For they are virgins that is chast worshippers of God which are not polluted with the defilemeÌ„ts of Antichrist These follow the Lamb Christ whersoeuer he goeth They heare his voyce they professe his worship and obey his doctrine they abhorre Antichrist they followe not the beast nor receiue his marke They are bought from men and bought from the earth as it is sayd before that is they are redeemed and bought with a price from the corrupt lumpe of mankind and cursed race of Adam that they might bee the first fruits vnto God and to the Lambe that is wholy consecrated to his worship and to serue him in righteousnesse and true holinesse all the dayes of their life In their mouthes was found no guile That is they doe declare their innocencie and vprightnesse both in their words and works as those which Christ hath chosen out of this world and bought with a price thorough his bloud in whom they are without spot or speck before God vers 6 Then I saw another Angell flie in the middest of heauen hauing an euerlasting Gospell to preach vnto them that dwell on the earth and to euery nation and kinred and tongue and people vers 7 Saying with a loud voice Feare God and giue glorie vnto him for the houre of his iudgement is come and worship him that made heauen and earth and the sea and the fountaines of waters Hitherto the holy Ghost hath taught vs how the Church was preserued vnder the tyrannie of Antichrist and greatest waues of persecutions and that euen then they did purely and faithfully worship the true God Now he proceedeth to foreshew the ruine and downfall of Antichrist and plainely to prophesie the vtter decay of the kingdome of Babell This doctrine therefore we are to hearken vnto with great attention and cheerefulnesse because it doth so much concerne our good the good of the whole church also because we liue in the dayes wherin we see it is in part fulfilled First therefore wee are to vnderstand what is meant by this Angell heere mentioned to wit not anie celestiall Angell or inuisible spirit as it is sundrie times taken before but by this Angell and the two Angels following are meant all the faithfull Ministers of the Gospell which should bee raised vp in these last dayes for the ouerthrow of Rome and the deliuering of the Church from vnder the captiuitie of Antichrist which may plaineâ—y appeare by this that it is said this Angell preacheth the euerlasting Gospell vnto them that dwell on the earth which cannot properly agree to the celestiall spirits Wee haue heard out of the tenth chapter that Iesus Christ did open the little booke which is the Bible and did giue authoritie to his faithfull Ministers to goe preach and publish the doctrine thereof to manie nations countries and kingdomes chapter 10.11 nowe vnto that agreeth this which is heere spoken of and is a further opening and declaring of that which is there set downe For as there Iesus Christ commeth downe from heauen and openeth the little booke which had beene long shut vp vnder the darknesse of Poperie and the smoake which came out of the bottomlesse pit so heere Christ Iesus raiseth vp his faithfull Ministers and preachers to publish and proclaime the doctrine of the Gospell which had long lyen hidde vnder the outragious persecutions of the two monstrous and most hideous beasts chapter 18.1 To this also agreeth that which is written in the eighteenth chapter of this Booke where Saint Iohn seeth an Angell come downe from heauen hauing great power so that the earth was lightened with his glorie By which Angell is meant all the Preachers of this age And the Angell is saide to haue great power For what is more powerfull then the ministerie of the word And moreouer it is sayd that the earth was lightened with his glorie that is with the brightnesse of the preaching of the Gospel whereby the darkenesse of Poperie was dispersed and driuen away and Babylon falleth vpon it as there you may reade and as heere we shall see the like effect by and by Moreouer it is heere sayd that this Angell flieth in the middest of heauen that is verie swiftly carrieth this euerlasting Gospell thorough all the Churches For when Gods appointed time was come wherein he would goe about the ouerthrowe of Poperie he caused his euerlasting Gospell to be set abroach and to spread ouer many kingdoms and nations as wee see this day Now because these kingdoms where God would haue the knowledge of his Gospell diuulged were manie and great therefore heere is expedition required and this Angell doth carie it not standing but flying And all this we see perfectly fulfilled with our eyes when God raised vp Luther Zuinglius Melancthon Peter Viret Caluin Bucer Bullinger Peter Martyr and all their worthy successours vnto this day which haue spred the euerlasting Gospell verie farre and caried it verie swiftly ouer England Scotland Germanie Denmarke Polonia Sweuia Russia and many parts of France and Flaunders Another reason why this Angell is said to flie in the middest of heauen is because no power of man shall euer be able to stay the course of this euerlasting Gospel which this Angel carieth abroad no more then men are able to stoppe the course of the Sunne in the heauens or a cloud in the skie For this Angel flyeth in the midst of heauen far aboue the reach of the beast and al Kinges and Potentates that stand for the kingdom of the beast Therefore let them doe al what they can they shal neuer be able to stop the course of the Gospel For it is called the arme of God his very arme holdeth it forth to the world and who is able to bend it in or to turne it backward There be three reasons why the Gospell is called euerlasting First because it is in his owne nature euerlasting as it is written the worde of the Lord indureth for euer Secondly because it putteth vs in possession of euerlasting things As it is written Thy word O Lord endureth for euer in heauen Thirdly principally because as it was long before Antichrist was hatched so it shal continue when he and his kingdome is dead and rotten Saying with a loud voice Feare God ver 7 and giue glory vnto him c. Here is sette down the doctrine which this Angel preacheth with a loud voice that is with great zeale The summe whereof is this Feare God and giue glory vnto him and worship him that made heauen and earth c. The sense is that the true and euerliuing God should only be feared and worshipped and all glory should be giuen to him alone through Christ and none to Antichrist none to Cardinals and Legats none to Angelles none to Saintes none to images roods crosses and crucifixes Here then is set downe an abridgement of the doctrine of this euerlasting Gospell namely that men should onely feare God and worship him and
Which question is asked of the Elder not as being ignorant thereof but to stirre vp Iohn being ignorant to enquire of the matter that he might instruct him therein And therfore when Iohn confessed his ignorance desiring to be instructed therein the Elder telleth him the whole matter namely vers 14 that they were such as were come out of great tribulation For none can enter into life but through many afflictions as the Apostle saith After this againe the militant and visible church is described and set forth not according to their present state but according to that which is to come vers 16 vers 15 for they are here spoken of as if they were alreadie in the possession of heauen and that for infallible certaintie and assurance thereof Therfore the Apostle saith that euen already they do sit together in heauenly places And here they are said to be in the presence of the throne of God vers 16 c. to hunger and thirst no more c. to haue all teares wiped from their eyes vers 17 and to be ledde by the Lambe vnto the fountaines of liuing waters All which dooth very plainely and plentifully expresse that infinite glory and endlesse felicitie which is prepared for all the true and faithfull worshippers of God Many good lessons and obseruations might be gathered out of all this But I do of purpose omit them because in this worke I do chiefly and almost altogether aime at interpretation therein also studying breuitie soundnesse and plainenesse CHAP. VIII WE haue heard out of the seuenth Chapter how the diuels and their instruments the Romaine Emperors did stop the course of the Gospel Now in this chapter we are to heare the woeful effects of the stopping thereof which was the springing vp preuailing of manifolde errors heresies in the worlde So that the principall scope and drift of this chapter is to shewe that God for the contempt of his Gospel and great indignities offered to the true professors thereof did giue vp the worlde to blindnesse to errour to superstition and heresie and as the Apostle saith Because they receiued not the loue of the truth therefore God sent them strong delusions that they should beleeue lies For as before we haue heard how the worlde was most fearefully punished with externall plagues and iudgements So here we are to vnderstand how the same was punished with iudgements spirituall and internall as formerly hath bene said vpon the stopping of the foure windes For although that spirituall plague was very great yet these spirituall plagues which follow vpon the opening of the seuenth seale are farre greater For now we are to heare and vnderstand not onely of the errours and heresies whereby a way and passage was made by degrees as it were by certaine staires for Antichrist to climbe vp into his cursed chaire and to take possession thereof but also wee are to vnderstand of his very tyrannie and kingdome it selfe and also of the kingdome of the Turke and the last iudgement For the things contained vnder the opening of the seuenth seale do reach vnto the ende of the worlde For the booke sealed with seuen seales containeth all the whole matters which were to bee reuealed This chapter containeth foure principall things as it were the foure parts thereof First the reuerent attention and silence vers 1 with admiration which was in the Church at and vpon the comming forth of this most horrible vengeance Secondly before the execution of these most execrable plagues vers 2.3.4.5 the Church is remembred and set in safetie with all her children by her great mediator Christ Iesus Thirdly the execution of this vengeance vers 6 which commeth forth at the blowing of the seuen trumpets by seuen Angels Fourthly the vengeance it selfe contained in the preuailing of errour and heresie vers 7.8.9.10.11.12.13 the falling away of the Pastors of the Church and the vniuersall darkenesse that followed therevpon And when hee had opened the 7. seale there was silence in heauen about halfe an houre By heauen in this place he meaneth not the kingdome of glory after this life but by heauen is meant the Church here vpon earth as it is so taken chap. 12. verse 1. and chap. 14. verse 2. There may bee three reasons yeelded why the church is called heauen First because the birth thereof is from heauen for it is borne of God Secondly because the inheritance therof is from heauen and therefore is called the inheritance of the Saints Thirdly because the conuersation therof is in heauen as the Apostle saith To this may be added that our Lorde Iesus in his Gospell dooth so often call his visible Church the Kingdome of heauen by a trope because Christ beginneth his raigne in the faithfull therein whom afterward he translateth actually into the very kingdome of glory By silence here is meant the great attention of the church because great things were now in hand For now vpon the opening of the 7. seale farre greater matters are threatned then any before and therfore the Church doth listen vnto them in deepe silence as it were in horror and trembling through admiration for now there appeare such dreadfull iudgements of God to be executed vpon the earth that all the heauenly company are astonished and amazed to behold it and do as it were quake and tremble to thinke vpon it For as when heauie newes commeth downe from the Prince to bee proclaimed in open markets all good subiects doe listen and giue eare with silence and trembling so it fareth in this case By halfe an houre hee meaneth that short time wherein the minds of the godly were prepared fitted and disposed wisely to consider of these matters and to make good vse of them I know right well that this Verse is farre otherwise interpreted of some but I take this to bee most sound and simple and best agreeing to all that followeth for the next Verse is ioyned vnto this by a coniunction copulatiue to note a coherence of the matter and to draw the sense together for he saith And I saw 7. vers 2 Angels which stood before God and to them were giuen seuen Trumpets These seuen Trumpets signifie that God would proceede against the worlde in fearefull hostilitie and come against it as an open enemie vnto battell proclaiming open warre against it as it were with sound of Trumpet and Dromme setting vp the flag of defiance against it And hereupon groweth this silence and trembling in the Church which onely is mooued with the signes of Gods wrath when as all others sit still in securitie as the Prophet Zachary saith in a like case To stand in this place signifieth to administer as it is said of the Priests Leuites that they stand before God and before the Aultar that is Minister So here the Angels doo stand before God as readie to administer and execute these iudgements For they are ministring spirits and here
the Church which Christ hath thundred out with terrour against them And when the time determined is come they shall be seene and vnderstood but in the meane time they bee sealed vp and kept close according to that of Iob Why should not the times bee hid of the Almightie so as they which know him should not perceiue the times appointed of him and that of Daniel These things are sealed vp vntill the time determined vers 5 And the Angell which I sawe stand vpon the sea and vpon the earth lift vp his hand to heauen vers 6 And sware by him that liueth for euermore which created heauen and the things that therein are and the earth and the things that therin are the sea the things that therein are that time should be no more vers 7 But in the daies of the voice of the seuenth Angel when he shall begin to blowe the trumpet euen the ministrie of God shall be finished as he hath declared to his seruants the Prophets The summe of these three verses is that Christ giueth warning of the last iudgement that men might awake and looke out in time And because men for the most part are carelesse and secure putting the euill day farre from them as the Prophet speaketh Therefore here Christ bindeth it with a solemne oath and solemne gestures therevnto annexed as was the lifting vp of the hand in auncient time Gen. 14.22 The thing that our Lord Iesus deposeth is that Time shall be no more that is Time as it is now or the state of things as they be now but he telleth vs flatly that as sixe Angels haue alreadie blowne their trumpets so when the 7. Angell should blowe the mysterie of God shall be finished that is the time of punishing the wicked and rewarding the godly should come which is therefore called a Mysterie because the world vnderstandeth it not They thinke there is no such matter They imagine there is no reward for the iust or punishment for the wicked as the Prophet saith But the holy Ghost saith Verily there is a reward for the righteous Doubtlesse there is a God which iudgeth the earth And here it is said that God hath declared it to his seruants the Prophets And the voice which I heard from heauen vers 8 spake vnto mee againe and said Goe and take the little booke which is open in the hand of the Angel which standeth vpon the sea and vpon the earth vers 9 So I went vnto the Angell and said vnto him giue me the little booke· And he said vnto me take it and eate it vp and it shall make thy belly bitter but it shall bee in thy mouth as sweete as honey vers 10 Then I tooke the little booke out of the Angels hand and ate it vp and it was in my mouth as sweete as honey but when I had eaten it my belly was bitter vers 11 And hee saide vnto mee Thou must prophesie againe among the people and nations and tongues and to many kings The briefe sense of these foure verses is that the Preachers of the Gospell being called allowed and authorised by Christ vnto their ministry should study the scriptures with great diligence eueÌ„ vntil they had eaten vp the booke of God then they should preach publish vnto all nations kingdomes that truth of God doctrine of the Gospell which now a long time had lien hid in the raigne of Antichrist It is to be obserued that Iohn in this place representeth the person of all the ministers of the Gospell which should be raised vp in these last dayes for the ouerthrowe of Antichrist and the restauration of true religion for Iohn himselfe did not liue to these times Further it is to be noted that all godly Students and zealous Ministers do eate vp the booke of God by reading study praier meditation they finde it sweete in their mouth that is they finde and feele great ioy and comfort in the studie and meditation thereof especially wheÌ„ God reuealeth therby great and hid secrets vnto them giueth them to vnderstand the mysteries of the Gospell counsels of his will which are locked vp from the wise and prudent of this world This I say is sweeter vnto their mouth then hony and the hony combe Concerning this phrase of eating vp the booke looke Ezech. 2.9 for here the holy Ghost alludeth therevnto This booke being so sweete in the mouth yet being eaten and digested is bitter in the belly There may bee three reasons yeelded of this bitternesse First because it being once taken downe into our soule by godly meditatioÌ„ doth mortifie our corrupt nature bring vnder our lusts therefore seemeth bitter to flesh and bloud Secondly because afflictions trials do alwaies necessarily followe the sounde digestion of the Gospell Thirdly because the doctrine of the Gospel being swallowed by the Ministers therof must not be kept to themselues as it were closed vp in their stomacks but they must out with it againe as if it were some loathsome bitter thing which must needes be cast vp again And for this cause it is said in the last verse that they must prophesie againe among the people and nations and tongues and many kings Now blessed be the name of the Lorde our God who hath giuen vs to liue in this age wherein we do with our eies behold and see the fulfilling of all these things let vs therefore praise God for this great worke which wee see wrought in our daies and let vs still more and more magnifie this lâ—ttle booke which will vtterly destroy Popery and bring downe the proude Antichrist do all that fight for him what they can CHAP. XI WE haue heard that the little Booke should be opened and the Gospell preached and published to many nations and kingdomes after the great darkenesse of Popery and that this was done by Luther Melancton Caluin Peter Viret Peter Martir Bullinger Bucer and all their faithfull successors vnto this day Now in this Chapter we are to vnderstand of the effect good successe of their preaching and publishing the Gospell which was that the Church should be restored reformed and built vp thereby which a long time had bene wasted and oppressed by the tyrannie of Antichrist and that many should imbrace the Gospell forsake their Idolatries and turne to God with all their hearts yea whole nations and kingdomes in Europe should be conuerted to the faith as we see this day God be praised So then the principall drift of this Chapter is to shewe those thinges which yet remaine to be fulfilled vnder the blowing of the sixt trumpet which is the preaching and preuailing of the Gospell euen vnto the worldes ende and also the thinges which follow vppon the blowing of the seuenth trumpet which is the resurrection last iudgement This Chapter containeth sixe principall things as it were the sixe parts thereof First ver 1.2 it
now God be praised for it many doo repent euery day and turne from dumbe Idols to serue the liuing God And therefore although the times wherein we liue bee sinfull and troublesome yet are they golden times and daies in comparison of former ages wherein Antichrist did raigne and rule ouer all Moreouer from this place may plainly and strongly be concluded that the Gospel shal preuaile more and more in all the kingdomes of Europe euen vntill the ende of the world For here we see it foretolde and prophesied that in this very last age of the world euen as it were a litle before the blowing of the seuenth trumpet which presently herevpon is sounded as in the next verses appeareth many should repent and giue glory to God vers 14 The second woe is past behold the third woe wil come anon vers 15 And the seuenth Angell blew the trumpet and there were great voices in heauen saying The kingdomes of this world are our Lords and his Christs and he shall raigne for euermore Now commeth the third the last and the greatest woe which is the woe of eternall death vpon all the vngodly both in their soules and bodies for euer in the last iudgement The first woe was the Papacie The second woe was Turcisme And this third woe is the last iudgement For it now followeth that the seuenth Angell bloweth the last trumpet as our Lord Iesus sware before that when the seuenth Angell should blowe the trumpet chapter 10.6 there should bee no more time Therefore when we see all things fulfilled which do belong vnto the sixt trumpet it remaineth that wee should euery houre expect and looke for the blowing of the seuenth trumpet and the end of the world For the holy Ghost telleth vs that whē the kingdome of the Pope and the Turke shall fall and the Gospell bee preached in many nations and kingdomes that then the third woe will come anon that is the last iudgement followeth presently vpon it Now at the blowing of this seuenth trumpet there were great voices in heauen saying the kingdomes of this world are our Lords and his Christs and he shall raigne for euermore These voices in heauen are the triumphing voices of Gods elect who do exceedingly reioyce and triumph that the kingdome of Sathan and Antchrist is ouerthrowne and that the kingdome of God and of Christ is set vp and shall stand for euermore For now all aduersary power being ouerthrowne Christ doth deliuer vp a peaceable kingdome to his father as it is writtē Then shal be the ende when he hath deliuered vp his peaceable kingdome to God the Father For he must raigne ouer the Church militant till hee haue troade downe all his enemies vnder his feete and when the Sonne of God hath subdued all things to himselfe then shall he be subiect to his Father as he is the mediator of the Church and yet raigne with his Church triumphant for euermore Then the 24. vers 16 Elders which satte before God on their seates fell vppon their faces and worshipped God Saying Wee giue thee thankes ô Lorde God almightie vers 17 which art which wast and which art to come for thou hast receiued thy great might and hast obtained thy kingdome These 24. Elders doo signifie all the elect chapter 4 both of Iewes and Gentiles as we haue heard before which all in most suppliant manner doo worshippe the onely euerlasting God euen in the Church triumphant and do greatly reioyce and giue all praise and glorie vnto him because now he had receiued the kingdome the power and the glory both Pope and Turke and Emperor and all his enemies being subdued vnder his feete ver 18 And the Gentiles were angry and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be iudged and that thou shouldest giue reward vnto thy seruants the Prophets and to the Saints to them that feare thy name and to small and great and shouldest destroy thē which destroy the earth Now he mentioneth the wrath and vengeance which is to bee powred forth vpon all the wicked at the last day and also the reward of the godly For whereas he saith The Gentiles were angry thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be iudged the sense and meaning is that all the prophane enemies of the Church which haue had their time in which they were angrie with Gods people and in their wrath did afflict and vexe them very sore should now bee iudged and condemned in Gods wrath for now the day of his wrath and vengeance is come wherein he wil destroy them that destroied the earth and seemed to carrie all before them and where also hee will giue a full recompence of rewarde to all his faithfull worshippers both small and great both Preachers and professors of his Gospell Then the temple of God was opened in heauen there was seene in the Temple the arke of his couenant and there were lightnings and voices and thundrings ver 19 and earthquakes and much haile This is a further amplification of that which is set downe in the former verse For now he saith that the temple of God should be opened in heauen That is an opē doore and passage should be made through Christ for al the elect to enter into Gods euerlasting kingdome and raigne with him and his Angels for euermore By the arke of the couenant is meant Christ who is saide heere to be seene in the Temple or kingdome of glory because through his mediation only in whom the couenant of peace is established with his church the 24 Elders are made partakers of their Crownes and enter in with him and his Angels into the euerlasting Temple made without handes and eternall in the heauens But on the contrary heere is said that there were lightnings thundrings c. That is most horrible vegeance and wrath poured downe vpon al reprobates in hel-fire for euermore For when it shal be said to al the faithful Come ye blessed c. then also shal it be said to al vnbeleeuers Goe ye cursed into hell fire c. Now for warrant of this expositiō of the last verse that the Temple in heauen is to be vnderstood of the kingdome of glory looke Chap. 15. ver 5.6.8 Chap. 16. ver 1. The reason hereof is that as the doores of the Temple of Ierusalem being set open Gods people entred in and worshipped so the euerlasting gates of the new Ierusalem and celestial Temple being set open by Christ al the elect do enter in and worship God without wearinesse euen as the Angels for euermore That the arke of the couenant is taken for Christ see 2. Sam. 6.2 Psal 78. ver 61.62 This arke of the couenant that is Christ is here seene in the Temple because Christ hath already taken possession of heauē as mediator and head of the Church and now doth set open the kingdome of heauen to al beleeuers
againe and the Papists looke for a day It stands vs then all vpon which loue Christ and his Gospell that wee should be well appointed and throughly armed against them And for this purpose the Reuelation of S. Iohn is of great vse necessitie As I said before so I say againe that it is the Prophesie of our time written to this speciall ende that by it wee might bee both fore-warned and fore-armed If wee doo consider the whole matter of this booke wee shall easily finde out the vse and end of it For the excellent matter of it doth argue the excellent ende and vse of it Now then as concerning the generall matter of this booke here are to bee founde very large and liuely descriptions of the most glorious person of Christ chapter 1 and all his excellent offices both of King Priest and Prophet and also most notable descriptions of the Church and of the Ministers of it and of the persecutions and afflictions which it must of necessitie passe through in this world Also of Gods mercifull prouidence for his Church and most vigilant care ouer it in the middest of all extremities Here are set before our eyes very liuely descriptions of the Churches deadly enemies both of Sathan himselfe and his three great instruments the Romaine Emperour the Pope and the Turke Here are set downe all their cruell persecutions of the Church and their vtter ouerthrowe in the ende Here are described hell death the resurrection and the last iudgement Here also the very kingdome of heauen is at large described with all those great rewards infinite glory and endlesse felicitie which remaine for all the faithfull worshippers of God I conclude therefore that for as much as this Prophesie is of such excellent contents therefore the vse and necessitie of it must needes bee verie great And for this cause Iohn is willed and commaunded by Alpha and Omega chapter 1.19 to write the things which hee had seene the things that were and the things that shall come hereafter By the things which he had seene is meant that glorious vision mentioned in the first Chapter vers 13 14 15 16. wherein Iesus Christ did appeare vnto him in the middest of the seuen golden Candlestickes in most glorious manner as is there described And all this was in the I le of Pathmos where Iohn was first called and authorised to this worke and therfore he is willed first of all to record this vision which hee had alreadie seene By the things that are hee meaneth the present state of the seuen Churches of Asia which were then the most flourishing Churches in the world as they are described in the second and third Chapters and in them the estate of all other Churches By the things that shal be he meaneth all the prophesies of this booke which were to bee fulfilled in their time al those strange accidents which should come to passe in processe of time and the seuerall ages of the Church euen vnto the end of the world Thus we see how Iohn receiueth a precise commandement from the sonne of God to write things past present to come that they might stand in record vnto all posterities from generation to generation Thus much touching the fift circumstance which is the ende and vse of this booke Now followeth to speake of the last circumstantiall point which is the authoritie of this Prophesie which is strongly confirmed from the Author of it which is Iesus Christ and therefore it is called the Reuelation of Iesus Christ which God gaue vnto him chapter 1.1 And againe it is written I Iesus sent mine Angell to testifie these things in the Churches chapter 22 16. Here wee see plainely that Iesus Christ the very sonne of God the Alpha and Omega is the Author of this booke for hee subscribes his name vnto it and sets his hand and seale vnto it Needes therefore must the authoritie of it bee very great which commeth from so great a personage for looke what dignitie and authoritie he is of from whom the booke commeth of the same dignitie authoritie is the booke it selfe An other strong argument to confirme the authoritie of this booke may be taken from the protestation of Iesus Christ in these words I protest vnto euery man that heareth the words of the Prophesie of this booke chapter 22 18. if any man shall adde vnto these things God shall adde vnto him the plagues that are written in this booke And if any shall diminish of the words of the booke of this Prophesie God shall take away his part out of the booke of life Here wee see how Iesus Christ maketh the authoritie of this booke equall to all other the Oracles of God to the which it is not lawfull for any man to adde or detract vnder paine of condemnatiō It maketh much also for the authoritie of this booke that S. Iohn doth so often repeate reiterate and inculcate his owne name I Iohn I Iohn I Iohn I Iohn the Apostle I Iohn the Euangelist I Iohn the Diuine Shewing by all these repetitions how needfull a thing it was that the faithfull should bee throughly instructed who he was euen one of the Lambes twelue Apostles and therefore to be voide of all suspition and doubt concerning the authoritie of this booke and not once to imagine it to bee any inuention of man or faigned deuice sith it was penned by so great an Apostle Moreouer the authoritie of this Prophesie is confirmed by foure reasons in the last chapter The first is the affirmatiō of the Angell who saith chapter 22.6 7 8. These words are faithfull true The second is the authoritie of the most high God himselfe in these wordes vers 6 The Lorde God of the holy Prophets sent his Angell to shewe vnto his seruants the things which must shortly bee fulfilled The third is the testimonie of Iesus who pronounceth them blessed which keepe the words of this Prophesie For saith he Behold I come shortly vers 7 Blessed is hee that keepeth the words of his Prophesie The fourth and last is the witnesse of Iohn in these words I am Iohn which heard and sawe these things vers 8 Now it may bee demaunded what is the cause that here are so many things heaped vp for the confirmation of the authoritie of this booke Surely wee must thinke there is some speciall cause and reason of it For the holy Ghost dooth not vse to deale so much and so earnestly in a matter but vpon great cause We may easily gather what the cause is This booke painteth out the whore of Babylon and the whole kingdome of the great Antichrist together with all Sathans cunning and sleight therein and for this cause Sathan hath laboured especially to weaken the credit and authoritie of this booke Hee by some meanes in olde time preuailed thus farre that euen among some Churches of true Christians the authoritie and truth of it was doubted
vnto the world for Turcisme because thereby thousands should bee murdered in their bodies by the Turkish armies Woe vnto the world because of the last iudgement for thereby all worldlings shall bee plagued both in body and soule in hell fire for euermore Sith then these three last plagues which were to come vpon the worlde are more fearefull and terrible then any of the other foure no maruell though here is sent of purpose a speciall messenger to giue intelligence thereof that euery man might looke to himselfe seeing such great dangers were at hand And for this cause also it is saide before that there was silence in the Church for the space of halfe an houre CHAP. IX THe principall scope and drift of this Chapter is to paint out both the Pope and his Cleargy and also the kingdome of the Turke and his cruell armies For hauing alreadie set downe how a way and passage was made for the Pope to climbe vp into his cursed chaire by the preuailing of heresies the falling away of the Pastors of the Church and the great ouerspreading of darknesse ignorance now hee commeth to describe the Pope in his full height and greatest exaltation being now vniuersall Bishop and in full possession of his seate and sea of Rome which was about some sixe hundred yeares after Christ as formerly hath bene shewed At what time Pope Boniface obtained of the Emperour Phocas that murther which slew his maister Mauritius the Emperour that the Bishop of Rome should be called the vniuersall Bishop and the church of Rome the head of all churches This ninth Chapter may very fitly be diuided into two partes The first is a liuely description of the Pope himselfe his kingdome and his cleargie The second is a description of the kingdome of the Turke and his most sauage armies so that this chapter is a full opening of the first two great woes mentioned before concerning the Papacie and Turcisme And the fift Angell blew the trumpet vers 1 and I sawe a starre which fell from heauen and to him was giuen the key of the bottomelesse pit Warning was giuen before that when this 5. Angell should blowe the trumpet a most fearefull woe should come vpō the world surpassing all that went before which is the setting vp of Antichrist in his pride that man of sinne that sonne of perdition The Pope is here compared to a starre as well as other godly Ministers in this booke because the Bishops of Rome at the first were godly and excellent men for amōgst the first thirtie of them there were some Martyrs But it is here said that now this starre was fallen from heauen vnto the earth that is the Bishops of Rome were greatly degenerated fallen cleane away from heauenly things to earthly for they declined from time to time grew worse and worse so farre as to become the great Antichrist But some man may say why may not this starre falling frō heauen vnto the earth be vnderstood of other Pastors falling from the truth as well as the Pope as it is taken in the former chapter in the 12. chapter verse 4. I answere that the circumstances will not here beare it Therefore to perswade euery honest mans conscience that this must needs be vnderstood of the Pope in his pride let vs giue eare to those three reasons following First wee are to consider that the maine drift of the holy Ghost in the opening of the seuen seales and blowing of the seuen trumpets is to lay out the state of the church in all ages till the comming of Christ Further wee are diligently to obserue that the things contained vnder the opening of the seuenth seale wherof the blowing of the seuen trumpets are as it were parts and do all belong vnto it do stretch euen vnto the ende of the worlde so as there is no straunge accident or any wofull condition of the Church in any age but it is set forth vnder the opening of these seales and blowing of these trumpets But the Papacie was a state of the Church and that most wofull and lamentable therefore it is described vnder the opening of these seales and blowing of these trumpets But it is not described vnder the opening of any other seale or blowing of any other trumpet therefore of necessitie it must be referred to this seuenth seale and fift trumpet And this is my first reason If any man obiect that the Pope and his kingdome are most liuely described in the chapters from the 12. to the last I answere that all those chapters belong to a new vision wherin some things propounded vnder the opening of the seuen seales are more fully opened expounded But this I say that in this 2. vision the whole estate of the Church in euery age is laid opē euen vntil the last iudgemēt and therfore when the 7. Angel here doth blow the 7. trumpet immediatly followeth the last iudgemēt as appeareth cap. 10. ver 6.7 cap. 11. ver 15.16 My second reason is drawne from the course and consideration of times for the great preuailing of errors and heresies mentioned before which made way for Antichrist was from the first 300. yeares vntill the 600. yeare and so forwarde But now immediately vpon this great encrease of error darkness commeth the description of a speciall starre fallen from heauen at this time which was about 600. yeares after Christ and therfore it must needs be vnderstood of the Pope And this is my second reason My third and last reason is drawne from the description of the Pope and his Cleargie in the first eleuen verses of this chapter For he is so liuely described painted out in particulars that all men that know him or euer heard of him must needes say it is he For this description here set downe by the holy Ghost can fitly agree to none other The Papists themselues do cōfesse that this starre here mentioned must needs be vnderstood of some Arch-hereticke And full wisely forsoothe they apply it to Luther and Caluin But wee affirme that it is to be vnderstood of the Pope For was there euer any such Arch-hereticke as he which opposeth and exalteth himselfe against all that is called God and against all imperiall powers as the Apostle saith But now let vs proceed to the description of him First he is said to haue the keie of the bottomelesse pitte which agreeth well to the Pope for hee hath power giuen him to open hell gates to let in thousands thither but no power to open heauen gates to let in any thither for he furthereth many to hell none to heauen Hee doth indeed falsely challenge vnto himselfe the keies of the kingdome of heauen to let in and shut out at his pleasure But here wee see the holy Ghost doth attribute no such power vnto him but onely telleth vs that his power and iurisdiction is in hell and ouer hell as for heauen he hath nothing
al ages at al times and in al places and countries hee hath alwaies vniustly raised vp against the true worshippers of God ver 11 But they ouer came him by the bloud of the Lamb and by the worde of their testimony and they loued not their liues vnto the death Heere is shewed that the churches victory ouer Sathan and hel is not thorough any power or might of her own but by the bloud of the Lamb and the word of their testimony that is the worde of God which they witnesse professe loue stick vnto euen vnto death Therfore reioice ye heauens and ye that dwel in them ver 12 Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea for the diuel is come downe vnto you which hath great wrath knowing that he hath but a short time Here againe the saints and Angels and al the blessed company of heauē are called vpon exhorted to reioice because the diuel and his Angels are cast out and the elect haue the victory ouer him thorough the bloud of the Lamb and because the saluation of the church is sealed vp and God onely reigneth through Christ Which al are matters of so great momēt that not onely the church militant is stirred vp to reioice herein but euen the church triumphant also that is the spirits of iust and perfect men But on the contrary here is feareful woe denounced against the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea that is all Papists Atheists worldlings and reprobates For sith he cannot haue his wil of the church yet hee wil haue his will and wite his malice vpon them by hardening their hearts and blinding their eyes making them his slaues and vassals to fight for his kingdom against Christ against his church against all goodnesse and all good men The reason is added why the diuel is in such a rage with the world and commeth vpon them in so great wrath and furie to wit because hee hath but a short time that is because his kingdome draweth toward an end therefore he dooth so bestir him ver 13 And when the Dragon saw that he was cast vnto the earth he persecuted the woman which had brought forth the man child Now the diuel seeing himselfe cast out of heauen so as he cannot impeach the saluation of the church he raiseth vp horrible persecutions against her by his instruments here in y e earth labouring to root her out if it were possible for being ouercome of the head he doth now with might and maine set vppon the body and what horrible stormes and tempests he hath in al ages speciallie in these last daies raised vp and daily doth raise vp against the church both the scriptures and al church stories do abundantly declare ver 14 But to the woman were giuen two wings of a great eagle that she might fly into the wildernesse into her place where she is nourished for a time and times and halfe a time from the presence of the serpent These two wings do signifie al the waies meanes of euasion which God gaue vnto his church when he deliuered her from the hands of her pursuers and persecutors and also her swift flight from them and al their malicious practises For although the church cānot absolutelie fly from the presence of the diuel with her Eagles wings being so vnspeakably swift as he is yet after a sort shee is said to fly from him and his presence when the power of the tyrants and persecutors which he raiseth vp cannot ouertake her to murder and kil her But as touching her flight into the wildernesse and her lodging and nourishment there by Gods prouidence in the middest of al penury and extremity wee haue sufficiently heard before ver 6. and therefore here I surcease to speake any further of it As concerning the space and continuance of her nourishment in the wildernesse which is heere set downe to bee a time and times and halfe a time it is the same that the thousand two hundred and threescore daies mentioned in the sixt verse and the 42 monethes mentioned Chap. 11. verse 2. and the three daies and a halfe mentioned Chap. 11. ver 9. as before hath bin shewed And the serpent cast out of his mouth water after the woman like a floud vers 15 that he might cause her to be caried away of the floud Now the church being secretly hid and nourished by Gods prouidence in the wildernesse so as the diuel and his instruments cannot find her out nor come at her he taketh another course and casteth about another way to annoy her that is by casting a floud of water after her to drowne her withal Whereby is meant the innumerable lies reproches slaunders which he raised vp by sundry hereticks against her in al ages as the Arrians Donatists Papists and such like and al to bring her into the hatred of Princes Potentates and al that were in loue with her that sith otherwise he could not preuaile against her yet at least he might vtterly sinke her in this gulfe of reproches But the earth holpe the woman ver 16 and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed vp the floud which the Dragon had cast out of his mouth The same God which first deliuered the church from the violence and fury of Sathan and afterward cast him out of heauen and gaue her the victory ouer him after that againe miraculously hid hir preserued her in the wildernesse doth not now at a dead lift forsake her nor suffer her to be drowned in this floud of reproches vniust calumniations which the dragon cast vp after her But causeth the earth to help her to swallow vp the floud That is he vseth al creatures in the earth to helpe his church and not onely so but also he stirreth vp many earthly and carnal men to befrend the church and to take part with her against her enemies As sometimes he did Cyrus Ebedmelech Nebuzaradan Gamaliel and sundry others whose power and policy he vsed for the good of his church and for the drying vp of that flood of reproches which Sathan hath in al ages cast vp against her And God be thanked we see at this day that this floud of slaunders and calumnies which papists atheists cast out against the church and her particular members do dry vp dayly and shal dry vp more and more being drunk in by the earth And the church doth stil stand vnmooueable and shal stand and continue euen vnto the end of the world ver 17 Then the dragon was wroth with the woman and went made war with the remnant of her seede which keep the commandements of God and haue the testimony of Iesus Christ Here we see there is no end of the diuels malice He is infatigable in mischief though he haue neuer so many foiles yet he wil not giue ouer but begin againe For wheras he could not preuaile against the woman to cast her out
of heauen by impeaching her election and saluation in Christ nor yet root her out the earth by persecutions being hid in the wildernes and locked vp in the priuy chambers of Gods prouidence as sometimes yong Ioash was locked vp in the priests chamber from the fury of Athaliah now he goeth another way to worke and setteth vpon her in her seed and posterity which remaine in the earth vnto this day So that now sith he cannot do what mischiefe he would against the church yet wil he doo what he can seeing he cannot wound her in her head yet wil he bite and pinch at her heele as it is written that he should bruise her heele And as is the malice of Sathan against the church so is the rage and fury of al his members euen al the wicked and vngodly against the true worshippers of God They are restles in malice and in mischiefe if they cannot vex them one way they wil try another if they cannot touch them in their liues yet will they molest them in their goods and good name if they cannot do what they would yet wil they do what they can they wil neuer giue ouer if they can spite them in the least thing that is they shal be sure of it For they are as ful of venime as a toad and as full of malice to Christ as an eg is ful of meate And I stood on the sea sand ver 18 Now Iohn affirmeth that he stood vpon the sea sand to behold the beast which riseth out of the sea in the next Chapter or else because the greeke word may be of the third person which is he stood that is the dragon stood it may beare this sense that the diuel stood vpon the sea sand as it were working and framing out of the sea his chief◠instrument which is the beast now following to be spoken of CHAP. XIII WEe haue heard in the former chapter the description of the church and of her arch-enemie the diuel and of the battell betwixt them with the successe thereof Now in this chapter wee are to heare of the dragons two great instruments whereby he fighteth against the woman that is the Romane empire and the Papacie For by these two as it were his two hands he hath in all ages from the Apostles time to this day most cruelly assailed and afflicted the church Therefore the maine drift of this chapter is to describe at large these two beasts together with all their beastly proceedings So that this chapter may fitly be deuided into two principal parts The first is a description of the Roman monarchy when it was at the highest pitch vntil the 11. verse The second is a description of the Papacie when it was in his pride and exaltation in all the verses following vnto the end of this chapter In the first of these two maine branches the Romane Empire is diuersly described First of the petigree thereof Secondly of her seuen seuerall gouernments vers 1 Thirdly of her great and outstretched power Fourthly of her victories Fiftly of her blasphemies vers 2 vers 3 Sixtly of her furie rapine and pride After this is set down the wound which was made in the Empire with the curing of the same vers 4.5.6.7.8 9.10 Lastly is set down the great and admirable power and authority of the Roman empire which ruled ouer a great part of the world and had many nations subiect vnto it especially when the Popes were the heads thereof In the second maine part is the Papacie very liuely described First frō the petigree thereof which is of the earth vers 11 Secondly from the ciuil and Ecclesiasticall power thereof which is pretended to come from Christ although in truth it is of the diuell After this is set downe that the Papacie should be as mightie vers 12.13.14 and performe as much in the seruice of the Dragon against God as euer the Empire of the heathen could do both by authoritie and force and especially by lying wonders Then is shewed that as the Papacie did in substance of matter set vp and restore againe the old Roman tyrannie to be worshipped and wondred at vers 14 so hath it framed an Hierarchie or Ecclesiasticall gouernment after the verie forme and president of the ancient Romane tyrannie which is indeed so like it that it is called the liuely image thereof vers 15 and he hath by his Clergie and their iurisdiction put such life and spirit into this image that it spake with authoritie and power in all countries and kingdomes vers 16.17 in so much that whosoeuer would not submit himselfe thereunto and both professe and practise poperie and yeeld himselfe wholy to the papacie he should die for it Last of all ver 18 is descried and discouered from the numeratiue letters of the name of the second beast both who hee was and from whence hee should spring Text. vers 1 And I saw a beast rise out of the sea hauing seuen heades and tenne hornes and vpon his hornes were tenne crownes and vpon his heads the name of blasphemie First we are to vnderstand that a beast in the Scripture doth signifie a kingdome or monarchie and that not in respect of the ciuil power therof which is of God as it is written There is no power but of God but in respect of the tyrannie crueltie ambition pride and other such like beastly qualities thereof which are of the diuell and therefore this beast is said to ascend out of the bottomlesse pit chap. 17.8 This word beast is thus taken in the seuenth of Daniel where the three great Monarchies of the Babylonians Medes and Persians and of the Grecians are compared for their pride rapine and cruelty to a Lyon a Beare and a Leopard The Angell in that chapter saith expresly that these beasts were kings that is kingly gouernments or Dominions By the beast in this place is meant the Romane Monarchie not in regard of the ciuill power thereof but especially in respect of the tyranny of it in oppressing the Church By the sea here is meant the troublesome state of the nations as it is taken chap. 4. vers 6. and chap. 21. vers 1. For from the boyling and broyling estate of the former kingdomes and heathen nations which were as a raging sea did the Roman Empire spring vp as all stories do witnesse And the Prophet Daniel doth flatly teach that through the diuision of the Greeke Empire which fell out in the posteritie of Alexander the Great especially betwixt his two sonnes Ptolemeus and Seleucus this Romane monarchie by degrees made a head till at last it came to this pitch which now we shall heare of By the seuen heads of this beast are meant the seuen seuerall gouernments of the Roman Empire First by Kings Secondly by Consuls Thirdly by Decemuiri Fourthly by Dictators Fiftly by Triumuiri chapter 17.9 Sixtly by Emperours And lastly by Popes as heereafter shal more
plainly appeare By the tenne hornes of this beast is meant the great power and large dominion of the Roman Empire or as the Angell himselfe doth expound it chapter 17.12 thereby is meant tenne kings that is manie kingdomes which should be subiect to the Roman Monarchie and wherein in verie deede the power and strength of the Empire did consist For by these hornes the Roman Empire did not only push downe other nations but especially dosse against the Church and as it were cruelly gore the sides thereof Nowe then we see that the Roman Emperours both in homes and heads were like their Father the diuel or the dragon By the tenne crownes vpon his tenne hornes are meant his great and manifolde victories ouer other countries and kingdomes The hornes of this beast are said to be crowned not his heads because the Roman Empire hath alwayes more preuailed by power then by policie by strength then by subtilty But the Dragon hath his heads crowned and not his homes because he hath alwayes done more hurt by policie then power by subtiltie then strength One thing in all this is greatly to bee heeded that the holy Ghost in this chapter doth specially speake of the Roman monarchie as the Popes were heads thereof or as it was vnder the dominion of the Popes in their pride when as the Emperours were almost troden vnder foote and not simply and soly as the Emperours were heads thereof Moreouer it is said that vpon the seuen heads of this beast was written the name of blasphemie For besides the blasphemies of Caligula Nero Domitian Dioclesian Iulianus and the other old heathenish and persecuting Emperours which haue arrogated vnto themselues diuine honour wee shall anon heare of the surpassing blasphemies of the Popes against God ver 5.6 and all goodnesse vers 2 And the Beast which I saw was like a Leopard and his feete like a Beares and his mouth as the mouth of a Lyon and the Dragon gaue him his power his throne and great authoritie Here the Roman Empire is described of the likelihood of qualities which it had with the other three Empires going before it For first it is compared to a Leopard for swiftnesse to pray vpon others and also for fircenesse and subtiltie as did the Greeke monarchie Secondly it is compared to a Beare for rapine and rauening as the monarchie of the Medes and Persians Thirdly it is compared to a Lyon for pride and insolencie as the monarchie of the Chaldaeans So then by this description it is verie cleere that this beast signifieth the Roman monarchie because it containeth in it the whole power of the other three Empires and is here described as a compound of diuers beasts yea as a verie monster of monsters hauing the body of a Leopard the feete of a Beare and the mouth of a Lyon Moreouer it is said that the Dragon gaue him his power and his throne and great authoritie Which plainely sheweth that the power and authoritie of the Roman Empire is of the diuell in respect of the euill qualitie thereof that is fraud rapine chapter 17. v. 8. and oppression In which respect it is said to ascend out of the bottomlesse pit as was declared before But the substance of it and the gouernement it selfe was of God For the powers that be are ordained of God as saith the Apostle And I saw one of his heads vers 3 as it were wounded vnto death but his deadly wound was healed and all the world wondred and followed the beast Heere Iohn in a vision seeth one of the seuen heads of the beast almost wounded vnto death There bee diuers and differing opinions of the learned touching this wound of the Empire both when it should bee and howe and by whom Some vnderstand it of the death of Iulius Caesar some of Nero some of the oppression of the Gothes and Vandales some of the great preuailing of Iohn Husse and Ierome of Prage in the greatest part of Bohemia But to let all these passe if wee do wisely consider and weigh with our selues that by a beast in this place is not meant anie lawfull administration of gouernement but a tyrannicall power in persecuting the Church wee shall find that a head of the beast was then wounded when Constantine the Great slew Maxentius and Licinius the two last persecuting Emperours set vp true religion and brought peace to the Churches For hereby the Roman Empire was greatly wounded as touching the tyrannie of it The holy Ghost doth not set downe which of the seuen heads were thus wounded but in generall saith one of them Nowe it is verie probable that he meaneth the sixt head For we doe not reade of anie such wound in the former fiue which were past Neither can it be vnderstood of the seuenth head which was the Papacie because it receiued no such wounde as yet It followeth then that the wound was in the sixt head that is in the Empire But we reade of no Emperour that did so wound the beast as did Constantine the Great And therefore it is verie probable nay an hundred to one that the holy Ghost here pointeth at him But it followeth that his deadly wound was healed to wit by these wicked Emperours which succeeded Constantine as Constantius Iulianus Valentius and others which afresh did set vp Idolatrie and persecuted the Church Nowe vppon the healing of this wound it is said that all the world wondred and followed the beast that is manie nations or the greatest part of the world did submit themselues to the Roman tyrannie For sure it is some kingdomes were neuer subiect to the Empire of Rome as some part of Asia and some part of Africa vers 4 And they worshipped the Dragon which gaue power vnto the beast and they worshipped the beast saying Who is like vnto the beast who is able to warre with him Now is shewed how all the subiects of the Roman Empire did worship the Dragon that is they maintained that worship which he liked and loued that is the worship of idols which the Apostle calleth the worship of diuels And it is said also they worshipped the beast that is they did all with one accord submit themselues both to the religion and authoritie of the beast that is to the Popes as they were the seuenth head of the Empire For as I said before so I say againe the holy Ghost heere speaketh of the Empire when it was in the greatest glorie and exaltation yea when all the worlde wondred and followed the beast yea when all admired the great and large dominion of the Roman empire and said within themselues who is like vnto the beast who is able to warre with him Now the Empire of Rome was neuer so great and powerful as when the Popes were heads thereof I meane when they executed the whole ciuill iurisdiction of the empire besides their Ecclesiasticall power which now did both meete in one For now the
should fulfill them might be blinded whilest the eyes of Gods elect are opened to see into the truth of all these matters Well to come to the point Saint Iohn doth onely heere set downe the numeratiue letters of the beasts name Hee wrote in Greeke and he onely setteth downe three Greeke letters or characters which in Greeke numeration make sixe hundred sixtie sixe Now further wee are to note that the numeratiue letters of the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doe make iust this number And yet further we are to obserue as a verie speciall thing that Irenaeus an ancient Father of the Church who liued verie neere vnto the Apostles times mentioneth this worde Lateinos as the name of the beast And moreouer affirmeth that it was a common receiued opinion in his time and before that the Beast should be so called Now then let vs consider how this fitteth First we know that the numeratiue letters of Lateinos doe iustly fit Saint Iohns Greeke numeratiue letters Secondly we know that Antichrist is the head of the Latine Church or Latine Empire and therefore this verie Lateinos For here we doe not enquire after the name of anie particular man but about the name of a kingdome for the beast is a kingdome and a succession of men Now Italy in old time was called Latinum the Italians Latini which noteth of what countrey the beast should come Moreouer the beasts name or name of the Romane Empire is Lateinos because the Empire both vnder the heathen tyrants and the Popes especially had all their religion seruice prayers lawes decrees writings and translations in Latine all was in Latine Latine The Pope preferred his Latine translation of the Bible before the Hebrue and Greeke originals Thus then it is Saint Iohn telleth vs flatly that the number of the beast is sixe hundred sixtie sixe Irenaeus saith that Lateinos is his name which containeth iust that number Therefore heere wee haue his name heere hee is found For if his name bee Lateinos wee neede search no further wee know who it is we know who is meant for is not the Pope Lateinos are not the succession of them Latini are they not the heads of the Latine Church and Latine Empire Haue they not all their worship and seruice in Latine Are they not Latines for what is the name of the Romane Empire but Lateinos And what is the name of the Popish Hierarchie but Lateinos True it is indeed which the papists say that manie names may bee inuented whose letters make this number but the Spirit of God speaketh not of fained names for thereof can come nothing but vncertaintie but he willeth vs to count the number of his name which then the beast had that is Lateinos I doe thus then conclude The beast is a kingdome and the Papacie is the kingdome of the Latines Therefore the Papacie is the beast The papacie is Lateinos and containeth the number of the beast For what other monarchie can bee shewed since this Reuelation was giuen whose numeratiue letters containe this foresaid number Assuredly none And therefore out of all doubt Saint Iohn pointeth at the Roman Empire and monarchie of the Popes For Lateinos doth both containe the number of the beast according to Saint Iohns computation and also his name which is the Latine Empire or Romane Empire And thus haue wee heard the description of these two huge and monstrous beasts the sea beast and the land beast which both from the Apostles times hitherto haue indeede played the beasts against Christ and his Church and still doe play the beasts and will neuer cease playing the beasts till their hornes and hoofes heads and bodies be cleane cut off which will be shortly as we shall heare anon CHAP. XIIII WE haue heard in the former chapter the description of the two great and dreadfull beasts We haue also heard how mightily they haue preuailed now manie yeeres raigned as monarches of the earth Now in this chapter wee are to heare of the fall and ruine of them both So that the maine drift and scope of this chapter and all the chapters following vntill the twentith chapter is to shew that both the Roman Empire and the Papacie shall ebbe as fast as euer they did flow shall wane as fast as euer they did waxe shall decrease as fast as euer they did increase and fall downe as fast as euer they did rise vp euen vntill they come to vtter ruine and desolation This Chapter containeth seuen principal things First vers 1 it sheweth that God had his Church vpon the earth euen then when it seemed to bee vtterly extinct by the preuailing of the two outragious beasts Secondly vers 2.3.4.5 it sheweth that the poore persecuted Church did sincerely zealously worship God euen in the fire and flames of afflictions Thirdly ver 6.7 it sheweth that the Gospell shall be preached with great successe in these last daies throughout manie kingdoms Fourthly ver 8 it sheweth that Rome shall fall downe at the preaching of the Gospell ver 9.10.11 Fiftly it sheweth that all Papists shal be condemned and cast into hell fire for euer ver 12.13 Sixtly it sheweth that it shall go well with Gods elect which hauing refused the worship of the beast do liue and die in the Lord. ver 14.15.16.17.18.19.20 Lastly it describeth the day of iudgement wherein all both good and bad shall haue according to their deserts Text. ver 1 Then I looked and behold a Lambe stood on mount Sion and with him an hundred fourtie and foure thousand hauing the Fathers name written in their foreheads Nowe at last the holy Ghost bringeth in Iesus Christ vpon the Theater of the world as it were to play his part in this tragedie and to helpe the poore weake woman which we heard of before against the Dragon and the two monstrous beasts which would haue torne her in peeces and vtterly deuoured her if this Lambe Iesus Christ had not stept in and rescued her Well now commeth in our Lord Iesus and beginneth to stirre in these matters and to take vpon him the protection and defence of the poore helplesse woman against both the dragon the dragons two great instruments But may some man say What is a poore Lambe to encounter with a dragon with a Lyon with a Leopard and a Beare I answer that although Christ be a lamb to his church euē the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world and the Lamb that was a slaine sacrifice from the beginning for the redemption of his elect Yet to all his enemies he is a most strong and terrible Lyon euen the Lyon of the Tribe of Iuda as he is called before chapter 5.5 Now this most terrible Lyon euen the Lord of hosts the Lord mightie in battell commeth forth to protect and defend his Church against all her enemies who is of such infinite might and puissance that neither the old Dragon nor his young imps nor
conclude that when God hath decreed the vtter ouerthrow of Rome wee must not aske this question how can it be or which way shall it be brought about For the scriptures doe teach that God in all ages hath done the greatest exploits either by himselfe alone without meanes or else by weake meanes or contrary to all meanes By himselfe without meanes hee ouerthrew the Moabits Ammonites and them of mount Seir which made warre against good king Iehosaphat By himself he destroied Pharaoh his army in the red Sea By himselfe hee ouerthrew Iericho that great citie By himselfe hee slew the huge army of the Assyrians that made warre against Ezechias By himselfe hee smote the great and dreadfull army of the Ethiopians before Asa and before Iudah By himselfe hee smote the Syrians which besieged Dothan the citie where the prophet Elisha was By weake meanes hee ouerthrew the innumerable army of the Midianites euen by Gedeons three hundred By weake meanes he slew a garrison of the Philistines euen by Ionathan and his armour-bearer By weake meanes he ouerthrew the kings of Sodome thereabouts euen by Abraham his family He ouerthrew Goliah by Dauid Sisera by Iael Abimilech by a woman Contrary to meanes hee saued the three children from burning being in the fire Contrary to meanes hee saued Ionas from drowning being cast into the sea Contrary to meanes hee preserued Daniel from deuouring being cast into the Lions denne Contrary to meanes hee kept the Israelites from drowning being in the bottome of the sea Contrary to meanes and to all expectation hee caused the Sunne to stand still at noone day whilest he overthrew the fiue kings of Canaan by Iosuah Therefore I conclude that forasmuch as God in all ages hath effected the most strange and admirable things either by himselfe without meanes or by very weake meanes or contrary to all meanes therefore it is in vaine to aske this question how or by what meanes shall Rome bee destroyed for it is inough for vs to know that it shall be destroyed and come to vtter desolation And in my iudgement the holy ghost hath so often so plainely affirmed this that no man should any more make any doubt of it or once call it into question For what can bee more plaine then to say Rome is fallen Rome shall fall Great hailestones like talants shall fall vpon it It shall goe to perdition It shall fall to destruction It shall bee cast downe like a great milslone into the bottome of the sea It shall be burnt with fire It shall bee made desolate and naked It shall bee without inhabitants All the popish sort both high low shall with great mourning lamentation bewaile the desolatiō therof Their armies shall come to Armageddon The beast the false prophet shall bee taken their captaines souldiours slaine by infinit heapes their carkases made meate for the foules of the aire If all this be not plaine inough I cannot tell what can bee plaine inough True it is indeed the holy Ghost doth not name Rome but it is apparant by the circumstances that all these places must needes bee vnderstood of Rome of Romish power and of the Romish armies For there can be no other soūd sense giuen of them as all diuine writers and interpreters doe affirme both new olde And therefore I conclude that S. Iohn in this prophesie could not speake more plainly except hee should haue named Rome For hee nameth Babylon He nameth the great citie which then raigned ouer the kings of the earth He nameth the citie situate vpon seauen hils Hee nameth the citie which had seauen seuerall gouernments And therefore out of all doubt hee meaneth Rome Well then sith it is so that Rome and all Romish power and authoritie shall fall flat downe and come to vtter destruction and desolation in this life let all men take heed how they ioine with Rome how they ioyne with the Romish Church and how they receiue the beasts marke for assuredly they shal al be destroyed together both in this life in that which is to come as wee shall heare by and by Let all wise men therefore and all such as haue any care of their saluation follow the wholesome counsell and aduise of the holy ghost which saith Goe out of her my people that yee be not partakers of her sinnes and that yee receiue not of her plagues for her sins are come vp to Heauen and God hath remembred her iniquities Our onely wisdome then wil be to seperate our selues from the whore of Babylon that is from the Church of Rome and to ioyne our selues with all speed to the true Church of God that is the Church of the Protestants for this shall stand and florish the other shall fall downe and perish But what then shall wee bee sory for the fall of Babylon and the ruine of Rome No no. The holy Ghost counselleth vs greatly to reioyce in her destruction and ouerthrow saying O Heauens reioyce ouer her and ye holy Apostles Prophets because God hath giuen your iudgement on her We are therefore to be so far from mourning lamenting for the desolation of Rome as the kings merchants mariners other her friends as that it ought to be the very ioy and reioicing of our hearts For S. Iohn saith that not onely the holy Angels Prophets Apostles Martyrs shall reioyce at the destruction of Rome but also all the Saints and the whole bodie of the Church And therfore he saith that after the vtter ouerthrow of Rome He heard a great voice of a great multitude in Heauen saying Hallelu-iah that is praise yee the Lord for hee hath condemned the great whore which did corrupt the earth with her fornication and hath auenged the bloud of his seruants shed by her hand And againe saith S. Iohn they said Hallelu-jah Hallelu-jah Hallelu-jah thrise together therby expressing the great ioy thāksgiueing for the destruction and ouerthrow of the great whore and euen so ought all that loue God that loue the Church and that loue the truth greatly to reioyce in the destruction of Rome because this monster shall no longer oppresse the Israell of God And sure it is that the more zealous godly that a man is the more he will rejoice at the destruction of Popery for a man cannot loue God and his church that doth not laugh in the destruction of that Antichristian and bloudy kingdome Let no man heere say this is crueltie this is want of charitie and want of pittie to laugh in the destruction of any or to reioice at other mens harmes But the most wise God saith Reward her euen as she hath rewarded you and giue her double according to her works and in the cup that shee hath filled to you fill her the double In asmuch as shee glorified her selfe and liued in
pleasure so much giue yee to her torment and sorrow And therfore I affirme that no man ought to be moued with any compassion or pittie for the ouerthrow of Rome But heerein that saying of the Prophet is true Blessed is hee that taketh and dasheth her children against the stones and againe bend thy bow shoot at her spare no arrowes For she hath sinned against the Lord. Moreouer wee are to obserue that forasmuch as the Lord willeth commandeth all men to reward Rome as shee hath rewarded vs to giue her double according to her works therefore wee ought euery one of vs as much as in him lieth and as his calling will beare to doe his vttermost to pull downe Rome the Magistrate by the sword the Minister by the word and the people by their prayers For euen Christian kings and princes and all the nobles of the earth must not bee negligent to fight against Rome For heerein that saying is true Cursed is hee that doth the worke of the Lord negligently and cursed is hee that keepeth backe his sword from bloud For this cause I doe vpon my knees night and day most humbly and instantly intreate the God of heauen that as hee hath put into the heart of our most gratious and excellent Queene to hate the whore of Babylon and to be his greatest instrument in the whole world for the weakening and ouerturning of Rome and defence of his most glorious gospell which is her crowne and glory in all the Chuches and her great renowne in all Christian kingdomes so shee may constantly continue and neuer cease drawing out the sword of Iustice till she haue vtterly rooted out of her dominions all the cursed crew of popish Iebusits and all such as haue receiued the beasts marke and especially the Iesuits and seminary priests which are the diuels brokers the popes agents and the king of Spaines factors in all kingdomes Here also I doe most humbly euen vpon my knees with dropping eies yea if it were possible with teares of bloud beseech and intreate the learned and reuerend fathers of our Church that they would bend all their power and authoritie with might and maine against the Romish strumpet and the rather because in these dayes shee seemeth to make a head againe hauing so many and great fauourers that shee and her complices dare perke with their nebbs and very boldly and confidently prate of a tolleration Heere also I doe most humbly and earnestly intreate all my learned and godly brethren the ministers and preachers of this Church of England that in all their publike teachings and priuate proceedings they would make strong opposition against Rome and Romish religion And I beseech the God of Gods that wee may all ioyne together with vnited forces to march on valiantly against the armies of Antichrist and to spread the euerlasting Gospell far and neere to the vtter ouerturning and beating downe of this westerne Babylon and that howsoeuer wee may amongst our selues differ in iudgement in some things yet that there may bee no breach of loue or alienation of affections amongst vs but that wee may all goe together hand in hand and arme in arme to preach Gods euerlasting truth and to set our selues against the common aduersaries For if wee will not set our selues against them yet they will be sure to set themselues against vs. And thus much concerning the third maine point which is the finall fall of Rome euen in this world Now it followeth to speake of the fourth maine point which is by whom and when Rome shall bee ouerthrowen But for the better vnderstanding of this point concerning the persons that shall ouerthrow Rome wee are to obserue that S. Iohn describeth the whore of Babylon sitting vpon a scarlet coloured beast hauing seauen heads and tenne hornes whereby is meant the Romane monarchie as hath beene shewed before After this the Angell expoundeth vnto Iohn what the heads and hornes of the beast meane and saith that the ten hornes are ten kings or ten kingdomes ver 12 which yet haue not receiued a kingdome but shall receiue power as kings at one houre with the beast The sense is that these tenne kingdomes had not receiued such power and authoritie vnder the Emperours as they should vnder the Popes for there was great difference in these kingdomes vnder the Popes from that which they had beene vnder the Emperours For they receiued far greater power and they carried an other minde toward the papacy then the nations did before toward the empire for they did submit themselues to the papacy for conscience and loue euen as to the holy Church which they neuer did to the Empire And this is the reason why the holy ghost saith they had not receiued a kingdome but should receiue power as kings at one houre with the beast Which is not to be vnderstood simply but after a sort for they had receiued kingdomes vnder the Emperors but not in such sort as afterward they did vnder the Popes For the Romane monarchie vnder the dominion of the Popes was in his greatest height and altitude and the kings of Europe grew vp together with the papacie in power might and dominion And S. Iohn addeth that these ten kings or kingdomes were all of one minde and did giue their power and authoritie vnto the beast that is they did with might and maine labour to vphold the Babylonicall strumpet But the Angell telleth Iohn flatly that the ten hornes that is the ten kingdomes of the empire which before had giuen their names their power and authoritie to the beast to vphold her and defend her should now in these last daies all change their mindes and turne against her For saith the Angell to Iohn chapter 17.36 The ten hornes which thou sawest vpon the beast are they that shall hate the whore and make her desolate and naked and shall eate her flesh and burne her with fire Heere then it doth plainely appeare who they bee that shall ouerthrow Rome and by whom it shall bee destroyed To wit by the tenne kings of Europe or kingdomes of Europe which some very learned doe reckon vp to bee these England Scotland Germany France Spaine Denmarke Sweueland Poland Russia and Hungary S. Iohn words are plaine that these kingdomes which tooke part with the beast shall take against her pull her downe But we know that all the kingdomes of Europe did take part vvith her therefore it followeth that all the kingdomes of Europe shall take against her And therefore it is very probable that in time France Spaine and Italy shall turne against the beast Wee know that the rest of the kingdomes are already turned against the beast and the beast hath lost seuen of his hornes the eight which is France beginneth to be somewhat loose and to shake a little which if it fall off the rest will follow after a pace The reson why the kingdomes which were subiect
yea did couer the whole face of the earth with their multitudes and compasse the tents of the Saints about and the beloued citie that is did make warre against the Church and people of God which in comparison of them were but as a few tents or some little citie But marke vvhat followeth and consider the issue of the battaile The holy ghost saith expressely that fire came downe from God out of Heauen and deuoured them Which doth plainely shew that the armies of Gog Magog though neuer so huge shal be destroyed by the fire of Gods vvrath Now from this I gather that as the armies of the Pope shall goe downe still more and more as formerly hath bene shewed and as experience in the last yeeres good successe both in Ireland Netherland and against Spaine also hath partly prooued Gods most holy name be praised so also the armies of the Turk shal be ouerthrowen so farre foorth as they fight against the true Church or at least be so kept back that they shall not be able to compasse the tents of the Saints as vve see and feele this day God be thanked ver 10 And the Diuell that deceiued them was cast into a lake of fire and brimstone where that beast and that false prophet are and shal be tormented euen day and night for euermore Heere is set downe the Diuells doome to vvit that he shal be cast downe into the infernall pit as vvell vvorthy both for his seducing all nations and stirring vp the armies of Gog and Magog against the Church euen to roote it vp if it vvere possible Therefore Saint Iohn telleth vs that forasmuch as he is the author of all mischiefe and he that hath set all the rest a vvork therefore both he and his instrumens the beast and the false prophet Gog and Magog shall all drinck of the same cup of Gods eternall vvrath and be all throwne downe together into one close prison vvhich is that gasping gulfe and infernall lake that burneth vvith fire and brimstone for euer Loe then vvhat shal be the end of the diuell the Pope the Turk the Emperour the King of Spaine the Cardinall and all other the diuels instruments vvhich heere in earth haue persecuted the Church and compassed the tents of the Saints and the beloued Cittie Now after all this in the fiue last verses Saint Iohn entreth into a liuely and cleere discription of the last iudgement First noting the terror and maiestie of the Iudge himselfe in this ver 11 that from his face both Heauen and earth fled away that is no creature shal be able to endure his angry countenance in that daye and yet vvithall setting downe the puritie and vprightnesse of his iudgement and iudgement seate calling it a white Throne ver 12 And after this the generall citing and personall appearing of all men before him of vvhat degree estate or condition soeuer For both death and hell sea and graue did deliuer vp their dead And all vvithout exception came to iudgement And the bookes of their consciences vvere opened for euerie mans vvorke is engrauen vpon his cōscience as it vvere in letters of brasse or vvith the point of a Diamond as the Prophet speaketh And they were iudged of those things which were written in the bookes according to their workes and according to the testimonie of their owne consciences And death and hell ver 14 that is all the heires of death and hell euen all the societie of reprobates both papists Atheists and all vnbeleeuers yea whosoeuer were not found written in the booke of life were cast into the lake of fire ver 15 which is the second death Now heere I would haue it dilligently obserued that the holy ghost hath three seuerall times in this booke described the last iudgement to wit in the latter end of the 11. Chapter in the latter end of the 14. Chapter and now in the latter end of this Chapter And moreouer I would haue the order and causes of these descriptions well waighed For in the 11. Chapter hauing before described the kingdome of the Pope and the Turk with their ouerthrow and also the preaching and preuailing of the Gospell in these last daies hee commeth to describe the last iudgement In the 14. Chapter hauing set downe that the euerlasting gospell should be plētifully preached in this last age the ouerthrow of Babylon immediately following forthwith hee proceedeth to the discription of the last day In this Chapter hauing before concluded of the vtter ouerthrow of Rome of the beast and the false prophet of Gog and Magog and all aduersary power at length hee proceedeth to this description of Christs second comming which wee haue heard of And out of all this I do gather that the vtter ouerthrow of the Pope all his adherents shall be in this life a little before the comming of Christ vnto iudgement Chap. 21. AS wee haue heard before of the vtter ouerthrow of the beast and the false prophet and all their adherents and also of the euerlasting condemnation of the dragon that old serpent which set them all a worke So now in this Chapter wee are to heare of that most happy and blessed estate which the faithfull shall dwell in for euermore so that the maine drift of this Chapter is most fully to describe that infinit glory and endlesse felicitie to the which all the 144000 that is all the elect of God shal be aduanced when both the beast and all that haue receiued his marke shall be cast downe into the infernall lake This Chapter may very fitly bee deuided into foure parts The first is a description of the renouation of the world and the restauration of the creature ver 1 The second is ver 2.3.4 a laying foorth of the most glorious estate of the Church when it shall bee freed from all misery The third is a protestation of God himselfe ver 5.6.7.8 concerning the renouation of all things the felicitie of his elect and the endlesse torment of all reprobates The fourth is ver 9.10.11.12.13.14.15.16.17.18.19.20.21.22.23.24.25.26.27 a liuely description of the very kingdome of God and the vnspeakeable ioyes of heauen vnder the figure of a great citie called the holy Ierusalem Which citie is heere most gloriously described of his walles gates foundations streets height length breadth brightnesse matter forme persons and inhabitants The text ver 1 AND I saw a new heauen and a new earth for the first heauen and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea ver 2 And I Iohn saw the holy city new Ierusalem come downe from God out of heauen prepared as a bride trimmed for hir husband ver 3 And I heard a great voice of heauen saying behold the tabernacle of God is with men and hee will dwell with them and they shall bee his people and God himselfe shall bee their God ver 4 And God shall wipe all teares from their eies and there shall bee no
more death neither sorrow neither crying neither shall there bee any more paine For the first things are passed By a new heauen and a new earth is meant the renued estate of heauen earth after this life in their qualitie not in their substance For wee doe beleeue according to the scripture that this visible heauen and this visible earth shall continue for euer as touching their matter and substance But shall bee greatly altered and changed in condition and qualitie For S. Peter saith wee looke for new heauens and a new earth according to his promise wherein dwelleth righteousnesse that is such heauens and such a earth as is free from all corruption sinne Which thing also the Apostle S. Paul doth plainely teach saying that the creature doth feruently expect when the sonnes of God shall be reuealed that is when Gods children shall be made knowen to be as they are the very heires of infinit glory which in this life doth not appeare And hee yeeldeth two reasons of this desire of the creature one is because in the meane time it is subiect to vanitie and corruption the other is that then it shall bee free from both And for this cause the Apostle saith that the creature groneth with vs and earnestly desireth and longeth after that day wherein it shall bee set free from the bondage of corruption and redintigrated and restored to that pristinate estate wherein it was before the fall But whether this is to be vnderstood of heauen earth onely or of heauen and earth with their adiuncts particular creatures I wil not heere goe about to discusse howbeit I do greatly incline to their opinion which hold that heauen and earth with all their furniture being redintigrated restored to their first estate shall remaine for euer to set foorth the glorie of the creator for that vse of glorified men which now the Angels haue of them Now whereas Saint Iohn addeth that there shall bee no more Sea Hee meaneth that there shall bee no more any troublesome and confused estate of this world no moe broiles waues tempests and stormes as it falleth out in this life For the word Sea is so taken twise or thrise before By the holy citie new Ierusalem hee meaneth the Church triumphant which therefore is said to come downe from God out of heauen because it hath all his newnesse and holinesse from God and from heauen whereby it is now prepared and made ready to bee maried vnto Christ ver 3 euen as a bride tricked and trimmed vp for her husband And for this cause S. Iohn heareth a voice from heauen saying the tabernacle of God is with men and hee will dwell with them and they shall bee his people and hee will bee their God Meaning therby that Iesus Christ will keepe house with his glorified spouse and be at bed and bourd with hir for euer in the heauens at what time shee shall bee freed from all teares woe and miserie ver 4 as the next verse declareth yeelding also a reason heereof which is that the first things are passed that is the state wherein the world is now being subiect to many afflictions temptations vanities and corruptions ver 5 And hee that sat vpon the throne said Behold I make all things new and he said vnto mee Write for these words are faithfull and true ver 6 And hee said vnto mee it is done I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end I will giue to him that is a thirst of the well of the water of life freely ver 7 Hee that ouercommeth shall inherit all things and I will bee his God and hee shall bee my sonne ver 8 But the fearefull and vnbeleeuing and the abhominable and murtherers and whoremongers and sorcerers and Idolaters and all liers shall haue their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Heere the omnipotent God which sitteth vpon his most glorious throne doth protest that hee will make all things new that is restore the world to that execellent estate wherein it was before Adams fall and his elect to a state and condition farre more excellent in heauen and for the greater certainely and assurance of it willeth and commandeth Iohn to write it ver 5 and record it as a thing most certaine and infallible and to set it downe as a thing already done For things to come which are decreed in the counsell of God are as certaine as if they were past for God cannot erre alter nor change and therefore he saith I am Alpha and Omega the first and the last the vnchangeable and immutable God And addeth ver 6 that hee will giue freely to euery one that is a thirst of the well of the water of life that is without all regard of our desarts hee will giue to euery one that earnestly seeketh after heauen and heauenly things his full fill thereof And moreouer that whosoeuer ouercommeth in the spirituall battaile shall haue the full fruition of all good things both in this life and the life to come as hauing speciall right and interest therein through Christ God being his father and hee his sonne and heire ver 7 But on the contrary hee willeth it to bee written and recorded as a thing most certaine and sure that all reprobates all Atheists worldlings ver 8 and all vnbeleeuers shall haue their part an portion in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone for euer And there came vnto mee one of the seauen Angels ver 9 which had the seauen vials full of the seauen plagues and talked with mee saying I will shew thee the bride the Lambs wife ver 10 And he carried mee away in the spirit to a great and an high mountaine and shewed mee that great Citie that holy Hierusalem discending out of Heauen from God ver 11 Hauing the glory of God and her shining was like vnto a stone most pretious as a Iasper stone clere as Christ all Heere one of the Angels mentioned in the 16. Chapter which had a Viall full of Gods vvrath Talketh vvith Iohn and telleth him that he will shew him the bride the Lambs wife that is the triumphant Church or the Church in her glorified estate beeing vnited and married vnto Christ in the kingdome of glory And therefore Saint Iohn saith that this Angell carried him away in the spirit to a great and high mountaine and shewed him that great Citie holy Ierusalem c. chapter 17.1.2.3 Wee reade in the 17. Chapter that when this Angell shewed Iohn the great whore of Babylon he carried him away into the wildernesse in the spirit because the vvhore of Babylon should make the Church barren and desolate as a vvildernesse But now that he is to shew him the spouse of Christ in her glory and to describe the euerlasting Ierusalem he carrieth him in the spirit vnto a very high mountaine that he might take a sight of it as