventh trumpet when neither the moneths of the Beast nor the dayes of the witnesses mourning nor any thing at all concerning the period of time times and halfe time shall be any more remaining verse 6. 7. plainely according to that which was foretold to Daniel chap. 7. vers 25 26 27. and before concerning the Universall dominion of Christ or kingdome of the Saints to come after the same times and altogether the same session of judgement Also that chap. 12 ver 7. where the same Angel which is here in John is read with the same behaviour rite and which is chiefly to be noted almost in the same words to have sworne that that space once being ended of a time times and halfe a * Are not these 〈…〉 21 2. time the dispersion of the holy people and together with that that last of wonders should be consummate He which here desiâ—eth further confimation let him use the Charecters of the former Synchronisme for they affoord as I said their mutuall helps The sixt Synchronisme Of tâ—e new Jerusalem the bride of the Lamb with the seaventh Chap. 21.2 Chap. 11 1. trumpet or the space from the time of the destruction of the Beâ—st 1. The marriage of the Lamb and that Emperiall kingdome of the Almighty Lord God both begin after the destruction of Babylon where the seaventh trumpet beginneth this appeareth out of the hâ—mne of the Elders and Beasts which in the former Synchronisme we have commended out of the nineteenth chap. vers 6.7 Halliluâ—ah for our Lord God Almightie reigneth Let us be glad and rejoyce and give honour to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made her selfe ready But the new Jerusalem is that bride of the Lamb adorned and prepared for her husband chap. 21. verse 2. And I saw saith he the holy City new Jerusalem coming downe from God out of heaven as a bride adorned for her husband and verse 9. Come and I will shew thee the bride the Lambes wife c. Therefore even she shal begin and contemporize with the seventh trumpet 2. Now Jerusalem is the beloved citie but that beloved citie forthwith after the 1000. yeares are ended is said to be compassed about by those last troopes of Satan then let loose chap. 20. ver 9. And they compassed the tents of the Saints and the beloved citie therefore it must needs have beene extant before while Satan was yet bound I have thought fit to adde two other either for confirmation or illustration and setting forth of these two arguments 3. The seventh Viall being poured out wherewith the Beast is dispatcht and abolished there came a loud voice from the throne saying TETONE It is done chap. 16. vers 17. So also He that sat upon the throne saith to Iohn beholding new Jerusalem descending from heaven chap. 21. verse 5 6 Behold I make all things new TETONE It is done I am * Alpha â— Omega A and â— the beginning and the end therefore new Jerusalem the bride of the Lamb beginneth at the last terme of the Vials TETONE the whore being already dispatcht and so it contemporizeth with the space of time which insueth the destruction of the Beast 4. One of the Angels of the Vials Chap. 17. sheweth unto Iohn the condemnation of the whore even while the Vials are in pouring out and at least by one of them to be executed And the same Angel of Vials chap. 21. vers 10. sheweth to the same Iohn the bride of the Lambe the great citie holy Jerusalem to become glorious even when the Phials are now ended that is the Beast and Babylon being destroyed The 7th Synchronisme Of the palm-bearing multitude of the numberlesse triumphants out of all Nations Tribes People and Tongues chap. 7 vers 9. with the seventh trumpet or space of time from the destruction of the Beast chap. â—â— â—â— c. 1. The palm-bearing multitude next succeedeth the companie of â—44000 sealed but that companie being to be measured or judged of by its opposite both state and duration to the Beast with whom it contemporizeth ended with the Beast also Synchronisme 4. Part 1. Therefore the palm-bâ—aring multitude followeth both and consequently will fall out in the time of the seventh trumpet which is the space of time from the destruction of the Beast 2. The palm-bearing multitude are the citizens of new Jerusalem for of both it is said * Chap. 7. 16. 17. That they shall not hunger nor thirst any more c. That the Lambe shall feed them and lâ—â—d them to the living fountains of waters and * Chap. 21. 4. that God shall wipe away every teare from their eyes Now new Jerusalem contemporized with the seventh trumpet therefore the palm-bearing multitude also The Apocalyptique Epoche or computation of the Revelation The Epoche or computation of the Apocalyps as it is a prophecie of things to come whether thou shalt determine the beginning of it in the beginning of Christianisme or in the overthrow of the Iewish politie and church or in that moment of time wherein the Revelation is shewed to John or howsoever it be fixed for I will not here play the interpreter being mindfull of my purpose I suppose none will doubt but that thence the beginning of the seales as touching things done in them is to be fetcht But that the beginning of the second prophecie also or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the open booke is to be fetcht from the same account if the very words
Family Ioseph and Beniamin close the troope Vers â— Nephthalin and Manasses are preferred because the first was famous for Barach who vanquished Sisera the Cananite so for Hiraâ— whose father was a Nephthalite the maker of the instruments and furniture for the Temple of God 1 King 7.14 with 2 Chroâ— 2. 14. but also for a greater reason yet of which afterwards Chap. 7. the second was noble in respect of Gedeon the subverter of Baal and Elisâ—us the Prophet Indeed the glory of Christ his habitation extolled Nephthalin though he were but the sonne of a handmaid above Manasses who likewise beginning his function fixed his dwelling and seat of his preaching in Capernaum the most noble Citie of Nephthalin and the Metropolis of all Gallile from whence as it were from the Episcopall Citie he went through all Gallile with his Apostles over and over teaching the Gospel of the Kingdome in all Synagogues and Villages and being glorious by miracles of healing For this Reader I would have thee to marke out of the Evangelicall Historie because many observe it not that our Saviour all the time that he was conversant upon the Earth dwelt in Gallile but in Iudea the chiefe seat as well of his Nation as Tribe he was not seene but at times of Feasts And this is that which Esay long agone had foretold Esay 9. 1. 2. Matth. 4. 14. That that Wonderfull Counsellour the Mightie God the Authour of Eternitie Septuagint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Father of the world to come the Prince of Peace in one word the Messia should be a Gallilean and as it were in recompence and consolation for the captivitie which Gallile then lately had suffered by the Assyrian first before all the Regions of the Holy Land 2 Kings 15. 29 he would make that coast especially famous by his presence in speciall See Adrichâ—m Taâ— Naphâ—hâ—l and himselfe pag 115. â— that high way called the Way of the Sea where coming out of Syria to Jordan it passeth through the middle of Capernaum and thence going forward along the Sea of Gallile leadeth into Egypt Let us heare himselfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the Vulgar distinction set aside of it owne accord and word for word is thus translated As at the first he made base the Land of Zabulon and the Land of Nephthalâ—n to wit as I said by Tiglath-peleser so at the last he shall make it glorious and renowned for the way of the Sea by which the Assyrian came at the passage of Iorden there is Capernaum seated Gallile of the Gentiles the people which walked in darknesse to wit of affliction saw a great light to the dwellers in the Region of the shadow of death Chap. 7. a light is risen c. Wilt thou know whence and who is the Authour of the blessednesse of Galilee and in that way by the Sea side where the â—oord of Iordan is he presently sheweth Because a childe is borne to us a Sonne is given to us and the principalitie Esay c. 9. v. 6. shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderfull Councellour the mightie GOD the Father of Eternity the Prince of Peace But those words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at which ours allmost treading the steps of the Iewes who never understood this Prophesy begin this Chapter with great disturbance of the sense with Iâ—rome and the Kings Bibles I annexe to the sentence of the Chapter going before and translate them Because there is no darkenesse to him which is anguish to himselfe that is in that lamentable and afflicted state of things into which the Israelitish Common-wealth at that time according to the commination of the Law is reported to have fallen and as it were evidently set before their eyes men were brought to indignation and desperation in that they did see the enemie by whom they were oppressed to be in prosperitie and no evill hap to befall them Verily it maketh much for the Christian faith that this Oracle of the Messia of Galilee be cleerely understood and to be ascertained of the fidelitie of Matthew alleadging it Wherefore I would upon this occasion adde this light such as it is unto it hoping that it will not be unacceptable to the Reader I returne to the Revelation and this further I will adde before I let passe Nephthali that even as Iuda gained the first place among the sonnes of Lea by reason of the stock of Christ so Nephthali among Rachels for his dwelling that the prerogative of Christ on both sides might excell by the name of whom as Lord and Emperour this company as in the proper place we shall heare is intituled Ioseph and Beniamin remaine being cast back to the last couple Vers 8. of Rachels children The former of whom the sinne of Ephraim thrust downe into this place for it is Ephraim who is hidden in the name of Ioseph unworthy by his owne to be heard in this Catalogue as well because he was the leader of the Idolatry of Israel whereof Micha was the authour as also for the outragious Apostsie whereof Jerâ—boam and Achaâ— were authours To conclude the hatred of Sâ—â—l the Bâ—niamitâ— against David considering Chap. 7. that he was the chiefe of the stock of Christ and the Type of him did hinder Beniamiâ— otherwise the youngest of a higher degree and the curses of Shimei against the same A sentence for memory compact of the signification of the names by which the Tribes are called whereiâ— are declared as well the order of the Tribes sealed as also the disposition of the same company the wrestling and the reward from God Juda Confitetur Deo Confession is made to God looking upoÌ„ his Son by the company of the blessed Câ—ltus puruâ— rite Christianus Pure truly Christian worship Reâ—ben intuendo filium Gad Coetus Aser benedictus Nephthalin Luctantur cum they wrestle with those that forget obedience Lucta Strife or wrestling Manasses obliviscentibus Simeon obedientiam Levi Adhaesio scil Christo by cleaving to wit to Christ Praemium The reward Isacher mercedem a reward Zabulon habitaculi sc aterni of habitation to wit eternall life Joseph adiiciâ—t shall be added Beniamin filio dextrâ— to the Son of his right hand Confesseth or praiseth God beholding his Sonne that is Christ the onely Mediatour the blessed company the company of the sealed They strive with those that forget obedience that is with Antichristians Cleaving to Christ a reward of habitation to wit eternall he shall adde to the Sonne of his right hand that is to him whom God accounteth great or otherwise To them that cleave to God a reward of habitation that is life eternall shall be added by the Sonne of the right hand that is Christ To this contracted and afflicted estate of the Church in the type of the sealed of Israel the state thereof most ample and most happy succeedeth in the representation of innumerable palmebearers out of every
other Magistrates there yet remained But these being all taken away which commeth to passe in this Trumpt what was there but darknesse and a totall eclipse of the light aswell of the day as the of the night to wit which appertained to her to whom the third part of the light of heaven was due The representation of the sun the moone and stars in this understanding is most usuall with the Prophets as Esay 13 10. also 60. 20. Where for thy Sunne shall set no more and thy Moon shall not be in the waine c. The Targum hath Thy kingdom shall never cease he speaketh to Ierusalem and thy glory shall not be taken from thee Also Ier. 15.9 where concerning Ierusalem The sunne thereof hath set whilst it was yet day The Targum turneth Their glory departed in their life time And Ezâ—k 32. â— That concerning Pharaoh when I shall put thee out I will cover the heavens and make the stars thereof dark The same Paraphrast turneth it Tribulation shall cover thee when I shall put out the Splendour of the Glory of thy Kingdome c. Let the Reader transferre hither also those things which I have noted before out of Achmetâ—s to give light to the sixt Seaâ—e which it is admirable to see how they agree Of the thrâ—e Woe Trumpets There remaineth yet three trumpets the greatest of all and the most grievous and therefore differenced from the former by the title of three Woes For after the * 〈…〉 explanation of the 4th trumpet I beheld and heard saith hee a certaine Angell flying thorow the midst of heaven saying with a loude voice Woe woe woe to the inhabitants upon the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpets of the three Angels which are yet to sound Also â—ha 9 12. and 11.14 Doubtles when the inhabitants of the Christian Roman Empire in the mean space while the former Trumpets sounded had defiled themselues with the worship of new idols the trumpets which remained are increased for the punishing now of a double sin For that that sin also of the Roman Empire came moreover into the reckning of a crime to be punished with the former of the death of the Martyrs it appeareth in that to the second Woe is conjoyned this Elogie to wit the rest of the men that were not killed by these plaguer that is as I conceive Chap. 9. ver â—â— truly by that Woe and the former repented not of the workes of their handes that the should not worship Divils and Idols of gold and silver and brasse and stone and wood which can neither see nor here to walke The first Woe Trumpeâ— OR The Fifth Trumpeâ— The first Woe trumpet is long since past That hath sent out to Chap. 9. ver 1â— destroy the world horrible bands of Locusts issuing out of the hellish smoke of the bottomlesse pit now by the helpe of Satan opened that is the Saraâ—ens or Arabians a nation populous and innumerable like Locusts stirred up by the horrible false prophecy of Muhamed to the ruine of so many nations For the smoke ascending out of the infirnall pit is Muhamadisme which the Muhamadan imposters call Gslanisâ—e this newly Verse 20 obscured the world lately inlightned with the Gospell of Christ the son of righteousnesse the darknesse of the heathenish errours Chap. 9â— being dispelled And surely the type of Locusts is the more apt because the Egyptian Locusts also came out of the same Arabia to wit bordering upon Egypt eastward For so Exodus 10. 13. 14. The Lord brought an Eastwinde upon the land and it brought the Locusts and the Locusts went up over all the land of Egypt and rested in all the coasts of Egypt Besides the Arabians are likened to Locusts for the huge multitude of the nation Iudg. 7. 12. The Midianites and the Amalekites and all the Sonnes of Kedem or the â—ast lay in the valley like grashoppers for multitude c. Where is to be observed that the Arabians in holy writ are peculiarly named Sonnes of the east as is Arabia it self 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the east as in respect of Egypt where the Israelites learnt so call it you may see Gen. 10. 30. and 25. 6. 1. Kings 4. 30. Esay 11. 14. Ier 49 28. perhaps also Mat. 2.1 the same reason plainly for which Asia the lesser is called at this day Natotia and Arabia faelix seated southward from the rest of the Arabiaes Ayaman that is the south When the Queene of the south Matth. 12. 42. But these things by the way The like represeination of Loâ—â—â—â— concerning the Aâ—â—yrians and Babilonians about to destroy Iudeâ— is to be sâ—â—â—e in â—oell in the two first Chapters from whence he will not deny that this type is borrowed who shall compare the description of them Chap. 9. both But that the interpretation thereof is to be â—â—ferred to hostiâ—e bandes Acâ—metes showeth out of the use of the East whose words I have thought sit to be inserted in this place For so hee â—hap 300 out of the learning of the Indians Persians and Egyptians Locâ—sts without doubt are referred generally to the multitude of enemies for so it is registred in holy writt that Locusts goe forth by divine commandement for the destruction of Kingdoms like some Armie This of holy writt is meant of the holy writings of the Indians onely as also whatsoever in this booke rellishetâ— of the knowledge of Christian Religion as will appeare to the Reader He goeth on If any either King or endned with Authority shall seeme to see Locusts going forth against any region in that place let him expect a multitude of enemies with great power and how much damage the Locusts shall doe so much shall they hâ—â—t Now therefore the represâ—â—ntation being conâ—irâ—â—d we shall see of the rest of the deseription There was given to them saieth he verse 3 power such as the Scorpions of the earth have for they had vâ—rse 10. tayles like unto Vers. 3. Scorpions and in them stings with which they might hort and ve 5 their torment is as the torment of a Scorpion when he striketh a man That is they had not onely power proper to Locusts of consuming and wasting the regions over which they swarmed but like monsters tayles as scorpions by the stroke whereof they also diffused their venome An admirable thing A Locust scorpion but what manner of evill he meaneth the symbole of a serpentine kinde seemeth to declare since â— scorpion is a kinde of serpent But by this kinde wher with the devil first deceived maâ—kâ—nde and alienated it from God the Spirit of God liketh to bring him in who was â—urther to seduce men whence that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the serpent the old one which deceiveth the world Chap. 12.9 ad 20.2 The taile therefore of the Scorpion with a stinge doth set ouâ— the propagation of that diabolicall Muâ—ammeâ—â—n false prophecie with its whole
the foure Angels signifie so many Sultaniâ—s or Kingdomes into which the Turkes were dâ—vided when first having passed over Euphrates they had spread themselves into the neighbouring coasts of A … a and Syria These Christopher Ricâ—erius concerning the originall of the Turkes doth thus reckon up out of Scilix a Greeke author the first of Asia the second of Alepo the third of Damascus and of Antioch the fourth The first of which the Asian or of Asia the lesse had its beginning in Câ—tlamusus otherwise called by Elmachinus except I be deceived Sedyduddrulas allyed to that Tangrolipix who first tooke Bagdad He began his Kingdome in the parts of Asia bordering Chap. 9. upon Euphrates Caesâ—ria or Capadocia being conquered and taken from the Romanes to him and his posterâ—ty about the yeere of Christ 108. as the same auther witnesseth The borders whereof afterward Solyman his successor enlarged as farre as Nicaea of Bithynia but being vanished by ours in that renowned expedition unto Jerusalem he was constrained to leave the whole region which he had gotten and to retire to Euphratâ—s And the seat of this Tetrarchie though in the beginning it were else where yet for the most part was at Iconium in the same Caâ—adocia The second was the Tetrarchie of Alepo the city thereof being Alepo which is watered with an arme of Euphrates brought thither by one of the Sultanus Siarsud aulas was the first king hereof as witnesseth Elmachinus having obtained Alepo in the yeere 1079. whose successor was Râ—duwanus Salghâ—â—ides in the yeere 1095. The founder of the third Tetrachie whose chiefe city being Damascus by the testimonie of the same author was Tagiuddaulas Nisus the nephew of Togrulbâ—cus or Tangrâ—lipix who subdued Damascus in the same yeer 1079. His successor was Ducathes or Decacus the brother of Râ—duwanus the Sultan of Alepo in the yeere 1095. Whom saith Scilix all the region of Dâ—capâ—lis obeyed But this reached to Euphrates To these Scilix reckoneth the Antiochian â—oâ— a fourth contained within moderate boundes For saith he the Calipha of Egypt out of the Saracenicall stock possessed the regions of Syria unto Laodicea But forasmuch as that Antiâ—chean Kingdome as it was a little remote from Euphrates so it endured not but fourteene yeeres Antiâ—chia being presently taken by ours under the conduct of Bâ—â—mund happily it were better leauing out Antioch to adde for the making up of the number of fourâ— the Bagdad or Persiaâ— Empire upon the other side of Euphrates for Scilix had onely respect to the Turkes who had passed Euphrates that so the whole Turkish Empire beyond and on this side Euphrates may be understood to be devided into those foure Sultanies which with the course of the Kings or Sultans for a certain time see Reader described in the following figure for thy more distinct Diagraâ—mate contemplation A Diagramme of the Tâ—â—kish Kingdome parted in Foure Partes at Euphrates from the yeere 1080. and so forth out of Elmachinus the Arabian and Sâ—ilâ—p a Greeke Author Beyond Euphrates on this side Euphrates Of Bagdad Togrulbecus Orbarsalanus Of Cesaria Capadocia I. conium c in Asia the lesse Of Alepo Of Damascus Ghelaluddaulas in the yeâ—re 1071 Barkyaruens Mâ—hammâ—dus Mahmudus began in the yeâ—re 1117. c Seijdudâ—aulâ—s by surname Cutlumusus Sâ—limanus Tâ—nismanius Masutus Calisastlanus c Sjarâ—uddulas Roduwanus Tagjudâ—aulas his sonnâ— Bulgarus begaÌ„ in the yeere 1117 Tagjuddaulas Decacus Ababacus then alive in the yeere 1115 Sanguinus Noradinus And this was the state of the Turkish affaires when first they passed Euphrates and as it were making a shew of their breaking in upon the Romane territories they were restrained in their limited prison at Euphraâ—eâ— But howsoever this quaternion of Sultans remained not entire till the the time of their loosing but underwent divers changes yet the Holy Ghost esteemeth the nation according to the state of the first irruption wherein having passed Euphrates they are bound untill an appointed time And those foure Angels were loosed being prepared for an houre and a day and a month and a yeare that they might slay the third part of men This loosing of the Turkes happened a little before the yeare 1300 the Caliphatship of Bagdad with which the first Woe utterly expired being now extinguished by the Tartars in the yeere 1258 and the remnant of the Turkes who on the other side of Euphrates hitherto raighned in Persia being cast by the same in the yeare 1289 as it were out of a sâ—â—ng into the countries belouging unto the Romane Empyre on this side of Euphrates For things thus framing it happened also that at the same time the Latines who had hindred and staied the irruptions of the Chap 9. Turkes now almost 200. yeares were driven out of Syria and Palestina in the yeare likewise 1291. In the meane time the Turks although as yet devided into severall provinces invaded almost all the lesâ—er Asia parted it among themselves to be possessed by right of inheritance and at length uniting themselves under the sole conduct of my Othâ—man without any restraint cruelly raged and passed over into Europe ne ther could they any â—ore bee restrained with any force untill tâ—ey had destroyed the whole Constantinopolitan Empire with miserable slaughters But unlesse I be deceaved the Oracle designeth the time also of this overthrow of Câ—nstantinople to wit that it should come to passe a day a month and a yeare that is 396 yeares afâ—er the Turkes the Saracenicall Empire being given them dâ—gan to be made ready by God that is from the time that Bâ—gdad was taken by them For this was the beginning of the breaking of the Turks when the Empyre of the Saracens began to be subverted and the dominion of the Romanes to be afflicted yet so as the force of the cvill was to be restrained until the appointed time of setting them loose Certainly the space of time agreeth to an inch For Almachinus the Arabian Historian whom we haue sometimes cited then whom none hath more accurately noted the moments of times reporteth that Zâ—grulbecus Salghucides the Prince of the Turkes whom we cal Tangrolipix of the Zelzucâ—ian family the royall city of Bagdad being taken was clothed with the Imperiall robe by Caliphâ— Caâ—inus Biamrilla and enstauled in the kingdome in the yeare of the Hegira 4.9 that is 1057 of Christ then sayeth he was the kingdome stablished to him From this time therefore the Turkes having the principall seate of the Sarecenicall Empire with the whole dominion beyond Euphrates are prepared that after a propheticall day month and yeare they should kill the third part of men that is in the yeare of Christ 1453 they should utterly cut of the rest of the Romane Empire in the East the royall city of Constantinople being taken Fro the space from the yeare 1057 to the yeare 1453 wherein Constantinople was taken is precâ—â—ely 396 yeares whereof the day maketh one the Month 30 the yeare
365. The exactnesse of the account is such that any one may easily imagine that even the howre which according to the proportion of the rest should make fifteen dayes agreed in like manner with the event if the month of the inauguration of Togrulbecus had beene declared as well as in the yeare is In the meane while untill that appeare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an houre may he taken here not for thâ— twentieth part of the day but for a fit time and the coniunctionkâ—â— and to be expounded declaratively as it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prepared for a fit time to wit for a day a month and a yeare to slay the third part of men But how many yeares after wardes should runne till the ruine of the Turkish kingdome is no where had only it is said that it shall come to passe at the end of the times of the Beast to wit the second Woe shall passe when the third Woe should be at hand for the abolishing of the kingdome of the Beast chap. 11 v 14.15 But before I depart hence I shall not unwillingly confesse this that except so exact an agreement of the prophesie with the thing done did as it were enforce mee another interpretation should no way have displeased mee to wit this that those Angels were prepared and furnished for every occasion whether need shall require for an houre or a day or a month or a yeare to take the matter in hand But whether it bee like that so accurate answering of time as here the event sheweth should have happened by chance let others judge Some one perhaps there will be who will make conscience so to thinke It followeth of the quality and number of the Armies And the number saith he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Army of horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand Hee â—ameth an Army of horsemen and no other Armies in the whole description of the plague as if this enemie from Euphrates should be wholly an Army of Horsemen Whether because in the Turkish warre the horsemen so farre exceed the foote men in number that this is of no account in respect of that rather which I beleeve the Holy Ghost especially respected because this is the very character already consecrated by Ezechiel of the Nation of Magog of whom the Turkes are derived For so hee describeth that Nation by warrfare on horse-back in that famous prophesie concerning Gog this in the same age of Ezekiel was the * Râ—b Moses Bar. Naâ—hman upon the Pentatench Gog. saith he is a generall name by which every Prince of Magog is called the same saith Iohannes Baptista of a lew becomming a Christian in the prologue of the second part Leunclavius in the Pandicts of the Turkish Hâ—story p. 186. Gog at this day by the Turkes is called Giok or Kâ—oc with one only syllablâ— whence Kioc Can whâ—ch otherwhere is Gog Can c. Gog Eâ—p which also is Gug Elp. common name of all the King of Magog as Pharaoh was of the Aegyptians Chap. 38. 4. And I will bring thee forth saith he and all thins army Horses Chap. 9. and Horse men and all of â—hem clothâ—d with armour Againe verse 15. And thou shalt come from thy place out of the North-parts thou and people with thee all of them Riders on horsâ—s c. furthermore this Gog is called the chiefe Prince of Meshek and Tubal That is who going out of his coasts commanded both the Armeniaes beyond and on this side Euphrates I comprehend here under the name of the hither Armenia the Capadocians anciently called Meschim and Moschi and where the chiefe towne Mazaca is afterwards called aesarea and in the same Coast the Moschi mountaines being no obscure tokens that the Inhabitants are derived from Meshek The further or greater Armenia is that which is called at this day Turcomania from the habitation of the Turkes wherein in time past the City Thelbalana was the Tibarenian and Balbitenian people the river Teleboas and other marks of the name Tubal Yet notwithstanding the Warre which Ezechiel declareth is not to be taken for this irruption of the Turkes which Iohn describeth this only he seemeth to intimate bee understood of another the last under the returne of the Jews and that if a man may conjecture this which now is something before departing But of the type of the Armie of the Horse-men there is another thing which with the good leave of the Reader I will adde but on this condition that no man thinke mee over much to regard the deceitfulnesse of names and eâ—ymologies Even solid and well cooked meates are wont to taste more deliciously with saucâ— Let not the Reader therefore disdaine that I set such before him To wit that the Turkes before the loosing now by long habitation have beene Perfians and by that name called every where in the Byzantine Historians Certainely Nicetas who in a History comprehended the most part of the time wherein they were restrained at Eupbrates almost alwayes calleth them Persians verily rarely Turkes Now the Persians if thou marke even by the very sound of the name are Harse men since 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Paras by which name Persia is called in sacred writt with which Parthia is the same onely otherwise Chap. â— pronouned in the three Easterne languages the Hebrew Chaldean and Arabâ—an dothsignifie a Horse or Horse-man Therefore by this reason the Euphratean Horse-men are Turcoperâ—ians that is the borderers of Euphraces by a namâ— of their Nation are called Horse-men Neither doth example of such allusion if any shall object dispose seeme to bee wanting in Daniel chapter 8. where the Macedonians who at that time were called Aegeades that is to say Goatish are signified by a type of Goates and the King is set forth by the representation of a hee Goate Behold saith hee Hircus Caprarum that is the Male of the Goates commeth Verse 5. from the West c. for hee meaneth Alexander the great the KING of the Aegeans They are the Macedonians For so that Nation was called where the first seate of the kingdome was from Caramos the Founder about two hundred yeares before Daniel The occasione of the name the Epitomizor Iustinus reporteth out of Trogus lib. 7. whose words I will not sticke to mention Caranus saith he with a great multitude of Grâ—cians being commanded by an answer of the Oracle to seeke places of habitation in Macedonia when he had comâ—into Emathia he possessed himselfe of the Citie Aedessa following a stocke of Goates flying from a shower the Citizens not perceaving by reason of the greatnesse of the showres and fogge and calling the Oracle to minde whereby he was bidden to seeke an Empyre by the conduct of Goates he appointed it the State of the Kingdome and afterwards religiously observed whethersoever hee removed his Army to have the same Goates his ensignes using those as guides for his enterprises which he had for authors of his
Chap. 10. king of the saints should rule through the whole world c. 7 and together that glorious promise of restoring Israel should be fulfilled chap. 12. But that this Kingdome is it which hee called the finishing of the mystery of God that acclamation subjoyned to the same Trumpet afterward sounding suffereth us not to doubt the Kingdomes of this world are become our Lords and his Christs and he shall raâ—gne for evermore That it is wonder that there are any Cha. 11. v. 15. who should understand it otherwise Therfore that time of which the Angell here sweareth that it shall be no more cannot be any Verse 6. other then either the time of the foure Monarchies universally or which is more neere but the same in effect of the last Kingdom that is the Roman to wit the last period of a time times and halfe a time since the same which here with Iohn is said shall be when time shall be no more that with Daniel was shewed should bee then when that period of the last times shall be accomplished And surely this consummation of the mysterie of God is the matter of the seventh Trumpet to which are added as companions seven thunders For they are not the matter it selfe which the Trumpet doth exhibit but a temporary thereof To wit while the Angell maketh his proclamation concerning the mysterie of the Trumpet seven thunders utter their voyces He cried saith Versâ— 3. he with a great voyce as a Lion roareth and when hee had cryed seven thunders uttered their voices that is when he had begun his cry seven thunders also began to speake Neither can they but contemporize with the seventh Trumpet since that which followeth the sixth Trumpet necessarily falleth into the seventh But what is this voyce of thunder whether is it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bath Kol If it bee this the seven thunders are so many Oracles by which the space of the seventh Trumpet is distinguished as it were by certaine periods but of a matter not at all to be knowne nor to bee perceaved but in the proper times which the prohibition to Iohn of writing the voyces of the seven thunders given from heaven doth intimate Seale up thâ—se things which the seven thunders have Verse 4. spoken and write them not We shall therefore enquire in vaine of those things which God would have kept secret and to be reserved for their owne times And thus hath the seventh Trumpet beene fitly enough accommodâ—ted in its place and order although the discoverie of the sound thereof wherein the whole mysterie is fully unlockt be reserved Chap. 10. to another place The purpose of which reservation with the whole frame of such disposition although it be touched in the Key of the Revelation yet it will be neither needlesse nor unprofitable to repeate it here againe and a little more at large since the consideration thereof doth escape most of the interpreters The diligent contemplation of the body of the Apocaliptique visions fraâ—ed by the characters of the Synchronismes gave me the first light here and will give light to thee ò Reader also except I be deceaved But the matter that I may discover it with what plainnesse and brevitie of speech I came standeth thus Both prophesies as well of the Seales as of the little Booke are concluded with one and the same issue of things to wit with that which the seventh Trumpet doth exhibit For the declaring whereof the Holy Ghost hath deferred the more full opening of the sound thereof the mysterie of the seventh Trumpet being touched before in its proper place in the order of the Trumpets lightly and as much as was there needfull untill a passage being made to the new prophesie of the Little book Chap. 10. from the eighth verse to the end he had drawne up the first vision thereof the course of the Revelation being likewise finished to the same issue of things Chap. 11. 14. and then that Mysterie of the seventh Trumpet the common Catastrophe of both prophesies and only generally published in the former prophesie which was of the sealâ—s is here the sound at length being uttered fully expounded and that surely in a most apt order when as otherwise without a fore-knowledge of either propheâ—ie that which depended upon both could not have bin understood And hence it commeth to passe that the businesse of that translation is not taken in hand by any Angell oâ— the Trumpets but bâ— that great and excellent Angell who held in his hand the Little booke the Symbole of the second prophesie which was presently Verse 8 9. to be eaten by Iohn For it was requisite for him who should reveale the second prophesie that the explaining of the sound thereof whicâ— contained the Catastâ—ophe of either prophesie should be deferred thither Yea if that Angell bee Christ the Lord as it seemeth may be gathered by his more royall attyre and the whole â—â—rniture this right of suspending the last sounding in favour of the other prophesie doth agree to none so much as to him who Chap. 10. was the Author of both the prophesies Hitherto truely hee had appeared in forme of a Lambe but now it seemeth he had put on the person of an Angell for that he was about to reveale to Iohn the same mysterie of Consummation which hee had revealed long before to Daniel in the same apparâ—tion of an Angell and in the same rite and words of an oath you may see DANIEL Chapter 12. verse 6. 7. with the fifth verse of the tenth Chapâ—er FINIS THE INTERPRETATION of the little Booke or of the other System of the visions of the Revelation according to the rule of the Apocaliptique Key THe space of the Seales being runne Chap. 10. over wherein the affaires of the Empire were described let us proceed to the other prophesie by much the more noble as containing the fates of the Church or of Religion Iohn is prepared to it by the delivering and eating up of an open Booke as it were to take the degree of the facultie of prophesying And the voyce saith he which I heard from heaven spake unto Vers 8. me againe to wit that voyce as of a Trumpet speaking Chap. 4. 1. and sayed Goe and take that little booke which is open in the hand of the Angel which standeth upon the Sea and upon the earth I went therefore unto the Angel and sayed unto him give me Vers 9. the little booke and he sayed unto me take it and eate it up c. Furthermore since the prophesie now to be revealed as the knowledge of all divine and hidden things especially to come should be in the first receipt indeed sweet and pleasant but by Chap. 11. reason of the lamentable estate of the Church contained in the hidden part thereof bitter as Aloes or for the obscuritie happily of those Allegories and Types where with it is covered it should much perplex
hand-writing of Ordinances which was against us and nayling it to his Crosse to have taken it out of the way Furthermore since God is said to have created the Sunne the greater light to rule the day but the Moone the lesser light to rule the night Why may not the Symbole of the Moone having rule over the night signifie the power of darkenesse or the tronpe of darkenesse that is the worshipping of Satan and of his spirits in idols So truely that the whole matter may be transferred to Baptisme whereby the Church being to be illuminated and to put on Christ trampleth under feete the worshipping of Idols Chap. 12. of Satan and his Angels by the renouncing of their â—ervices and pompes For all these things did that old short forme of renunciation plainly containe and furthermore they that were to make abjuration did turne themselves towards the West as it were to the climate of heaven whence night cometh as on the contrary being to make profession of their faith in Christ and the true God three in one they turned themselves towards the East as it were the Clymate whence the Sunne by expelling the darkenesse reduceth the day Dyonis Areop de Hierarch Eccles c. 2. Cyrill Hierosol Cateches 1. mystagog Gregor Naz. Orat. 40. Hieron upon Chap. 6. of Amos. Ambros de â—is qui mysteriâ—s initiantur c. 2. Moreover with respect to the same image or representation as before also is observed the continuance of Christian Apostacie or of Christianisme defiled with Idols is defined by moneths according to the motion of the Moone but of the woman and the Witnesses persevering in the â—aith of Christ by yeers and dayes according to the motion of the Sunne Yet to whether interpretation I should rather incline I am doubtfull and whether to one of the two onely or to both Surely the Apostle to the Galathians Chap. 4.3 seemeth to call both of them as well the Mosaicall paedagogie as the worship of the Idols of the Gentiles promiscuously the elements of the wâ—rld the Church of Christ glorieth that both are put under her feet Let the Reader use his judgement And she being with childe cryed travelling in birth and was in Vers 2. paine to be delivered The Church as universally and seperately considered as an Idea is a Mother but as she is considered in relation to the severall persons which are continually begotten in her she hath an off-spring which she is said to travell with and bring forth to God This in the Prophets is so familiar that concerning that there is no need to adde one word You may see Ezek. Chap. 16. unto vers 21. likewise Chap. 23. vers 4. Esay Chap. 54. Hosea Chap. 2. vers 4 5. The Allegorie therefore in this part is not to be wrested by any mans importunitie to wit that he seperate the Mother from her offâ—â—ing which yet otherwise may grow together into one and the same Church Kimchi upon Hosea 2. vers 3 3. The Synagogue or Congregation is compared to a Mother 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of universality but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in respect of Chap. 12. particulars to children But these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pangs and torments by reason of which the woman in travell cryed were those grievous persecutions which the Primitive Church suffered in bringing forth For it is plaine that tribulations and adversitie are likened to the sorrowes of childe bearing Whence those words of Esa Chap. 66. 7. Before she travelled she brought forth before her * Partus paine came she was delivered of a man childe The Chalde paraphraseth Before tribulation come upon her she shall be redeemed before great feare come upon her as the sorrowes of a woman in travell her King that is the Messiah shall be revealed But Ieremy Chap. 30. vers 6 7. â—e interpreteth this representation Aske ye saith he and see whether a man doth travell with childe Wherefore doe I see every man with his hands on his loynes as a woman in travell and all faces are turned into * Auriginem palenesse Alas for that day is great so that none is like it it is even the time of Iacobs trouble but he shall be saved out of it See also what our Saviour calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matth. 24. 8.9 Mark 13. 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these are the beginning of sorrowes c. And there appeared another wonder in heaven for behold a great Vers 3. red Dragon having seven heads and tenne hornes and seven crownes upon his heads And his taile drew the third part of the Starres of heaven and did Vers 4. cast them to the earth A wonder or representation of the Empire of Rome Heathen worshipping the Dragon whose marks are every were seven heads and ten hornes seven heads indeed as well for the seven hils upon which the Citie was builded as also for the seven sorts of â—overnours who were successively to governe that Citiâ— the ten hornes for the ten Kingdoms which were to arise in the time of the last head to which they grâ—w which interpretation is not mine but the Angels Chap. 17. where the more proper place will be to handle these things if any thing be to be added In the meane time another Character of the Romane Empire is added to these whereas it is said he drew the third part of the starres of heaven with his tayle and did cast thâ—â— to the earth that is he subjected the third part of the Princes and Rulers of the world to his Empire For even so much to wit the third part of the knowne world in Iohns age the Dominion of Rome did comprehend Chap. 12. within its limits But a tayle out of the learning of the Indians with Achmetes signifyeth the attendants and traine of authoritie Apot. 152. but what more the tayle of a Serpent intimateth shall anon be seene And these truly were the Characters of the Romane Empire generally but thâ— effigies of a Dragon doth more-over point out the worshipper of the Dragon and the enemy of the Seed of the woman in speciall that is Rome heathen enemy to Christianâ—tie and since he is red also this noteth that he is terrible and red with the blood of the Saints Moreover the type of the Dragon seemeth to have reference to Pharaoh the cruell and malignant enemy of the old Synagogue bearing children in Egypt in like manner as the Romane Dragon was of the Christian Church bringing forth her children For even he likewise for the same cause is represented by a Dragon Psal 74. 13 14. Thoâ— didst divide the Sea by thy strengâ—h thou brakest the heads of the Dragons that is of the Egyptians in the waters Thou brakest in pieces the heads of Leviathan the Chalde of Pharaoh thou gavest him to be meate to the people inhabiting in the wildernesse Esay 51. 9. Awake Awake thou put on strength oh arme of the Lord Awake thou as in the
well of the Company by the conduct of the Lambe their Captaine as of the Lambe himself against the traytors and enemies followeth The order of these is twofold first of a threefold admonition to the followers of the Beast represented by so many loud voyces of Angels secondly of revenge by a parable of Harvest and Vintage The first of the monitory Angels is that which he here calleth Another another indeed as I have said in respect of those musicall Angels a little before mentioned of the number of which this Evangelist was not And here we are to call to remembrance what before I shewed that the Angels in such like visions doe represent them over whom they have the government and that which is done in common or by the works of both that is said to come to passe the Angels being Authors as it were Guides and Conductors of the thing done And hence immediatly it may be imagined that the Angel flying so loftily if so be that also ought to be esteemed as any part of the parable is the Ruler not of any estate of men whatsoever but of a more eminent ranke and is to use such for the declaring of his Gospel Further that Gospel is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or eternall and that as I guesse not so much in respect of the future time as the time past as it were that which was promised 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is à seculâ— or from the beginning of the world that is to say that The seed of the woman was sometime to breake the head of the Serpent that is the kingdome of the Devill was to be destroyed by the coming of Christ and the kingdome of God to be established In which sense also the Apostle saith that that was promised by God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 before the world began Tit. 1. 2. So therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall be the same that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which in Hebrew should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Evangelium antiqâ—â—m the ancient Gospel even as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the old wast places Esay 58. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 old pathes Iâ—r 6. 16. and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the ancient mountains paths waste places Deut. 33. 15. Saying with a loud voyce Feare God and give glory to him for Vers 7. the time of his iudgement is come and worship him that made heaven and earth and the Sea and the fountains of water Chap. 14. The first Angel calling to remembrance that now the time of the kingdom of God is at hand when iudgement is to be executed upon Idols and Idolaters and so the Devils now being cast down and despoyled of the Roman throne is begun already to be put in execution therefore he exhorteth the nations kindreds tongues and people who from that time were become Christians that being mindfull hereof they worship that onely true God the Creator as he is declared in the Gospel and that they take heed of Idols Peare saith he God that is reverence and give him glory even the glory of adoration and religious worship as in the words following it is expounded Because the time of his iudgement is come that is wherein Christ by his Crosse hath spoyled powers and principalities and hath by his Apostles and Evangelists declared to the nations which through so many ages he had suffered to walke in their own wayes that they should be converted from their Idols if not then at his returne from heaven they should be punished with eternall death Wherefore then should Christians who professe faith in Iesus Christ this Iudge and triumpher over Devils returne as it were by a back doore to worship Idols and Devils again Happily the time of iudgement might be more strictly taken here to wit for the iudgement of God before shewed forth upon the Dragon and his servants whereby heathenisme was overthrowne but I had rather extend it more largely and take it â—niversally for the kingdom of Christ begun and published in the last times in which Idols are not any more to be suffered according to that of our Saviour in the Gospell of Iohn Chap. 1â— 31. Now is the iudgement of this world now shall the Prince of this world be cast out See also Chap. 16. 11. From which judgement indeed Paul the Apostle also even as the Angel here brought an argument to disswade the Pagan Athenians from the worshipping of Idols Acts 17. 30 31. God saith he not regarding the times of ignorance hitherto now commandeth all men every where to repent because he hath appointed a day in the which he will iudge the world righteously by that man whom he hath ordained having given assurance thereof unto all men openly in that he hath raised him from the dead Whereunto the same Apostles warning to the Lycaonians is very like Chap. 14. 15. We declare unto you saith he that you should be converted from these vaine things unto the living Chap. 14. God which made heaven and earth and the Sea and all things that are therein And who in times past suffered all nations to wit his judgement not as yet being made manifest to them to walke in their own wayes There is to be supplyed but now he publisheth his iudgement to all That which the Angel here hath expressed saying the time of his iudgement is come But thou wilt say when and where and by what Ministers I pray you did this Angel execute his declaration Certaine preambles thereof were given out when first superstition began to grow in the Church at the monuments and about the reliques of the Martyrs as appeareth out of the History of Vigilantius with whom withstanding such like superstition many others even of the Bishops of that time were of opinion witnesse Ierom his adversary who undeservedly with bitter words inveighed against him for this cause But this denunciation appeareth to be most manifestly fulfilled from the yeere of our Lord 720 in the Greek and Easterne Churches where this Evangelizing Angel did indeed flye 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the midst of heaven that is in a loftie and high place forasmuch as he used Ministers of his Gospel not of a base and vulgar condition of men but of chiefest authoritie in the Christian world as for example the Emperours of Constantinople Leo Isâ—urus Constantine Iconomachus Leo Armenius Michael Balbus and Theophilus who all of them especially the first did most severely make protestation by their Edicts and Decrees for the presenting of religious worship to one God the Creator against the worship of the creature not onely that which was used in the worshipping of Images but also about Saints and their reliques Let the Reader resort to the testimonies which I cited out of Theophanes concerning this matter when I treated of the two horned Beast Moreover by the authoritie of the second a Councell consisting of 338 Bishops was assembled at Constantinople and by
a Vinedressers sickle for the treading Christ himself the King accompanyed with a heavenly troope of horsemen Which out of the vision Chap. 19. which I have so often cited may evidently appeare For there Iohn saw heaven opened and behold a white horse and he Vers 11. which sate upon him was called faithfull and true and with righteousnesse he iudgeth and maketh warre and he was clothed 13. with a vesture sprinkled with blood with the blood of grapes and his name is called The Word of God And the armies which are 14. in heaven followed him on white horses and clothed with white silke and cleane And out of his mouth goeth a sharpe sword that with 15. it he should smite the nations for he shall rule them with a rod of iron and he it is who treadeth the winepresse of the fierce wrath of God Almightie c. Can any thing be more plainly spoken And furthermore in the context to which we give light according to our abilitie it is no where said that the Angel who gathered or cut the clusters of grapes is the same also as did tread the winepresse but only that he cast the cut clusters of grapes into the winepresse Which being done the winepresse is troden without the Citie And by whom but by Christ the King comming forth of heaven with his heavenly troope of horsemen That forsooth it is which the holy Ghost would signifie by mentioning of horses Vers 20. immediatly added and blood saith he came out of the winepresse even to the horse bridles For wherefore is that concerning horses inserted unlesse by this marke he might give notice that the winepresse should be troden by him to whom that company of horsemen belonged That therefore I may comprehend the matter in few words this is the summe of that vision of the vintage The Angel the Vintager with the helpe of the Saints the government of whom for the effecting of this businesse is committed to him shall lop Chap. 14. and cut away the clusters of grapes belonging to the Beast and by that his cutting off shall cause them to be gathered together into Armageddon and being gathered together the Lord Iesus shall tread them at his comming according to which Paul saith concerning the man of sinne which is this selfe same Beast that he shall be destroyed by the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the brightnesse of his coming 2 Thess 2. 8 Now both as well the Harvest as the Vintage is obtained by prayers the Harvest as it seemeth by the prayers of the Church universally for the Angel which there beareth the person of the suppliants is said to come generally out of the Temple but the vintage rather by the prayers of the Martyrs and Confessors against whom the wicked ones exercised crueltie with slaughters and torments and sacrificed then to Christ wherefore the Angel which calleth for this commeth out of the place where the Altar standeth and is said to have power over the fire even the fire of Martyrdome For that is commonly known that the blood of Vers 18. the Martyrs cryeth to God for revenge For surely the Scripture every where witnesseth that the divine power will bestow neither prosperitie upon the Church nor inflict punishment upon their enemies without their prayers So at the prayers of Daniel the captivitie of Babylon is set at libertie And in the parable concerning the widow wearying the unjust Iudge with her clamors the * Apodosis application is that God in like manner constrained by the prayers of his Elect will at length rise up to their revenge Adde hereunto that when the trumpets should be sounded for the destruction of Rome the prayers of the Martyrs are first called into remembrance by God at the incense offering Heare therefore â— Christ the King and call to thy Fathers remembrance so many humble supplications of thy servants for thy kingdom so many groâ—nings of the afflicted and slaine for thy name sake and when the time that shall seeme unto thee most fit shall come Arise reape the Harvest and gather the grapes Thus farre Reader I was able to proceed in this more large kinde of interpreting and no further In the rest which remaine I only give Propheticall Essayes to wit part of those which three or foure yeeres agoe I had communicated privately to my friends upon most of the Apocalyptique visions Those whatsoever they be Reader I commend to thy courtesie and beseech thee to make a favourable construction Chap. 17. thereof untill our Good God Almightie shall bestow abilitiâ— and leasure upon me to finish these also in the same method with the former except the iudgements of learned and godly men shall prohibit me Moreover thou shalt know that in these I thought not fit to keepe so strict an order of Chapters but I have set the mystery of Babylon before the vision of vyals which yet Iohn hath set after whether because one of the Angels of the vyals had declared it or because he would put it as a Key for the opening of all the foregoing visions it seemeth to be for both causes But it is not fit for the interpreter every where to keepe the same order as the Historian doth At Chap. 17. Concerning mysticall Babylon the head Citie of the Apostasie of Christianitie THe Metropolis of * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apostacy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or mysticall Babylon is the Citie of Rome or as we now call it the Sea of Rome being in times past the Spouse of Christ become not onely an Harlot but also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the mother City of Harlots that is the head of the Cities Christian spiritually committing â—ornication with her Where Reader I would have thee to observe even this first because we are now about the chiefe part of the Revelation that the great and universall * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apostasie of the visible Christian Church is not defined and marked of the holy Ghost by any other heresies or errours then that spirituall fornication so much layed to the charge of ancient Israel also This only therefore as a * Cynosura guide ought to be regarded by him whosoever would search out of the Records of Ecclesiasticall affaires the beginning progresse stay and decrease of the Apostasie of Christianitie if he ayme at this marke that which is sought may even palpably be perceived but if otherwise he shall either faile or be uncertain For though this Babylon be guiltie of other errours yea heresies for it is no new thing that harlots and whores be infamous for other vices and crimes also yet seeing the holy Ghost hath marked that great Apostasie of the visible Church with none of those therefore they are to be accounted either symptomes only of that Apostasie or adventitious errours and such as are alike common to other times and sects or if the heresie shall happily be of great moment as
holy Ghost to the Systeme of the world whose parts are Earth Sea Rivers Heaven Lights So that the earth in the Popedome answereth to the earth in the natural World Sea to sea Rivers to rivers Sunne to sunne 6. To conclude as already I have once or twise shewed because God useth Angels as ministers of his providence for moving and governing of the motions and changes of humane affaires Chap. 16. therefore those things that are brought to passe by the the hands of many are notwithstanding attributed to an Angel as it were the ruler and guide of the thing to be done after the common manner of speaking The Exposition of the Phyals according to the rule of the suppositions The first Phyall powred upon the whole body of the Beast The Earth in the Antichristian universe doth signifie the people Vers 2. or the common sort of Christians the footstoole the more shame of Antichrist upon which as the Basis that vastnesse of Papall Hierarchie being 〈◊〉 like the Tower of Babel * Vertice ad auras aetherias tendit reacheth to the very skies The Phyall being powred out upon this Earth pertaining to the Beast it drew that disposition from the effusion that it filled the followers of the Beast with furie and madnesse as it were with ulcers and those so foule and malignant that they could not be healed nor be closed up by any Cicatrice but they would breake forth againe This was fulfilled when the Christian common people called the Waldenses Albigenses Wiclifists Hussites and by other names began every where to renounce the authoritie of the Beast calling Rome Apocaliptique Babylon and the Pope Antichrist with which blasting of its earth burning with the * Rom. 10.2 zeale of God the followers of the Beast being stricken they were wholly enflamed with the ulcers of griefe and indignation by which being enraged they for very many yeers wonderfully tyrannized with fire and Sword but in vaine for they were smitten with an evill and uncurable ulcer which the more they bestirred themselves the more it grew worse and worse with them Exod. 9.8 9. So in times past the Land of Egypt being sprinkled from Heaven with dust like ashes it filled all the Egyptians and their cattell with ulcers Now the world of the Beast is called * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spirituall Egypt Chap. 11. 8. and thereupon the ulcerous sore here is to be interpreted * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spiritually that is mystically and by analogie which is diligently to be observed in the figures of the two following plagues also taken from the same history The second Phyall upon the Sea of the World Chap. 16. of the Beast The Sea in the Antichristian world is the whole compasse of Vers 3. the Papall Society wherein not onely severall Christians but whole Nations People Kingdomes Provinces Diocesses otherwise among themselves dis-joyned and severed are gathered together in one or thus the Antichristian Sea is the compasse of the Popes jurisdiction or dominion compassing and enfolding as the Sea doth the Land men and Nations worshipping Christ The second Phyall being powred out upon this Sea presently it became as the blood of a dead body or cold and congealed blood such as is wont to be of those that are dead and slaine or of a member cut off seeing it is destitute of the influence of spirit and heat the entercourse with the fountaine of life being dissolved The sense is The Pontificiall Sea was slaine as it were with death beheading or slaughter Now this was fulfilled when by the labour of Luther and other famous reformers of the Church of that Age God wonderfully blessing their undertakings not now some single persons onely of the common people of Christendome but even whole Provinces Diocesses Kingdomes Nations and Cities renounced communion with those of the Beast and there being made a great dismembring of the dominion which was so large in times past they departed from the body of the Beast By which event the Sea of the Popes Dominion became dead for a great part of it like the blood of a dead body in which the Popes creatures could no longer breathe and live The third Phyall upon the Rivers and Fountaines of the world of the Beast The Rivers and Fountaines of waters of the Bestian world are Vers 4 5 6 7 the ministers and defenders of the Antichristian jurisdiction whether Ecclesiasticall as Iesuites and other Emissary Priests or even Secular and Lay as the Spanish champions to both of which as from that jurisdiction is committed a charge of solliciting and advancing the cause which they call Catholique in Chap. 16. like manner as the rivers derive their originall out of the Sea so also they bestow their labour and cost to the enlarging and preserving of it even as also the rivers returne to the Sea Now these Rivers whilest they at randome runne through their Channels wherein now there was no more safety for them by Gods just judgment by the effusion of the third Phyall are turned into blood in like manner as even they had heretofore imbrued the Saints of God and his Prophets with blood For from this Phyall the state of the Beast came to that passe that the ministers and defenders thereof now changing course are compelled to suffer the same slaughters wherewith they had beene accustomed to slay the Saints and Prophets of God while their government flourished as it is plainly set sorth vers 5 6. as it were a Key for the opening of the parable Which thing concerning the Ecclesiasticall Emissaries with their attendants I thinke was fulfilled when in our ENGLAND in the reigne of ELIZABETH of famous memory and also afterwards those bloody Proctors for the authoritie of the Beast were according to the lawes made for that purpose punished with death which had never before sobefallen them for solliciting the Papall cause And not they alone but the Spanish champions for the cause of the Beast who were much more to be feared then they going about to recover by force of armes the dominion of the Church of Rome thirsting for blood drank blood by full draughts especially in that memorable overthrow of the yeere 1588. and some yeers following the English and the Dutch by Sea and Land abundantly powring out the Cup of the mightie hand of God So that wonderfull great praise was given to God for his just and true judgements upon them both not onely of the Islanders themselves revenging their blood now long since shed but also of the neighbouring French groning yet under the Crosse and the Altar yea even then the Massacre of the yeere 1572. being fresh And thus far the Phyals seeme to have gonne on the rest remaine to be powred out yet The fourth Phyall upon the Sunne of the Beastian heaven What the Sunne is in the world of the Beast that we may Vers 8 9. search out first it is throughly
â— Heb. 3. 8 9. 13. c. likewise Chap 4 to conclude 2 Pet. 1. last vers where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for ever a Day I say first to beginne at the particular and as it were morning Iudgement of Antichrist and the rest of the living enemies of the Church by the glorious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 appearing of our Lord in flaming fire and then at length to determine after the reigne of the thousand yeeres granted to new Ierusalem his most Chap. 20. holy Spouse upon this earth and after the utter destruction of new enemies yet to arise the great Day waxing toward evening and Satan being againe loosed at the universall resurrection and judgement of all the dead Which things being finished the wicked shall be cast into Hell to be tormented for ever but the Saints shall he translated into Heaven to live with Christ for ever This indeed is that time of the wrath of God upon the Gentiles and of judging the cause of them that died for Christ for which the triumphing Eldâ—rs give thankes at the sound of the seventh Trumpet Chap. 11. 18. For that then God would give reward to his servants the Prophets and Saints and them that feare his name small and great and would destroy them which destroy the earth This is that Day of Iudgement and perdition of wicked ones of which Peter 2 Epist Chap. 3. vers â— speaking presently addeth but be not ignorant of this one thing beloved to wit the day which I even now spake of that one day is with the Lord as a thousand yeeres and a thousand yeers as one day In which same day indeed the Apostle with his brethren of the same kindred the Iewes to whom he writeth expecteth that new forme of things to come of which by and by he saith vers 13. But we looke for new heavens and a new earth according to his promise wherein dwelleth righteousnesse Observe according to his promise But where was this promise of new heavens and a new earth extant when Iohn had not yet seene the Revelation except that of Esay Chap. 65. 17. and 66. 22. which promise surely whosoever shall read I should marvell if he should judge that it shall be fulfilled elsewhere then on earth This also is that Kingdome joyned with the appearance of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ ready to judge the world of which Paul to Timothy 2 Epist Chap. 4. vers 1. I charge thee before our Lord Jesus Christ who shall iudge the quicke and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdome For after the last and universall resurrection according to the same Apostle 1 Cor. 15. vers 24 25 26 27 28. Christ the last enemy being destroyed that is death shall deliver up the Kingdome to his Father that he may be subiect to him who subdued all things to himselfe so farre is he from being said then to enter upon any new Kingdome That Kingdome therefore which neither shall be before the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 appearance of our Lord nor after the last resurrection Chap. 20. is necessarily to be concluded between them This is that Kingdome of the Sonne of man which Daniel saw who when the times of the horne of Antichrist were fulfilled or the times of the Gentiles come to end Luk. 21. 24. shall appeare in the clouds of Heaven when there shall be given him power glory and a Kingdome that all People Nations and Languages should serve him or when as the Angel by and by expoundeth it a Kingdome power and greatnesse of Kingdomes under the whole Heaven marke it well shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most High Dan. 7. 13. 14. Also the 18.22 â—6 27. Neither yet as I said even now shall this Kingdome be after the last resurrection since the Sonne of man is not to enter upon a Kingdome then but as Paul witnesseth to lay it downe and deliver it to his Father Now that the same Kingdome is handled in both places as well by Iohn as Daniel may be proved by these two Arguments First that both begin at the same terme to wit the overthrow of the fourth or Romane Beast that of Daniel when the Beast governing under that last regiment of the horne with eyes was slaine and his body given unto the burning flame Dan. 7. 11. 2â— 27. That of the Revelation when the Beast and false Prophet that wicked Vers 10. horne in Daniel having mouth and eyes as a head are taken and both cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone Secondly from the same session of Iudgement premised to both For it will appeare that the one is borrowed from the other and altogether tend to the same purpose by comparing the words of the description of both Dan. Chap. 7.  Vers 9 I beheld till the thrones were set For so it is to be rendered with the Vulgar 70. and Theâ—d and so the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a throne is used in Targum at the 15. v. of the 1. cap. of Jer. And I saw Thrones Rev. 20. 4. Vers 10 And the iudgement was set That is the Iudges as in the great Sanedrin of the Iewes to the rule whereof the whole description is framed And they sate upon them  And iudgement was given to the Saints on high that is power of judging Hence is that of Pâ—ul the Saints shall iudge the world And iudgement was given unto Chap. 20. them Vers 22. Chap. 20 Vers 22  And the Saints obtained the kingdom that is to say with the sonne of man who came in the clouds of heaven And the Saints lived and reigned with Christ a thousand yeers Furthermore I would have the Reader understand this Whatsoever almost is found from the Iews whatsoever is delivered by the Lord in his Gospel or any where in the new Testament by the Apostles concerning the day of the great judgement that is taken out of this vision of Daniel to wit that judgement to be accomplished by fire Christ to come in the clouds of heaven to come in the glory of his Father with multitude of Angels the Saints with him to judge the earth Antichrist to be abolished 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the brightnesse of his coming c. So that they goe about wholly to undermine the pillar of the Evangelicall faith concerning the glorious coming of Christ who neglecting the ancient tradition of the Church endeavour to turn this prophesie to another end Lastly that I may conclude this is that most ample kingdom which by Daniels interpretation was foreshewed to Nebuchadnezzar in that Propheticall Statue of the foure kingdoms not that of a Stone cut out of a Hill whiles yet the Series of Monarchies remained for this is the present state of the kingdome of Christ but of the Stone when they were utterly broken and defaced to become a Mountaine and to fill the