men and bought from the earth as it is said before that is they are redeemed and bought with a price from the currupt lump of mankind and cursed race of Adam that they might be the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb that is wholly consecrated to his worship and to serve him in righteousnesse and true holinesse all the daies of their life In their mouthes was found no guile that is they do declare their innocency and uprightnesse both in their words and works as those which Christ hath chosen out of this world and bought with a price through his bloud in whom they are without spot or speck before God Verse 6. Then I saw another Angel flye in the middest of heaven having an everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth and to every nation and kindred and tongue and people Saying with a loud voyce Fear God Verse 7. and give glory to him for the hour of his judgement is come and worship him that made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountaines of waters Hitherto the holy Ghost hath taught us how the Church was preserved under the tyranny of Antichrist and greatest waves of persecutions and that even then they did purely and faithfully worship the true God Now he proceedeth to foreshew the ruine and downefall of Antichrist and plainly to prophesie the utter decay of the kingdome of Babel This doctrine therefore wee are to hearken unto with great attention and cheerfulnesse because it doth so much concerne our good and the good of the whole Church also because wee live in the dayes wherein we see it is in part fulfilled First therefore wee are to understand what is meant by this Angel here mentioned to wit not any celestiall Angel or invisible spirit as it is sundry times taken before but by this Angel and the two Angels following are meant all the faithfull ministers of the Gospel which should be raised up in these last dayes for the overthrow of Rome and the delivering of the Church from under the captivity of Antichrist which may plainly appeare by this that is said this Angel preacheth the everlasting Gospel unto them that dwell on the earth which cannot properly agree to the celestiall spirits We have heard out of the tenth chapter that Jesus Christ did open the little book which is the Bible and did give authority to his faithfull ministers to goe preach and publish the doctrine thereof to many nations Chap. 10.11 countries and kingdomes now unto that agreeth this which is here spoken of and is a further opening and declaring of that which is there set downe For as there Jesus Christ cometh downe from heaven and openeth the little book which had been long shut up under the darknesse of Popery and the smoak which came out of the bottomlesse pit so here Christ Jesus raised up his faithfull ministers and preachers to publish and proclaime the doctrine of the Gospel which had long lain hidden under outragious persecutions of the two monstrous and most hideous beasts To this also agreeth that which is written in the eighteenth chapter of this book where Saint John seeth an Angel come down from heaven having great power so that the earth was lightened with his glory By which Angel is meant all the preachers of this age And the Angel is said to have great power for what is more powerfull then the ministery of the word And moreover it is said that the earth was lightened with his glory that is with the brightness of the preaching of the Gospel whereby the darknesse of Popery was dispersed and driven away and Babylon falleth upon it as there you may read and as here wee shall see the like effect by and by Moreover it is here said that this Angel flyeth in the middest of heaven that is very swiftly carryeth this everlasting Gospel through all the Church For when Gods appointed time was come wherein hee would goe about the overthrow of Popery hee caused his everlasting Gospel to be set abroach and to spread over many kingdomes and nations as we see this day Now because those kingdoms where God would have the knowledge of his Gospel divulged were many and great therefore here is expedition required and this Angel doth carry it not standing but flying And all this we see perfectly fulfilled with our eys when God raised up Luther Zuinglius Melancthon Peter Viret Calvin Bucer Bullinger Peter Martyr and all their worthy successors unto this day which have spread the everlasting Gospel very far and carried it very swiftly over England Scotland Germany Denmark Polonia Swevia Russia and many parts of France and Flanders Another reason why this Angell is said to flie in the middest of heaven is because no power of man shall ever be able to stay the course of this everlasting Gospel which this Angel carrieth abroad no more then men are able to stop the course of the Sun in the heavens or a cloud in the skie For this Angel flyeth in the midst of heaven far above the reach of the beast and all kings and potentates that stand for the kingdome of the beast Therefore let them doe all what they can they shall never be able to stop the course of the Gospel for it is called the arm of God and his very arm 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 Gospel is called everlasting First because it is in his own nature everlasting as it is written 1 Pet. 1.25 The word of the Lord endureth for ever Secondly because it putteth us in possession of everlasting things as it is written Thy word O Lord Psal 119. endureth for ever in heaven Thirdly and principally because as it was long before Antichrist was hatched so it shall continue when he and his kingdome is dead and rotten Saying with a loud voice Fear God Verse 7. and give glory unto him c. Here is set down the doctrine which this Angel preacheth with a loud voice that is with great zeale The sum whereof is this Fear God and give glory unto him and worship him that made heaven and earth c. The sence is that the true and everliving God should onely be feared and worshipped and all glory should be given unto him alone through Christ and none to Antichrist none to Cardinals and Legats none to Angels none to Saints none to images roodes crosses and crucifixes Here then is set downe an abridgement of the doctrine of this everlasting Gospel namely that men should onely feare God and worship him and give all glory to him alone and not to any creature And the reason is yeelded because the houre of his judgement is come that is the time of the manifestation of the Gospel or lawes of the most high God for so the word Judgement is often taken in the Scriptures Here are wee to
presence of the Throne of God c. to hunger and thirst no more c. to have all teares wiped from their eyes and to bee led by the Lambe unto the Fountaines of living waters All which doth very plainely and plentifully expresse that infinite glory and endlesse felicity which is prepared for all the true and faithfull worshippers of God Many good lessons and observations might be gathered out of all this But I do of purpose omit them because in this work I do chiefly and almost altogether aime at interpretation therein also studying brevity soundnesse and plainenesse CHAP. VIII VVE have heard out of the seventh Chapter how the divels and their instruments the Romane Emperours did stoppe the course of the Gospell Now in this Chapter we are to heare the wofull effects of the stopping thereof which was the springing up and prevailing of manifold errours and heresies in the World So that the principall scope and drift of this Chapter is to shew that God for the contempt of his Gospell and great indignities offered to the true professors thereof did give up the World to blindnesse to errour to superstition and heresie and as the Apostle sayth Because they received not the love of the truth 2. Thes 2. therefore God sent them strong delusions that they should beleeve in lies For as before we have heard how the world was most fearfully punished with externall plagues and judgements So heere we are to understand how the same was punished with judgements spirituall and internall as formerly hath beene sayd upon the stopping of the foure winds For although that spirituall plague was very great yet these spirituall plagues which follow upon the opening of the seventh seale are far greater For now we are to heare and understand 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 up into his cursed chaire and to take possession thereof but also we are to understand of his very tyranny and Kingdome it selfe and also of the Kingdome of the Turke and the last judgement For the things contained under the opening of the seventh Seale do reach unto the end of the world For the booke sealed with seven seales containeth all the whole matters which were to be revealed This Chapter containeth foure principall things as it were the foure parts thereof ver 1.2.3.4.5 6 c. First the reverent attention and silence with admiration which was in the Church at and upon the comming forth of this most horrible vengeance Secondly before the execution of these most execrable plagues the Church is remembred and set in safety with all her Children by her great Mediator Christ Jesus Thirdly the execution of this vengeance which commeth forth at the blowing of the seven trumpets by seven Angels Fourthly the vengeance it self contained in the prevailing of errour and heresie the falling away of the Pastors of the Church and the universall darkenesse that followed thereupon And when hee had opened the seventh Seale there was silence in Heaven above halfe an houre By Heaven in this place he meaneth not the Kingdome of glory after this life but by Heaven is meant the Church heere upon earth as it is so taken Chap. 12. Verse 1. and Chap. 14. Verse 2. There may be three reasons yeelded why the Church is called Heaven First 1. Joh. 5.1 because the birth thereof is from Heaven for it is borne of God Secondly because the inheritance thereof is from Heaven and therefore is called Col. 1.12 Phil. 3.20 The inheritance of the Saints Thirdly because the conversation thereof is in Heaven as the Apostle sayth To this may be added that our Lord Jesus in his Gospell doth so often call his visible Church the Kingdome of Heaven by a Trope Mat. 13. 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 at hand For now upon the opening of the seventh Seale far greater matters are threatned then any before and therefore the Church doth listen unto them in deepe silence and as it were in horror and trembling through admiration for now there appeare such dreadfull judgements of God to be executed upon the earth that all the heavenly company are astonished and amazed to behold it and do as it were quake and tremble to thinke upon it For as when heavy newes commeth down from the Prince to be proclaimed in open markets all good subjects do listen and give eare with silence and trembling so it fareth in this case By halfe an houre he meaneth that short time wherin the minds of the godly were prepared fitted and disposed wisely to consider of these matters and to make good use of them I know right well that this Verse is far otherwise interpreted of some but I take this to be most sound and simple and best agreeing to all that followeth for the next Verse is joyned unto this by a conjunction copulative to note a coherence of the matter and to draw the sence together for he sayth And I saw seven Angels which stood before God verse 2. and to them were given seven Trumpets These seven Trumpets signifie that God would proceed against the World in fearefull hostility and come against it as an open enemy unto battell proclaiming open warre against it as it were with sound of Trumpet and Drumme setting up the flag of defiance against it And hereupon groweth this silence and trembling in the Church which only mooved with the signes of Gods wrath when as all others sit still in security as the Prophet Zachary saith in a like case To stand in this place signifieth to administer as it is said of the Priests and Levites that they stand before God and before the Altar that is minister So heere the Angels doe stand before God as ready to administer and execute these Judgements For they are ministring spirits and heere they do sound the alarum at the commandement of God These Angels are popounded as seven in number because it pleased God at once to powre down his wrath upon the rebellious World but at divers times and by piece-meale Whether these were good or bad Angels it is not materiall to dispute seeing God executeth his judgements both by the one and the other 2 Sa. 24.16 Moreover it is specially to be observed that the blowing of these seven Trumpets do all belong to the opening of the seventh seale are as it were the seven parts thereof for the things which fall out upon the blowing of these seven Trumpets do reach even unto the last Judgement as the Angell sweareth Chap. 10.6.7 Then another Angell came and stood before the Altar ver 3. having a golden Censor and much odours was given unto him that he should offer with the prayers of
therein are that time should be no more But in the daies of the voice of the seventh Angell ver 7. when he shall begin to blow the trumpet even the ministery of God shall be finished as he hath declared unto his servants the Prophets The summe of these three verses is that Christ giveth warning of the last judgement that men might awake and looke out in time Amo. 6 1. And because men for the most part are carelesse and secure putting the evill day far from them as the Prophet speaketh therefore here Christ bindeth it with a solemne oath and solemne gestures thereunto annexed as was the lifting up of the hand in antient time Genesis 14.22 The thing that our Lord Jesus disposeth is that time shall be no more that is Time as it is now or the state of things as they be now but he telleth us flatly that as six Angels have already blowne their Trumpets so when the seventh Angell should blow the Mystery of God shall be finished that is the time of punishing the wicked and rewarding the godly should come which is therefore called a Mystery because the world understandeth it not They thinke there is no such matter Mal. 3.14 They imagine there is no reward for the just or punishment for the wicked as the Prophet saith But the holy Ghost saith Verily there is a reward for the righteous Psa 58.18 doubtlesse there is a God which judgeth the Earth And here it is said that God hath declared it to his servants the Prophets And the voice which I heard from Heaven spake unto me agine verse 8. and said goe and take the little booke which is open in the hand of the Angell which standeth upon the Sea and upon the Earth So I went unto the Angell and said unto him give me the little booke vâ—rse 9. And he said unto me take it and eat it up and it shall make thy belly bitter but it shall be in thy mouth as sweet as hony Then I tooke the little booke out of the Angels hand and eat it up ver 10. and it was in my mouth as sweet as hony but when I had eaten it my belly was bitter And he said unto me verse 11. Thou must prophesie againe among the people and nations and tongues and to many Kings The briefe sence of these foure verses is that the Preachers of the Gospell being called allowed and authorized by Christ unto their ministery should study the Scriptures with great diligence even untill they had eaten up the booke of God and they should preach and publish unto all nations and Kingdomes that truth of God and doctrine of the Gospell which now a long time had lien hid in the raigne of Antichrist It is to be observed that John in this place representeth the person of all the ministers of the Gospell which should be raised up in these last daies for the overthrow of Antichrist and the restauration of true Religion for John himselfe did not live to these times Further it is to be noted that all godly Students and zealous Ministers do eate up the booke of God by reading study prayer and meditation and they find it sweet in their mouth that is they find and feele great joy and comfort in the study and meditation thereof especially when God revealeth therby great and hid secrets unto them and giveth them to understand the mysteries of the Gospell and counsels of his will which are locked up from the wise and prudent of this world This I say is sweeter unto their mouth than hony and the hony combe Concerning their phrase of eating up the Booke looke Ezek. 2.9 for here the holy Ghost alludeth thereunto This booke being so sweet in the mouth yet being eaten and digested is better in the belly There may be three reasons yeelded of this bitternesse First because it being once taken downe into our soule by godly meditation doth mortifie our corrupt nature and bring under our lust and therefore seemeth bitter to flesh and blood Secondly because afflictions and trialls do alwaies necessarily follow the sound digestion of the Gospell Thirdly because the doctrine of the Gospel being swallowed by the ministers therof must not be kept to themselves as it were closed up in their stomacks but they must out with it againe as if it were some loathsome and bitter thing which must needs be cast up againe And for this cause it is sayd in the last verse that they must prophesie againe among the people and nations and tongues and many Kings Now blessed be the name of the Lord our God who hath given us to live in this age wherein we do with our eies behold and see the fulfilling of all these things let us therefore praise God for this great worke which we see wrought in our daies and let us still more and more magnifie this little Booke which will utterly destroy Popery and bring downe the proud Antichrist do all that fight for him what they can CHAP. XI VVE have heard that the little Booke should be opened and the Gospel preached and published to many nations and Kingdomes after the great darknesse of Popery and that this was done by Luther Melancthon Calvin Peter Virit Peter Martyr Bullinger Bucer and all their faithfull successors unto this day Now in this Chapter we are to understand the effect and good successe of their preaching and publishing the Gospell which was that the Church should be restored reformed and built up thereby which a long time had been wasted and oppressed by the tyranny of Antichrist and that many should embrace this Gospell forsake their Idolatries and turne unto God with all their hearts yea whole Nations and Kingdomes in Europe should be converted to the faith as we see this day God be praised So then the principall drift of this Chapter is to shew those things which yet remaine to be fulfilled under the blowing of the sixth Trumpet which is the preaching and prevailing of the Gospel even unto the worlds end and also the things which follow upon the blowing of the seventh trumpet which is the resurrection and last judgement This Chapter containeth six principall things as it were six parts thereof First it sheweth how the true Church should be gathered together ver 1.2 and built up by the preaching of the Gospell and all the wicked refused and cast out ver 3.4.5.6 Secondly it describeth the builders that is all the faithfull Ministers which had and should resist Antichrist Thirdly ver 7.8 it sheweth how Antichrist should persecute the Preachers and Professors of the Gospell unto death and murther them by heapes Fourthly it sheweth that Papists Atheists and wicked worldlings ver 9.10 should rejoyce in the death of Gods people and not vouchsafe them so much as the honour of buriall but sends gifts one to another for joy that they were rid out of the Earth Fifthly it sheweth that
as it were a little before the blowing of the seventh trumpet which presently hereupon is sounded as in the next verses appeareth many should repent and give glory to God The second woe is past behold Vers 14 15. the third woe will come anon And the seventh Angel blew the trumpet and there were great voyces in heaven saying The kingdomes of this world are our Lords and his Christs and he shall reigne for evermore Now cometh the third the last and the greatest woe which is the woe of eternall death upon all the ungodly both in their soules and bodies for ever in the last judgment The second woe was Turcisme and this third wo is the last judgment For it now followeth that the seventh Angel bloweth the last trumpet as our Lord Jesus sware before that when the seventh Angel should blow the trumpet there would be no more time Chap. 10.6 Therefore when we see all things fulfilled which do belong unto the sixth trumpet it remaineth that we should every hour expect and look for the blowing of the seventh trumpet and the end of the world For the holy Ghost telleth us that when the kingdome of the Pope and the Turke shall fall and the Gospel be preached in many nations and kingdomes that then the third woe will come anon that is the last judgment followeth presently upon it Now at the blowing of this seventh trumpet there were great voyces in heaven saying The kingdomes of this world are our Lords and his Christs and hee shall reigne for evermore These voyces in heaven are triumphing voyces of Gods elect who doe exceedingly rejoyce and triumph that the kingdome of Satan and Antichrist is overthrown and that the kingdome of God and of Christ is set up and shall stand for evermore For now all adversary power being overthrown Christ doth deliver up a peaceable kingdom to his Father as it is written Then shall be the end 1 Cor. 1.15 24. when he hath delivered up his peaceable kingdome to God the Father For hee must reigne over the Church militant till he have trod downe all his enemies under his feet and when the Son of God hath subdued all things to himselfe then shall hee be subject to his Father as hee is the Mediator of the Church and yet reign with his Church triumphant for evermore Then the four and twenty elders which sate before God on their seates fell upon their faces Verse 16. and worshipped God Saying Wee give thee thankes Verse 17. O Lord God Almighty which art which wast and which art to come for thou hast received thy great might and hast obtained thy kingdome These four and twenty elders do signifie all the elect both of Jewes and Gentiles Chapt. 4. as wee have heard before which all in most suppliant manner doe worship the onely everlasting God even in the Church triumphant and doe greatly rejoyce and give all praise and glory unto him because now he hath received the kingdome the power and the glory both Pope and Turk and Emperor and all his enemies being subdued under his feet Verse 18. And the Gentiles were angry and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be judged and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the Prophets and to the saints and to them that fear thy name and to small and great and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth Now he mentioneth the wrath and vengeance which is to be powred forth upon all the wicked at the last day and also the reward of the godly For whereas he saith The Gentiles were angry and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be judged the sense and meaning is that all the profane enemies of the Church which had their time in which they were angry with Gods people and in their wrath did afflict and vexe them very sore should now be judged and condemned in Gods wrath for now the day of his wrath and vengeance is come wherein hee will destroy them that destroyed the earth and seemed to carry all before them and where also he will give a full recompence of reward to all his faithfull worshippers both small and great both preachers and professors of his Gospel Then the Temple of God was opened in heaven Verse 19. and there was seen in the Temple the ark of his covenant and there were lightnings and voyces and thundrings and earth-quakes and much haile This is a further amplification of that which is set down in this former verse For now hee saith that the Temple of God should be opened in heaven that is an open door and passage should be made through Christ for all the elect to enter into Gods everlasting kingdome and reigne with him and his Angels for evermore By the arke of the Covenant is meant Christ who is said here to be seen in the Temple or kingdome of glory because through his mediation onely in whom the covenant of peace is established with his Church the twenty four elders are made partakers of their crownes and enter in with him and his Angels into the everlasting Temple made without hands and eternall in the heavens But on the contrary here is said that there were lightnings thundrings c. that is most horrible vengeance and wrath powred down upon all reprobates in hell-fire for evermore For when it shall be said to all the faithfull Come yee blessed c. then also shall it be said unto all unbeleevers Goe ye cursed into hell-fire c. Now for warrant of this exposition of the last verse that the Temple in heaven is to be understood of the kingdome of glory look chapter 15. verse 5 6 8. chapt 16. verse 1. The reason hereof is that as the doors of the Temple of Jerusalem being set open Gods people entred in and worshipped so the everlasting gates of the new Jerusalem and celestiall Temple being set open by Christ all the elect do enter in and worship God without wearinesse even as the Angels for evermore That the ark of the covenant is taken for Christ see 2 Sam. 6.2 Psal 78. vers 61 62. This ark of the covenant that is Christ is here seen in the Temple because Christ hath already taken possession of heaven as Mediator and Head of the Church and now doth set open the kingdome of heaven to all beleevers that through him they may have free accesse thereunto as it is written that through him onely we have an entrance unto the Father Eph. 2.28 That by thundrings lightnings earthquakes hail is meant that horrible vengeance and wrath which is powred forth upon all the ungodly see Psal 11. verse 6. Let this briefly suffice to satisfie the conscience of the reader And thus much concerning the second vision contained in these eight chapters going before wherein we have heard all things expounded that doe belong unto the opening of the seven seales and
Booke heere are to be found very large and lively descriptions of the most glorious Person of Christ Chap. 1. Chap. 2. Chap. 3. 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 necessity passe through in the World Also of Gods mercifull providence for his Church and most vigilant care over it in the middest of all extremities Here are set before our eyes very lively descriptions of the Churches deadly enemies both of Satan himselfe and his three great instruments the Roman Emperour the Pope and the Turke Here are set down all their cruell persecutions of the Church and their utter overthrow in the end Here are described Hell Death the resurrection and the last judgement Here also the very Kingdome of Heaven is at large described with all those great rewards infinite glory and endlesse felicity 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 use and necessity of it must needes be very great And for this cause Iohn is willed and commanded by Alpha and Omega to write the things which he 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 wherein Jesus Christ did appeare unto him in the middest of the seven golden Candlesticks â—erse 13. â—4 15.16 in most glorious manner as is there described And all this was in the Isle of Pathmos where Iohn was first called and authorized to this worke and therefore he is willed first of all to record this vision which hee had already seene By the things that are hee meaneth the present state of the seven 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 shall be he meaneth all the prophesie of this booke which were to be fulfilled in their time and all those strange accidents which should come to passe in processe of time and the severall ages of the Church even unto the end of the world Thus we see how Iohn received a precise commandement from the Sonne of God to write things past present and to come that they might stand in record unto all posterities from generation to generation Thus much touching the fift circumstance which is the end and use of this booke Now followeth to speake of the last circumstantiall point which is the authority of this Prophesie which is strongly confirmed from the Author of it which is JESUS CHRIST and therefore it is called the Revelation of Jesus Christ which GOD gave unto him And againe it is written I Jesus sent mine Angell to testifie these things in the Churches Here wee see plainly Chap. 22.16 that Jesus Christ the very Sonne of God the Alpha and Omega is the Author of this booke for he subscribes his name unto it and set his hand and seale unto it Needs therefore must the authority of it be very great which commeth from so great a personage for looke what dignity and auâ—hority he is of from whom the booke commeth of the same dignity and authority is the book it selfe Another strong argument to confirme the authority of this book may be taken from the protestation of Jesus Christ in these words I protest unto every man that heareth the words of the Prophesie of this Booke Cha 22.18 if any man shall adde unto those sayings God shall adde unto 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 Heere we see how Jesus Christ maketh the authority to this Booke equall to all other the Oracle of God to the which it is not lawfull for any man to adde or detract under paine of condemnation It maketh much also for the authority of this booke that S. John doth so often repeat reiterate and inculcate his owne name I John I John I John I John the Apostle I John the Evangelist I John the Divine shewing by all these repetitions how needfull a thing it was that the faithfull should bee throughly instructed who he was even one of the Lambs twelve Apostles and therefore to be void of all suspition and doubt concerning the authority of this booke and not once to imagine it to bee any invention of man or feigned device sith it was penned by so great an Apostle Moreover the authority of this Prophesie is confirmed by foure reasons in the last Chapter The first is the affirmation of the Angell who saith The words are faithfull and true Chap. 22.6 7 8. The second is the authority of the most high GOD himselfe in these words The Lord GOD of the holy Prophets sent his Angell to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be fulfilled The third is the testimony of Jesus ver 6 7. who pronounceth them blessed which keepe the words of this Prophesie For saith he Behold I come shortly Blessed is he that keepeth the words of this Prophesie The fourth and last is the witnes of John in these words I am John which heard and saw these things Now it may bee demanded what is the cause that here are so many things heaped up for the confirmation of the authority of this Booke Surely we must thinke there is some speciall cause and reason of it For the Holy Ghost doth not use to deale so much and so earnestly in a matter but upon great cause Wee may easily gather what the cause is The Booke painteth out the Whore of Babylon and the whole Kingdome of the great Antichrist together with all Sathans cunning and fleight therein and for this cause Sathan hath laboured especially to weaken the credit and authority of this Booke He by some meanes in old time prevailed thus farre that even among some Churches of true Christians the authority and truth of it was doubted of The Holy Ghost did well foresee the practice of Sathan and therefore bringeth the more reasons for the confirmation thereof If the credit and authority of this Booke should never have been impugned there needed not any such speciall confirmation But now God be thanked there is no question or controversie concerning the authority of this Prophesie It is received as authenticall by the common consent of all the Churches Almost all the ancient Fathers doe acknowledge it to be canonicall The new Writers doe with one voyce give their consent and approbation unto it The Papists themselves doe acknowledge it to be the sacred and undoubted Word of God though of all Scriptures they cannot endure it should be medled withall
troubled and wasted the Church for the space of three hundred yeares being greatly favoured of sundry Emperours and other great Potentates in the Earth by meanes wherereof it continued and overspred so long Also this may be referred to other great and notable Arch-heresies as that of Donatus Macedonius Eutycheus Valentinus and such like which all are heere compared to a mountaine for their hugenesse and greatnesse and to a burning Mountaine because the Church was almost burnt up thereby For this word Mountaine is sometimes in the Scripture put for any let or hinderance to true Religion as is errour and heresie Zach. 4.7 Luke 3.5 Therefore it is sayd that it was cast into the Sea that is these great heresies are cast upon the World in Gods wrath and heavy indignation for the Sea is put for the World Chapter 4. Verse 6. Chapter 13. Verse 1. Chapter 12 Verse last for as the Sea is full of Rocks sands sirts waves stormes and tempests so it fareth with this present evill world Moreover it is sayd that the third part of the Sea became blood that is all Europe or some great part of the World was corrupted and infected with these great heresies And he saith in the next verse that the third part of the ships were destroyed that is ver 9. a great number of mariners and ship-masters as well as land-men were infected with these heresies and dyed of them and in them Then the third Angell blew the Trumpet and there fell a great Starre from Heaven verse 10. burning like a Torch and it fell into the third part of the Rivers and into the Fountaines of waters Starres in this booke are put for the Ministers of the Gospell as we have heard out of the first Chapter and the reasons why Then followeth that the falling of this Star from Heaven doth most fitly signifie and set forth the declining and fall of the Pastors of the Church and their corrupting of the true Doctrine which is meant by the fresh Rivers and pure Fountaines into which it fell This Starre hath his name of the elect For it is called Wormewood because through the fall of it the sweet waters into which it fell were turned into bitternesse and men dyed of them that is the doctrine was corrupted which turned to the destruction of many ver 12. And the fourth Angell blew the Trumpet and the third part of the Sunne was smitten and the third part of the Moone and the third part of the Stars so that the third part of them was darkned c. This darkning of the Sunne Moone and Starres doth signifie that great darkenesse which was brought upon the Church by such teachers as did daily more and more degenerate Three things are generally to be observed in the blowing of these first foure Trumpets First that the plagues here mentioned are specially to bee understood of spirituall plagues Secondly that there is a progression from lesser to greater in these plagues Thirdly that in every one there is mentioned but a third part destroyed which plainly sheweth that although the Church was greatly annoyed and pestred with these errours and heresies yet it was not destroyed and brought to utter desolation for the full setting up of Antichrist was not yet come All these errours and heresies which were cast upon the World and did spring and grow apace in all places did as it were make way for Antichrist and as it were by stirrops hoist and helpe him up into his cursed Chaire By the Stories of the Church and course of times it seemeth that the holy Ghost pointeth at those manifold heresies which sprung up in the Church after the first three hundred yeares especially after the death of Constantine the Great who procured peace to the Church destroyed idolatry and set up true Religion in his dayes Now after his raigne and the raigne of Theodosius that good Emperour Constantius Julianus Arcadius Honorius and many other wicked Emperours succeeded by whose meanes all things in the Church grew worse and worse yet this one thing is to be observed that all truth of Religion was not utterly extinct and put out till the full loosing of Satan which was a thousand yeeres after Christ as we shall plainely see when we come to the 20. Chapter concerning the binding of Satan for a thousand yeares For sure it is that the maine principles and grounds of Religion continued in the Church till this full loosing of Satan which was about the time of Silvester the second that Monster as afterward we shall heare But now in the meane time we see what heresies sprung up what corruption grew and increased more and more what darknesse beganne to over-spread a third part of the world and these things grew worse and worse even till by these meanes the great Antichrist came to be possessed of his cursed seat and Sea of Rome which was about some 600. yeares after Christ And I beheld and heard one Angell flying in the midst of Heaven ver 13. saying with a loud voyce Woe Woe Woe to the Inhabitants of the earth because of the sounds to come of the three Angels which were yet to blow the trumpets Because the judgements which were to be executed hereafter upon the blowing of the next three Trumpets were farre more dreadfull and horrible than any were before therefore heere is a speciall Angell or Messenger of God sent of purpose to give warning thereof and to proclaime openly in the Church three fearefull woes which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth that is all earthly minded men as wordlings Papists and Atheists at such time as the next three Angels should blow the Trumpets The first of these three great woes is to be understood of the Papacy The second of Turcisme The third of the last Judgement As if he should have sayd Woe unto the world because of Popery Woe unto the world because of Turcisme Woe unto the world because of the last Judgement Woe unto the world for Popery because thereby men should be punished in their soules Woe unto the World for Turcisme because thereby thousands should be murthered in their bodies by the Turkish Armies Woe unto the world because of the last Judgement for thereby all worldlings should be plagued both in body and soule in hell fire for evermore Sith then these three last plagues which were to come upon the world are more fearefull and terrible than any of the other foure no marvell though heere is sent of purpose a speciall messenger to give intelligence thereof that every man might looke to himselfe seeing such great dangers were at hand And for this cause also it is said 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 Clergie and also the Kingdome of the Turke and his cruell Armies For having already set downe
how a way and passage was made for the Pope to climbe up into his cursed Chaire by the prevailing of heresies the falling away of the Pastors of the Church and the great over-spreading of darknesse and ignorance now he commeth to describe the Pope in his full heighth and greatest exaltation being now universall Bishop and in full possession of his Seat and Sea of Rome which was about some six hundred yeeres after CHRIST as formerly hath been shewed At wat time Pope Boniface obtained of the Emperour Phocas that murderer which slew his Master Mauritius the Emperour that the Bishop of Rome should be called the Universall bishop and the Church of Rome the Head of all Churches This ninth Chapter may very fitly be divided into two parts In the first 12. verses The first is a lively description of the Pope himselfe his Kingdome and his Clergy The second is a description of the Kingdome of the Turke and his most savage Armies so that this Chapter is a full opening of the first two great woes mentioned before concerning the Papacy and Turcisme And the fifth Angell blew the Trumpet and I saw a Star which fell from Heaven verse 2. and to him was given the key of the bottomlesse pit Warning was given before that when this fifth Angell should blow the Trumpet a most fearefull woe should come upon the World surpassing all that went before which is the setting up 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 amongst the first thirty of them there were some Martyrs But it is heere sayd that now this Starre was fallen from Heaven unto the Earth that is the Bishops of Rome were greatly degenerated and fallen cleane away from heavenly things to earthly for they declined from time to time and grew worse and worse so farre as to become the great Antichrist But some man may say Why may not this Starre falling from Heaven upon the earth be understood of other Pastors falling from the truth as well as the Pope as it is taken in the former Chapter and in the twelfth Chapter and the fourth verse I answer that the circumstances will not heere beare it Therefore to perswade every honest mans conscience that this must needs be understood of the Pope in his pride let us give eare to these three reasons following First we are to consider that the maine drift of the holy Ghost in the opening of the seven Seales and blowing of the seven Trumpets is to lay out the state of the Church in all ages till the comming of Christ Further we are diligently to observe that the things contained under the opening of the seventh Seale whereof the blowing of the seven Trumpets are as it were parts and do all belong unto it do stretch even to the end of the world so as there is no strange accident or any wofull condition of the Church in any age but it is set forth under the opening of these Scales and blowing of these Trumpets But the Papacy was a state of the Church and that most woefull and lamentable therefore it is described under the opening of the Seales and blowing of these Trumpets But it is not described under the opening of any other Seale or blowing of any other Trumpet Therefore of necessity it must be referred to this seventh Seale and the fifth Trumpet And this is my first reason If any man object that the Pope and his Kingdome are most lively described in the Chapters from the twelfth to the last I answer that all those Chapters belong to a new vision wherein some things propounded under the opening of the seven Seales are more fully opened and expounded But this I say that in the second vision the whole estate of the Church in every age is layd open even untill the last judgemet and therefore when the seventh Angell here doth blow the seventh Trumpet immediately followeth the last Judgement as appeareth chap. 10. vers 6. and chap. 11. vers 15.16 My second reason is drawne from the course and consideration of times for the great prevailing of errours and heresies mentioned before which made way for Anti-christ was from the first 300. yeeres untill the 600. yeere and so forward But now immediately upon this great increase of errour and darknesse commeth the description of a speciall Star fallen from Heaven at this time which was about 600. yeeres after Christ and therefore it must needs be understood of the Pope And this is my second reason My third and last reason is drawne from the description of the Pope and his Clergy in the firste leven verses of this Chapter For he is so lively described and painted out in particulars that all men that know him or ever heard of him must needs say it is he For this description heere set downe by the holy Ghost can fitly agree to none other The Papists themselves do confesse that this Starre here mentioned must needs be understood of some Arch-heretike and full wisely forsooth they apply it to Luther and Calvin But we affirme that it is to be understood of the Pope For was there ever any such Arch-heretike 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 us proceed to the description of him First he is sayd to have the key of the bottomlesse pit which agreeth well to the Pope for he hath power given him to open hell gates to let in thousands thither but no power to open Heaven gates to let in any thither for he furthereth many to hell none to Heaven He doth indeed falsely challenge to himselfe the Keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven to let in and shut out at his pleasure But here we see the holy Ghost doth attribute no such power unto him but only telleth us that his power and jurisdiction is in hell and over hell and as for Heaven he hath nothing to doe with it It were needlesse to shew how this Metaphor of keyes is taken for power and jurisdiction in the Scriptures as hath been proved before Chap. 1. vers 18. and as needlesse to prove that by the bottomlesse pit is here meant hell as appeareth Chap. 11. vers 7. Chap 20. vers 1. And he opened the bottomlesse pit and there arose the smoke of the pit as the smoke of a great furnace and the Sun and the Aire were darkned by the smoke of the pit Here we see how the Pope openeth hell gates with his Key and a most horrible grosse and stinking smoke ascendeth up into the ayre presently upon it insomuch that both the Sunne and the Ayre were darkened with it Which all is to be understood of that spirituall darknesse ignorance superstition and Idolatry wherewith the whole Church
which they witnesse professe love and stick unto even unto death Verse 12. Therefore rejoyce ye heavens and ye that dwell in them Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea for the Divell is come downe unto you which hath great wrath knowing that he hath but a short time Here againe the Saints and Angels and all the blessed company of heaven are called upon and exhorted to rejoyce because the Divell and his angels are cast out and the elect have the victory over him through the blood of the Lamb and because the salvation of the Church is sealed up and God onely reigneth through Christ Which all are matters of so great moment that not onely the Church militant is stirred up to rejoyce herein but even the Church triumphant also that is the spirits of just and perfect men But on the contrary here is fearfull woe denounced against the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea that is all Papists Atheists worldlings and reprobates For sith hee cannot have his will of the Church yet hee will have his will and wreak his malice upon them by hardning their hearts and blinding their eyes and making them his slaves and vassals to fight for his kingdome against Christ against his Church against all goodnesse and all good men Therefore is added why the Divell is in such a rage with the world and cometh upon them in so great wrath and fury to wit because hee hath but a short time that is because his kingdome draweth to an end therefore he doth so bestir him Verse 13. And when the Dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth he persecuted the woman which had brought forth the man child Now the Divell seeing himselfe cast out of heaven so as he cannot impeach the salvation of the Church he raiseth up horrible persecutions against her by his instruments here in the earth labouring to root her out if it were possible for being overcome of the head he doth now with might and main set upon the body and what horrible storms he hath in all ages specially in these last daies raised up and daily doth raise up against the Church both the Scriptures and all Church-stories do abundantly declare Verse 14. But to the woman were given two wings of a great Eagle that she might flye 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 all the waies and means of evasion which God gave to his Church when he delivered her from the hands of her pursuers and persecuters and also her swift flight from them and all their malicious practises For although the Church cannot absolutely fly from the presence of the Divell with her Eagles wings being so unspeakably 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 persecuters which he raised up cannot overtake her to murder and kill her But as touching her flight to the wildernesse and her lodging and nourishment there by Gods providence in the middest of all penury and extremity wee have sufficiently heard before in the sixth verse and therefore here I surcease to speak any further of it As concerning the space and continuance of her nourishment in the wildrenesse which is here set downe to be a time and times and halfe a time it is the same with the thousand two hundred and threescore dayes mentioned in the sixth verse and the twenty four moneths mentioned chap. 11. verse 2. and the three dayes and an halfe mentioned chap. 11. verse 6. as before hath been shewed And the Serpent cast out of his mouth water after the woman like a floud Verse 15. that he might cause her to be carried away of the floud Now the Church being secretly hid and nourished by Gods providence in the wildernesse so as the Divell and his instruments cannot find her out or come at her hee taketh another course and casteth about another way to annoy her and that is by casting a floud of water after her to drown her withall whereby is meant the innumerable lies reproaches and slanders which hee raised up by sundry hereticks against her in all ages as the Arrians Donatists Papists and such like and all to bring her into the hatred of Princes Potentates and all that were in love with her that sith otherwise he could not prevaile against her yet at least he might utterly sink her in this gulf of reproaches Verse 16. But the earth holp the woman and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the floud which the Dragon had cast out of his mouth The same God which first delivered the Church from the violence and fury of Satan and afterwards cast him out of heaven and gave her victory over him and after that again miraculously hid her and preserved her in the wildernesse doth not now at a dead lift forsake her nor suffer her to be drowned in this floud of reproaches and unjust calumniations which the Dragon cast up after her but causeth the earth to help her and to swallow up the floud That is he useth all creatures in the earth to help his Church and not only so but also he stirreth up many earthly and carnall men to defend the Church and to take part with her against her enemies as sometimes hee did Cyrus Ebedmelech Nebuzaradan Gamaliel and sundry others whose power and policie hee used for the good of his Church and for the drying up of that floud of reproaches which Satan hath in all ages cast up against her And God be thanked we see at this day that this floud of slanders and calumnies which Papists and Atheists cast out against the Church and her particular members doe dry up daily and shall dry up more and more being drunk in by the earth And the Church doth stand still unmoveable and shall stand and continue even unto the end of the world Then the Dragon was wroth with the woman Verse 17. and went and made warre with the remnant of her seed which kept the commandements of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ Here we see there is no end of the Divels malice he is infatigable in mischief though he have never so many foiles yet he will never give over but begin again For whereas he could not prevaile against the woman to cast her out of heaven by impeaching her election and salvation in Christ nor yet root her out of the earth by persecutions being hid in the wildernesse and locked up in the privie chamber of Gods providence as sometimes young Joash was locked up in the Priests chamber from the fury of Athalia 2 King 11.2 now hee goeth another way to work and setteth upon her in her seed and posterity which remain in the earth unto this day So that now sith he cannot do what
mischiefe he would against the Church yet will he do what he can seeing he cannot wound her in her head yet will he bite and pinch at her heel Gen. 3.15 as it is written that hee should bruise her heel And as it is the malice of Satan against the Church so is the rage and fury of all his members even all the wicked and ungodly against the true worshippers of God They are restlesse in malice and mischiefe if they cannot vex them one way they will try another if they cannot touch them in their lives yet will they molest them in their goods and good name if they cannot do what they would yet will they doe what they can they will never give over if they can spight them in the least thing that is they shall be sure of it For they are as full of venome as a toad and as full of malice to Christ as an egge is full of meat And I stood on the sea sand Verse 18. Now John affirmeth that hee stood upon the sea sand to behold the Beast which riseth out of the sea in the next chapter or else because the Greek word may be of the third person which is He stood that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Dragon stood it may bear this sense That the Divell stood upon 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 have heard in the former chapter the description of the Church of her arch-enemy the Divell and of the battel betwixt them with the successe therof Now in this chapter wee are to hear of the Dragons two great instruments whereby hee fighteth against the woman that is the Roman Empire and the Papacy 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 afflicted the Church Therfore the main 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 divided into two principall parts The first is a description of the Roman Monarchy when it was at the highest pitch unto the 11. verse The second is a description of the Papacy when it was in his pride and exaltation in all the verses following unto the end of this chapter In the first of these two maine branches the Roman Empire is diversly described Verse 1. First the pedegree thereof Verse 2. Secondly of her 7. severall governments Verse 3. Thirdly of her great and out-stretched power Fourthly of her victories Fifthly of her blasphemies Sixthly of her fury rapine and pride After this is set down the wound which was made in the Empire with the curing of the same Lastly is set down the great and admirable power and authority of the Roman Empire Ver. 4.5 c. which ruled over a great part of the world and had many nations subject unto it especially when the Popes were the heads thereof In the second main part is the Papacy very lively described First from the pedegree thereof Verse 11. which is of the earth Secondly from the Civill and Ecclesiasticall power thereof which is pretended to come from Christ although in truth it is of the Divell After this is set downe Ver. 12 13. that the Papacy should be as mighty and perform as much in the service of the Dragon against God as ever the Empire of the Heathen could doe both by authority and force and especially by lying wonders Then it is shewed that as the Papacy did in substance of matter set up Verse 14. and restore again the old Roman tyranny to be worshipped and wondred at so hath it framed an Hierarchy or Ecclesiasticall government Verse 15. after the very forme and president of the ancient Roman tyranny which is indeed so like it that it is called the lively image thereof and hee hath by his Clergy and their jurisdiction Vers 16 17. put such life and spirit into this Image that it spake with authority and power in all countries and kingdomes in so much that whosoever would not submit himselfe thereunto and both professe and practise Popery and yeeld himself wholly to the Papacy he should die for it Last of all is described discovered from the numerative letters of the name of the second Beast both who hee was and from whence he shall spring Verse 8. And I saw a beast rise out of the sea having seven heads and ten horns and upon his horns were ten crowns and upon his heads the name of blasphemie First we are to understand that a beast in the Scripture doth signifie a Kingdome or Monarchy and that not in respect of the civill power thereof which is of God as it is written Rom. 13. There is no power but of God but in respect of the tyranny crueltie ambition pride and other such like beastly qualities thereof which are of the Divell and therefore this beast is said to ascend out of the bottomelesse pit chap. 17. ver 8. This word beast is thus taken in the seventh of Daniel where the three great Monarchies of the Babylonians Medes and Persians and of the Grecians are compared for their pride Dan. 7.17 rapine and cruelty to a lion a bear and a leopard The Angel in that chapter saith expresly that these beasts were Kings that is Kingly Governments or Dominions By the beast in this place is meant the Roman Monarchy not in regard of the civill 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 chapt 4. ver 6. and chap. 2. ver 1. For from the boyling and broyling estate of the former kingdoms and heathen nations which were as a raging sea did the Roman Empire spring up as all stories do witnesse And the Prophet Daniel doth flatly teach Dan. 10.11 that through the division of the Greek Empire which fell out in the successors of Alexander the Great especially betwixt his two Captains Ptolomeus and Seleucus this Roman Monarchy by degrees made a head til at last it came to this pitch which now we shall hear of By the seven heads of this beast are meant the seven severall governments of the Roman Empire First by Kings Secondly by Consuls Thirdly by Decemviri Fourthly by Dictators Fiftly by Triumviri Sixtly Chap 17.9 by Emperors And lastly by Popes as hereafter shall more plainly appear By the ten horns of this beast is meant the great power and large dominion of the Roman Empire or Chap. 17.1 as the Angel himself doth expound it thereby is meant ten kings that is many kingdomes which should be subject to the Roman Monarchy and wherein in very deed the power and strength of the Empire did consist For
by these Horns the Roman Empire did not onely push down other Nations but especially dosse against the Church and as it were cruelly gore the sides thereof Now then we see that the Roman Emperors both in horns and heads were like their father the Divell or the Dragon By the ten crowns upon his ten horns are meant his great and manifold victories over other countries and kingdomes The hornes of the beast are said to be crowned and not his heads because the Roman Empire hath alwaies more prevailed by power then by policy by strength then by subtilty But the Dragon hath his heads crowned and not his horns because he hath alwaies done more hurt by policy then power by subtilty then strength One thing in all this is greatly to be heeded that the holy Ghost in this chapter doth specially speak of the Roman Monarchy as the Popes were heads thereof or as it was under the dominion of the Popes in their pride when as the Emperors were almost troden under foot and not simply and solely as the Emperors were heads thereof Moreover it is said that upon the seven heads of this beast was written the name of blasphemy For besides the blasphemies of Caligula Nero Domitian Dioclesian Julianus and the other old heathenish and persecuting Emperors which have arrogated unto themselves divine honour wee shall anon hear of the surpassing blasphemies of the Popes against God and all goodnesse Verss 4 5. And the beast which I saw was like a Leopard and his feet like a Bears Verse 2. and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion and the Dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority 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 prey upon others and also for fiercenesse and subtilty as did the Greeke Monarchy Secondly it is compared to a Beare for rapine and ravening as the Monarchy of the Medes and Persians Thirdly it is compared to a Lion for pride and insolency as the Monarchy of the Chaldeans So then by this description it is very clear that this beast signifieth the Roman Monarchy because it containeth in it the whole power of the other three Empires and is here described as a compound of divers beasts yea as a very monster of monsters having the body of a leopard the feete of a beare and the mouth of a lion Moreover it is said that the Dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority Which plainely sheweth that the power and authority of the Roman Empire is of the Divell Chap. 17.8 in respect of the evill qualitie thereof that is fraud rapine 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 government it self was of God Rom. 13.2 For the powers that be are ordained of God as saith the Apostle Verse 3. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded unto death but his deadly wound was healed and all the world wondred and followed the beast Here John in a vision seeth one of the seven heads of the beast almost wounded unto death There be divers and differing opinions of the learned touching this wound of the Empire both when it should bee and how and by whom Some understand it of the death of Julius Caesar some of Nero some of the oppression of the Gothes and Vandals some of the great prevailing of John Husse and Jerome of Prague in the greatest part of Bohemia But to let all these passe if wee doe wisely consider and weigh with our selves that by a beast in this place is not meant any lawfull administration of government but a tyrannicall power in persecuting the Church we shall find that a head of the beast was then wounded when Constantine the Great slew Maxentius and Licinius the two last persecuting Emperors set up true Religion and brought peace to the Churches For hereby the Roman Empire was greatly wounded as touching the tyranny of it The holy Ghost doth not set down which of the seven heads were thus wounded but in generall saith one of them Now it is very probable that hee meaneth the sixth head For wee doe not read of any such wound in the former five which were past Neither can it bee understood of the seventh head which was the Papacy because it received no such wound as yet It followeth then that the wound was in the sixth head that is in the Empire But we read of no Emperor that did so wound the beast as did Constantine the Great And therefore it is very 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 Emperors which succeeded Constantine as Constantius Julianus Valentius and others which afresh did set up Idolatry and persecuted the Church Now upon the healing of this wound it is said that all the world wondred and followed the beast that is many nations or the greatest part of the world did submit themselves to the Roman tyranny For sure it is some kingdomes were never subject to the Empire of Rome as some part of Asia and some part of Africa Verse 4. And they worshipped the Dragon which gave power unto the beast and they worshipped the beast saying Who is like unto the beast who is able to war with him Now is shewed how all the subjects of the Roman Empire did worship the Dragon that is they maintained that worship which he liked and loved that is the worship of idols which the Apostle calleth the worship of Divels 1 Cor. 10.20 21. And it is said also they worshipped the Beast that is they did all with one accord submit themselves both to the religion and authoritie of the beast that is to the Popes as they were the seventh head of the Empire For as I said before so I say againe the holy Ghost here speaketh of the Empire when it was in the greatest glory and exaltation yea when all the world wondred and followed the beast yea when all admired the great large dominion of the Roman Empire and said within themselves Who is like unto the beast who is able to make warre with him Now the Empire of Rome was never so great and powerfull as when the Popes were heads thereof I mean when they executed the whole Civill jurisdiction of the Empire besides their Ecclesiasticall power which now did both meet in one For now the Papacy was aloft and the Roman Empire joyned with it so that the eyes of the world were dazzled with the pomp and magnificence thereof and they said What is like unto it Or who is comparable to the Pope the seventh head thereof for then the blinde world thought that the power of the Pope was not onely
numerative letters of the Greek word Lateinos do make just this number And yet further we are to observe as a very speciall thing that Irenaeus Irendi contra haeres an ancient Father of the Church who lived very neer unto the Apostles times mentioneth this word Lateinos as the name of the beast And moreover affirmeth that it was a common received opinion in his time and before that the beast should so be called Now then let us consider how this fitteth First wee know that the numerative letters of Lateinos doe justly fit Saint Johns Greek numerative letters Secondly wee know that Antichrist is the head of the Latine Church or Latine Empire and therefore this very Lateinos For here we do not enquire after the name of any 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 and the Italians Latini which noteth of what Countrey the beast should come Moreover the beasts name or name of the Roman Empire is Lateinos because the Empire both under the heathen tyrants and the Popes especially had all their religion service prayers lawes decrees writings and translations in Latine all was in Latine Latine the Pope preferred his Latine translation of the Bible before the Hebrew and Greek originals Thus then it is Saint John telleth us flatly the number of the beast is six hundred sixty six Irenaeus saith that Lateinos is his name which containeth just the number Therefore here we have his name here he is found For if his name be Lateinos we need 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 have they not all their worship and service in Latine are they not Latines for what is the name of the Roman Empire but Lateinos and what is the name of the Popish Hierarchy but Lateinos True it is indeed which the Papists say that many names may be invented whose letters make this number but the Spirit of God speaketh not of fained names for thereof can come nothing but uncertainty but he willeth us to count the number of his name which then the beast had that is Lateinos I do thus then conclude The beast is a kingdom and the Papacy is the kingdome of the Latines Therefore the Papacy is the beast The Papacy is Lateinos and containeth the number of the beast For what other Monarchy can be shewed since the Revelation was given whose numerative letters containe this foresaid number assuredly none And therefore out of all doubt Saint John pointeth at the Roman Empire and Monarchy of the Popes For Lateinos doth both containe the number of the beast according to Saint Johns computation and also his name which is the Latine Empire or Roman Empire And thus have wee heard the description of these two huge and monstrous beasts the sea-beast and the land beast which both from the Apostles time hitherto have indeed played the beast against Christ and his Church and still doe play the beasts and will never cease playing the beasts till their horns and hoofes heads and bodies be clean cut off which will be shortly as wee shall heare anon CHAP XIIII WEe have heard in the former chapter the description of the two great and dreadfull beasts Wee have heard how mightily they have prevailed now many yeers and raigned as Monarchs of the earth Now in this chapter we are to hear the fall and ruine of them both So that the main drift and scope of this chapter and all the chapters following untill the twentieth chapter is to shew that both the Roman Empire and the Papacy shall ebb as fast as ever they did flow shall wain as fast as ever they did waxe shall decrease as fast as ever they did increase and fall down as fast as ever they did rise up even untill they come to utter ruine and desolation This chapter containeth seven principall things Verse 1. Ver. 2 3 4 5. First it sheweth that God had his Church upon the earth even then when it seemed to be utterly extinct by the prevailing of the two outragious beasts Vers 6 7. Secondly it sheweth that the poor persecuted Church did syncerely and zealously worship God even in the fire and flames of afflictions Verse 8. Thirdly it sheweth that the Gospel shall be preached with great successe in these last dayes throughout many kingdomes Ver. 9 10 11. Fourthly it sheweth that Rome shall fall down at the preaching of the Gospel Fifthly Vers 12 13. it sheweth that all Papists shall be condemned and cast into hell fire for ever Sixtly it sheweth that it shall go wel with Gods elect which having refused the worship of the beast do live and die in the Lord. Lastly it describeth the day of judgment Verse 14 c. wherein all both good and bad shall have according to their deserts Then I looked Verse 1. and behold a Lamb stood on the mount Sion and with him an hundred and fourty and four thousand having his Fathers name written in their foreheads Now at the last the holy Ghost bringeth in Jesus Christ upon the theater of the world as it were to play his part in this tragedy and to help the poor weak woman which we heard of before against the Dragon and the two monstrous beasts which would have torn her in pieces and utterly devoured her if this Lambe Jesus Christ had not stept in and rescued her Well now cometh in our Lord Jesus and beginneth to stirre in these matters and to take upon him the protection and defence of the poor helplesse woman against both the Dragon and the Dragons two great instruments But some may say What is a poore lamb to encounter with a dragon with a lion with a leopard and a bear I answer that although Christ be a lamb to his church even the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world and the Lamb that was a slain Sacrifice from the beginning for the redemption of his elect yet to all his enemies hee is a most strong and terrible lion even the Lion of the tribe of Juda as hee is called before Chap. 5.5 Now this most terrible Lion even the Lord of hosts the Lord mighty in baâ—tell cometh 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 not all the cursed hel-hounds that bark and bite and take their part shall ever be able to stand in his hands For rage they never so much he shall hamper them all wel enough For though hee hath given them the reine a long time and let them alone and suffered them to play the tyrants with the woman his spouse yet now he will no longer put
God that love the Church and that love the truth greatly to rejoyce in the destruction of Rome because this monster shall no longer oppresse the Israel of God And sure it is that the more zealous and godly that a man is the more hee will rejoyce at the destruction of Popery for a man cannot love God and his Church that doth not laugh in the destruction of that Antichristian and bloudy kingdome Let no man here say This is cruelty this is want of charity and want of pity to laugh in the destruction of any or to rejoyce at other mens harmes But the most wise God saith Chap. 8.6 Reward her even as shee rewarded you and give her double according to her works and in the cup that shee hath filled to you fill her the double In as much as shee glorified her selfe and lived in pleasure so much give yee to her torment and sorrow And therefore I affirme that no man ought to be moved with any compassion or pitie for the overthrow of Rome But herein that saying of the Prophet is true Psal 137.9 Blessed is hee that taketh and dasheth her children against the stones And again Bend thy bow Jer. 50.14 shoot at her sâ—are no arrowes for shee hath sinned against the Lord. Moreover wee are to observe that forasmuch as the Lord willeth and commandeth all men to reward Rome as she hath rewarded us and to give her double according to her works therefore we ought every one of us as much as in him lieth and as his calling will bear to doe his uttermost to pull down Rome the Magistrate by the sword the Minister by the word and the people by their prayers For even Christian Kings and Princes and all the Nobles of the earth must not be negligent to fight against Rome For herein that saying is true Jer. 48.10 Cursed is hee that doth the work of the Lord negligently and cursed is hee that keepeth back his sword from bloud For this cause I doe upon my knees night and day most humbly and instantly intreat the God of heaven that as he hath put into the heart of our most gracious and excellent King to hate the whore of Babylon and to be his greatest instrument in the whole world for the weakning and overturning of Rome and the defence of his most glorious Gospel which is his crowne and glory in all the Churches and his great renown in all Christian kingdomes so hee may constantly continue and never cease drawing out the sword of justice till he have utterly rooted out of his dominions all the cursed crew of Popish Jebusites and all such as have received the beasts mark and especially the Jesuites and seminary Priests which are the Divels brokers the Popes agents and the King of Spaines factors in all kingdomes Here also I do most humbly even upon my knees with dropping eyes yea if it were possible with tears of blood beseech and intreat the learned and reverend Fathers of our Church that they would bend all their power and authority with all their might and maine against the Romish strumpet and the rather because in these daies she seemeth to make a head again having so many and great favourers that she and her complices dare perk with their nebs and very boldly and confidently prate of a toleration Here also I doe most humbly and earnestly intreate all my learned and godly brethren the Ministers and Preachers of this Church of England that in all their publick teachings and private proceedings they would make strong opposition against Rome and Romish religion And I beseech the God of gods that we may all joyn together with united forces to march on valiantly against the armies of Antichrist and to spread the everlasting Gospel far and neer to the utter overturning and beating down of this western Babylon and that howsoever wee may amongst our selves differ in judgement in some things yet that there might be no breach of love nor alienation of affection amongst us but that wee may all goe together hand in hand and arme in arme to preach Gods everlasting truth and to set our selves against the common adversaries For if that we will not set our selves against them yet they will be sure to set themselves against us And thus much concerning the third main point which is the finall fall and destruction of Rome even in this world Now it followeth to speak of the fourth main point which is By whom and when Rome shall be overthrowne But for the better understanding of this point concerning the persons that shall overthrow Rome wee are to observe that Saint John describeth the whore of Babylon sitting upon a scarlet coloured beast Chap. 17.4 having seven heads and ten horns whereby is meant the Roman Monarchy as hath been shewed before After this the Angel expoundeth unto John what the heads and horns of the beast mean and saith that the ten horns are ten kings Verse 12. or kingdomes which yet have not received a kingdome but shall receive power as kings at an houre with the beast The sense is that these ten kingdomes had not received such power and authority under the Emperors as they should under the Popes for there was great difference in these kingdoms under the Popes from that which they had been under the Emperors For they received far greater power and they carried another mind toward the Papacy then the nations did before toward the Empire for they did submit themselves to the Papacy for conscience and love even as to the holy Church which they never did to the Empire And this is the reason why the holy Ghost saith They had not received a kingdome but should receive power as kings at an houre with the beast Which is not to be understood simply but after a sort for they had received kingdomes under the Emperors but not in such sort as afterward they did under the Popes For the Roman Monarchy under the dominion of the Popes was in his greatest height and altitude and the Kings of Europe grew up together with the Papacy in power might and dominion And Saint John addeth Chap. 17.13 that these ten kings or kingdomes were all of one mind and did give their power and authority unto the beast that is they did with might and main labour to uphold the Babylonicall strumpet But the Angel telleth John flatly that the ten horns that is the ten kingdomes of the Empire which before had given their names their power and authority to the beast to uphold her and defend her should now in these last dayes all change their mindes and turne against her For saith the Angel to John Chap. 17.36 The ten hornes which thou sawest upon the beast are they which shall hate the whore and make her desolate and naked and shall eat up her flesh and burn her with fire Here then it doth plainly appeare who they be that shall overthrow Rome
life to come as having speciall right and interest therein through Christ God being his Father and hee his Sonne and heire But on the contrary hee willeth it to be written and recorded as a thing most certain and sure that all reprobates all atheists worldlings and all unbeleevers shall have their part and portion in the lake which burneth with sure and brimstone for ever Verse 8. And there came unto mee one of the seven Angels which had the seven vials full of the seven plagues and talked with mee Verse 9. saying I will shew thee the Bride the Lambs Wife And hee carryed me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain Verse 10. and showed me that great citie that holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God Having the glory of God Verse 11. and her shining was like unto a stone most precious as a jasper stone cleer as crystall Here one of the Angels mentioned in the sixteenth chapter which had a viall full of Gods wrath talketh with S. John and telleth him that hee will shew him the Bride the Lambs Wife that is the triumphant Church in her glorified estate being united and married unto Christ in the kingdome of glory And therefore Saint John saith that this Angel carryed him away in the spirit to a great and high mountaine and shewed him that great citie holy Jerusalem c. We read in the seventeenth chapter that when this Angel shewed John the whore of Babylon hee carried him away into the wildernesse in the spirit because the whore of Babylon should make the Church barren and desolate as the wildernesse But now that hee is to shew him the Spouse of Christ in her glory and to describe the everlasting Jerusalem hee carryeth him in the spirit unto a very high mountaine that hee might take a sight of it as Moses was carryed up to the top of mount Nebo that from thence hee might take a view of the holy land Which teacheth that none can take a right view of heaven and heavenly things but only such as flie an high pitch and mount far above this earth in holy affections and heavenly contemplation Moreover Saint John telleth us that as soon as hee tooke a sight of this new Jerusalem farre passing all Sinai's sights forthwith hee espyed in it the very glory of God If hee had said hee had espyed the glory of an Angel it had been more But that hee espyeth the very glory of God it is most of all For who can conceive or expresse what the glory of God is being infinite The Apostle saith that God dwelleth in unaccessible light or such light as none can approach unto Then this is one word for all touching the beauty and super-excellency of the new Jerusalem that it comprehendeth in it the very glory of God but yet for amplifications sake it is compared to a Jasper stone for never-fading greennesse and to a Crystal stone for bright shining and glittering for ever And had a great wall and high Verse 12. and had twelve gates and at the gates twelve Angels and the names written which are the twelve tribes of the cheldren of Israel On the East-side there were three gates Verse 13. and on the North-side three gates on the South-side three gates and on the West-side three gates And the wall of the city had twelve foundations Verse 14. and in them the names of the Lambes twelve Apostles Now Saint John proceeds to the description of the wall and gates of this great city This we all know that a strong wall serveth for the defence and safety of a city â—nd for the security of such as dwell in it â—or if it be so high that none can scale it and â—o thick that none can batter it then it is inâ—eed impregnable and the citizens in great â—ecurity But the wall of heaven is so high â—s none can scale it as it is set downe in this welfth verse and so thick that no double cannon can pierce it as appeareth verse 17. therefore all the inhabitants of this new Jerusalem are out of all fear of danger Moreover this citie hath twelve gates to signifie an hard accesse for enemies to break in and an easie passage for the citizens themselves to goe in and out And at those twelve gates twelve Angels at every gate an Angel as it were a porter to see that none be let in but the true citizens and free denizens and such as have to do there which are here named to be the twelve Tribes of Israel that is all the elect of God both of the Jews and Gentiles Moreover it is said that there were three gates on every side of the citie both East West North and South to note that out of all quarters of the earth the redeemed should be gathered Matth. 8. and as our Saviour saith Many shall come from the East and the West the North and South and sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of God So that it is not materiall what countrey or nation a man is of whether English Scottish French or Spanish so he be a beleever for then hee shall be sure to be let in at one gate or another either at the East-gate or the West-gate the North-gate or the South-gate Moreover the wall of the city hath twelve foundations that is to say it is surely founded And in every gate the name of an Apostle so that all the gates had the names of the Lambes twelve Apostles to signifie that the ground and foundation of this city is laid upon the doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets Ephes 2. Jesus Christ himself being the chiefe corner-stone And hee that talked with mee had a golden reed to measure the city withall Verse 15. and the gates thereof and the wall thereof And the city lay foure-square Verse 16. and the length is as large as the breadth of it and he measured the city with the reed twelve thousand furlongs and the length and the breadth and the height of it are equall And hee measured the wall thereof an hundred forty and four cubits by the measure of man Verse 17. that is of the Angel Now St. John telleth us that the Angel which talked with him had a golden reed to measure both the city and the gates and the wals thereof Measuring with reeds was a thing of great use in ancient time as we read in the Prophecie of Ezekiel and Zachary and as we have heard in the eleventh chapter But because all things belonging to this celestiall Jerusalem are super-excellent and glorious therefore the very measuring rod and reed is of pure gold This great and glorious city is said to lie four-square to note unto us that it standeth fast and unmoveable for round things are easily rolled and moved this way or that way hither and thither but square things are not apt to roll or move This everlasting