Rider the woman sitting upon the Beast which John seeth in a vision Chapter 13. vers 3. doth govern the civil State in the divided Romane Empire as the Beast with ten horns and this is the seventh sort of Government and withal the Ecclesiastical Popish Government also which is the eighth sort But becaus the Woman sit's up on the Beast and both doth make one Complexum or a Rider And the Woman doth after her pleasure ride and govern the Beast therefore both the last forms of the Romane Common-wealth the Ecclesiastical and Political Government in Poperie are counted for One wherefore the Angel saith The eighth is of the seven Whence wee conclude that by the Beast which ascended out of the bottomless pit is understood the Popish Ecclesiastical Government which useth the Temporal sword and the power of worldlie Potentates as a Rider maketh use of the power and and strength of his hors Of this Beast is said here that it shall make war against the two witnesses and shall overcom them and kill them That is there shall bee in the Romane Empire a persecution set a foot against the Evangelical Protestants by the instigation of the Pope and the Prelats towards the end of the appointed time in the last sixtie years from the one thousand five hundred ninetie fifth until the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year The two Witnesses shall bee overcom and killed That is they shall bee removed and thrust out of all Ecclesiastical and Political Offices and imploiments Vers 8. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great Citie which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified Here is the place described where the persecution shall happen It is not an universal persecution which goe's throughout the whole Romane Empire but a particular Act becaus the dead bodies of the two Witnesses do not lie in all the streets but onely in One in the street of the great Citie By the great Citie is understood the Citie of Rome of which the Angel saith in the 17. chapter vers 18. The Woman which thou sawest is that great Citie which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth Which is called in the 14. chapter vers 8. Babylon the great Citie And that by Babylon is meant the Citie of Rome is granted by the Jesuits themselvs as Blasius Viegas in cap. 17. Apoc. sect 3. Remacius de Vaulx in Harpocrate divino part 1. fol. 235. Bellarm. lib. 2. Pontif. Rom. c. 2. lib. 3. c. 5. But by the Citie with the streets is the whole Romane Popish Empire set forth as it is elswhere compared unto a Beast with ten horns chap. 13. and 17. and unto the Sea with rivers and fountains Chapter 16. Compare also Luc. 14. vers 21. 23. The Citie of Rome is called spiritually that is the Citie of Rome or the Romane Papacie Is among the Hebrews especially the Prophets to bee called signifieth as much as to bee and that in a singular high manner and waie as appeareth by Isaiah chapter 1. vers 26. chapter 7. vers 14 chapter 9. vers 6. chapter 56. vers 7. chapter 60. vers 14. chap. 26. vers 4. Ierem. 3. vers 17. chap. 23. vers 6. Ezech. 48. vers 35. Zach. 6. vers 12. chap. 8. vers 3. Finkius Can. 49. Cent. 11. Spiritually that is Mystically in a mysterious sens and resemblance Another Sodom becaus of their Paederastia and other horrible Sodomitical Abominations and sins which not onely are committed but commended there As Sleidan lib. and Balaeus in Catalogo do write concerning Ioannes de la Cata Archbishop of Benevent that hee published in print a Treatise to commend Sodomie so that this is fully agreeable to that which the Prophet Isaiah saith chap. 3. vers 9. The shew of their countenance doth witness against them and they declare their sin as Sodom they hide it not Shee is another Egypt becaus of the great blindness and hardness of heart as also becaus of the Tyrannie and grievous bondage wherewith shee doth afflict the people of God driving and compelling them to a slavish servitude of Poperie Shee is also a true likeness of Ierusalem becaus shee like the Iews doth despise God and his word killeth the Prophets nay refuseth to hear and to receiv the Son of God himself blaspheming calumniating persecuting and crucifying him in his members as by experience is cleerly seen And their dead bodies shall lie in the street These words are spoken as it were with som amazement abruptly and without the concluding word to make up the sens The dead bodies of the Witnesses in this street But which street A Citie hath manie streets and so hath the papal State which is here called the great Citie having under it manie streets and Kingdoms in subjection those wee must reflect upon to discover where such wars and persecutions in these years from the one thousand five hundred ninetie fifth of our Lord are hapned Three principal streets or Kingdoms hath the Oriental Antichrist the Truth in his subjection hee hath not used anie such persecution against the Christians in his Dominions Seven are under the Occidental Antichrist In Italie France Spain and the British Kingdoms no such remarkable persecution did happen within this time nor also in Poland The attempt which was made in Prussia in the one thousand five hundred ninetie fifth year of our Lord was of no long continuance What came to pass in Hungarie and Transylvania in the year one thousand six hundred two and som following was quieted by the Putshkeyish insurrection and cannot bee referred to this The tenth Horn yet remain's Germanie or the Germane Empire which in the whole Beast or Empire cannot bee counted otherwise but one horn and a Kingdom by it self in the whole bodie of the fourth Monarchie This is the principal street in the great Citie the principal horn of the Beast the principal Kingdom in the fourth Monarchie whose head is represented by the Citie of Rome This Germane Empire is here called the street per excellentiam becaus it is the principal street in the Empire which doth appear hence 1. By reason it is called the Romane Empire 2. By reason it is as it were a figure and Image of the old Romane Empire having seven heads in regard of the seven Princes Electors and ten Provinces in respect of the ten Circles into which it is distributed 3. By reason that the head of the Germane Empire hath still the name of a Romane Emperor and hath the the preeminencie above all other Kings adhering to the Papal State Now in this street wee must seek the warr and wee shall also finde it if wee consider what is passed from the one thousand fiue hundred ninetie fifth year until this present hour against the true Professors of the Gospel The Pope indeed hath from the beginning of the Reformation which hapned by Doctor Luther alwaies aimed at this how hee might wholly
Characters are incident into the three hundred ninetie fifth year as 1. The spreading of the two wings of the great Eagle by the division of the Romane Empire into two parts whereby the Woman the Christian Church doth flee into the wilderness 2. The rising of the Beast with ten horns out of the Sea by the Invasion of Alaricus with his Nations 3. The beginning of treading under foot the holie Citie the Christian Church The Historians also make a singular observation of that time which followed the death of Theodosius the Great and refer unto the changes of the Roman Empire Carion in his Treatise of the four Monarchies printed in the year one thousand five hundred thirtie one doth prefix before the description of Arcadius and Honorius this title the Destruction of the fourth Monarchie Philippu◠Peucerus writeth in his reviewed Chronicles of Carion under Theodosius p. 302. Theodosius hath been the last Emperor who possessed and maintained the whole Romane Empire both in the East and West For immediately after his death under the reign of his son Honorius the Franconians entred into France took the same and their Duke Warmundus named himself King of France and reigned as King without anie hinderance In like manner was Rome taken of Alaricus King of the Goths And pag. 306. After him Theodosius the great was the Empire pitifully torn and divided by the Goths and Vandals into Hungarie Italie and Spain but France was possessed partly by the Franconians partly by the Burgundians Under Honorius pag. 313. The beginning of the Kingdom of France is derived from the taking of the Citie of Trier in the year of our Lord four hundred three This hath been the beginning and occasion of the division of the Romane Empire towards France The second breach or diminution of the Romane Empire from the Hungarians towards Italie happened by the Goths And hereunto agreeth Munsterus in in his Cosmographie printed in the year one thousand six hundred fourteen pag. 381. and of the Edition of one thousand six hundred twentie eight pag. 356. sub quaestione How and when the Citie of Rome was taken again where hee writeth thus When the Goths had rebelled against the Romane Empire and set up Alaricus for their King they subdued and reduced not onely the Provinces of Thracia and Anglia under their power and plucked two strong Feathers out of the High-flying Eagle's wings but attempted also to cut off his head quite Daniel Pareus writeth thus in Medulla Hist. Eccles universalis pag. 195. Fuit mors Theodosii verè fatalis ad ruinam interitum Imperii Occidentalis ut secum abstulisse pacem Ecclesiae Reip. penè omnem videatur Seeing now the Characters of the beginning of the Apocalyptical one thousand two hundred sixtie years are applied to the three hundred ninetie fifth year since the birth of Christ As also the Character of the beginning of the one thousand two hundred ninetie years of Daniel applied unto the three hundred sixtie fifth year And the difference of thirtie years betwixt the one thousand two hundred sixtie and one thousand two hundred ninetie years are punctually found out And contrariwise it doth not appear by the histories where such two times may bee found which have thirtie years with such accidents following one to another whereunto the aforesaid Characters can bee more suitably applied Wee have reason to stand firm to this opinion so long as wee are not convinced of a better and conclude That the one thousand two hundred ninetie years of the Prophet Daniel 12. vers 11. begun with the last abominable desolation of the Temple at Ierusalem in the year of our Lord three hundred sixtie fifth and the Apocalyptical one thousand two hundred sixtie years with the Invasion of the Roman Empire by the Goths in the year three hundred ninteie five and that both together do exspire with the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year which is now shortly at hand 2. With the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year since the birth of Christ do exspire the six thousand years since the Creätion of the world The Chronologer's supputation in general is this that this present one thousand six hundred fiftieth year since the birth of Christ is the five thousand five hundred ninetie ninth year since the Creation of the world But if wee do well consider the Chronological numbers expressed in the Scripture it will evidently appear that in this present one thousand six hundred fiftieth year of our Lord the five thousand nine hundred ninetie fifth year since the Creation of the world doth exspire and the six thousand year of the world will end with the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year of our Lord. According to the vulgar Supputation of years the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year of our Lord will bee the five thousand six hundred fourth year since the Creätion of the world Unto these add the years which either by the Chronologers have been omitted or made too few and left out 1. One year whilest the Flood lasted Genes c. 7. vers 11. and chapter 8. vers 14. after the supputation of Funccius Reusnerus Partiltius and others 2. Sixtie years until the birth of Abraham who was not born in the seventieth but in the one hundred thirtieth year of Terah For Terah died in Haran Gen. 11. vers 32. when hee was old two hundred five years Immediately after the death of Terah Abraham departed out of Haran Gen. 12. vers 4. Acts 7. 4. beeing old seventie five years From thence it doth follow that Abraham was born when Terah was old one hundred thirtie years 3. Two hundred fifteen years of the sojourning of the Children of Israel in Egypt In Exodus 12. vers 40 41. wee read these words The sojourning of the Children of Israel who dwelt in Egypt was four hundred and thirtie years Which the aera vulgaris or the common supputation doth derive from the time of Abraham's calling when hee was seventie five years old Genes 12. vers 4. in this manner as followeth Until the birth of Isaac Gen. 21. vers 5. twentie five years Until the birth of Iacob Gen. 35. vers 26. sixtie years Iacob was old when hee went into Egypt Gen. 47. vers 9. one hundred thirtie years Which make up two hundred fifteen years The Children of Israël dwelt in Egypt two hundred fifteen years Which is against the clear text which doth not speak of the times of the Fathers but of the children of Israel not of the pilgrimage but of the sojourning and bondage not without and in Egypt but onely in Egypt Abraham indeed went down into Egypt Gen. 12. vers 10. but sojourned there not long and was not in anie bondage Isaac came not at all into Egypt beeing forbidden Gen. 29. vers 2. Jacob was one hundred thirtie years old before wee went down into Egypt So that the four hundred thirtie years of the sojourning of the Children of Israel
his Vial upon the rivers and fountainâ— of water and they became blood Frequens est sacris Literis per fluminâ— significare Imperia quod Graeci Latinique faciunt Hugo Grotius in Annotatis ad V. Testam Esaiae c. 11. v. 15. The Romane Empire is elswhere compared to a Beast with ten horns to a Citie with its streets So likewise here to a Sea with it's rivers The rivers are the Kingdoms which although they are not at this present members of the Political State in the Romane Empire yet they have their tie and dependance upon the Popish Romane Empire as Spain France England Poland Hungarie c. For the greatest Where sit's upon manie waters Revel chap. 17. vers 1. aud reigneth over the Kings of the earth vers 18. The fountains of water are the Kings their Roial Council is Parlaments and other great and prime Lords in those Kingdoms who are interessed in the Government How this Vial of the wrath of God hath been poured out over great Brittanie and the well thereof and how the river and the head-Spring there became blood and doth yet sprout out is alas evident to all the world And although those who are the Fax and Clamor sive Tuba in these proceedings wee know not how to excuse yet wee must by virtue of this cleer text saie with the Angel Lord thou art righteous becaus thou hast judged thus How France doth feel the pouring out of the wrath of God out of this third Vial and how much more it will bee sensible of it in time to com time will discover The caus which the Angel maketh mention of here in the sixth vers saying For they have shed the blood of the Saints and Prophets and thou hast given them blood to drink for they are worthie concerneth France more particularly becaus there was so much innocent Christian blood shed therein in these hundred years last past How the other Kingdoms in this Classis shall fare time will shew chiefly that whose head-spring did flow out the eighth of April Anno one thousand six hundred five The Ecclips of the Sun which on the seventh of April one thousand six hundred fiftie two will darken the locum Hylegialem thereof whereupon within a short time it may stop happily the flowing out of the same and change it's river into blood Vers 7. And I heard another Angel out of the altar saie c. A voice is heard out of the Thysiasterion or place of Sacrifices where the souls of them that were slain did lie whereof wee may read in the sixth chapter vers 9 10. that they crie to the Lord for vengeance The sens and meaning of which words is this that the Martyrs prais God for the hearing of their praiers and the execution of vengeance applauding the Angel saying Even so Lord God Almightie true and righteous are thy Judgments Hence also may bee concluded that this vengeance shall then begin when the last war against the two Witnesses shall bee finished whereof hath been spoken in the 11. chap. Vers 8. And the fourth Angel poured out his Vial upon the Sun c. By the Sun all the Expositors commonly understand the Sun of righteousness Mal. 4. vers 2. Jesus Christ wherewith the Woman is clothed Revel chap. 12. vers 1. But this is repugnant to the scope and intention of these plagues which are poured all over the earth that is upon the Systema mundi Papistici over the Popish world which is opposed to the Church-Heaven of the faithful Children of God wherein the Lord Jesus is the Head Therefore wee must seek this Sun in the popish Heaven and search what in the Revelation of John is represented by the Sun in other places The Sun became black as a sackcloth of hair Revelations 6. vers 12. whereby the ruine of the Imperial dignitie in the Heathenish Church-heaven which happened in the time of Constantine the great is intimated The third part of the Sun was smitten according to the prophesie of the fourth Trumpet Chapter 8. vers 12. That is The smal remainder of the greatness and brightness of the old Romane Empire shall wholly bee abolished and pass away An Angel did stand in the Sun Revelations 19. vers 17. That is a great Potentate an Evangelical valiant Prince gathered together a great Armie against the Papists The Citie hath no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it chap. 21. vers 23. That is hath no need of anie Temporal Potentate to govern it If wee compare these texts with the Sun upon which the Angel poureth out the fourth Vial wee finde that thereby a great and high head of the State is signified who in Systemate Mundi Papistici doth uphold all and by his splendor and government giveth strength unto all like as the Sun Systemate Mundi Physico by it's light and motion doth guide and move the forces of nature And power was given unto him to scorch men with fire And men were scorched with great heat c. When the Head which hath been a mightie support hitherto to the Papal State shall lie down and rest then the fire of God's wrath will extremely scorch the Papists The Lord will make them like a fierie oven Psal 21. vers 9. But for all this they will not amend nor repent and give God the glorie but rather continue in blaspheming the name of God and grow more and more obstinate Vers 10. And the fifth Angel poured out his Vial upon the seat of the Beast and his Kingdom was full of darkness Assoon as the Beast with ten horns was risen up out of the Sea Revelations 13. vers 1. the Dragon immediately gave him his power and his seat and Citie of residence the Citie of Rome Which the Beast hath possessed hitherto without beeing disturbed from thence and reigned over the Kings of the earth chapter 17. vers 18. Now the Angel poureth out the fifth Vial of the wrath of God upon this seat the Citie of Rome as mention hath been made hereof above in the 11th chap. vers 13. that after the two Witnesses were ascended up there was a great Earth-quake and the tenth part of the Ciâ—e fell and was destroied And the Kingdom was full of darkness c. By the distruction of the Citie of â—ome shall the Government and power of the Pope which hitherto hee â—ath used bee made extremely void â—nd all his dispatches or commissions spended But the Papacie shall not it by this means bee utterly dissolved â—â—d taken away For this doth follow afterwards at the pouring out of the â—â—venth Vial in the last war in a â—ace called in the Hebrew tongue Arâ—â—geddon vers 16. Whereof is spoken â—â—ore at large in the 19. chapter vers â—â— until the 21. by this plague the Papists are yet more embittered and more and more hardned Vers 12. And the sixth Angel poured out his Vial upon the great river Euphrates and the water thereof was
our lawful Calling which is our white â—â—ors and with an holie blameless personal â—onversation towards all men which is our â—ne linnen white and clean for herein doth â—â—ie our whole strength and what application soëver wee make to other weapons which the powers of darkness can make â—se of aswel as wee they will but weaken â—s and in the encountring with the Inâ—abitants of the earth wee shall finde â—â—em stronger at those weapons then wee â—n bee so that by such means I exspect â—ot that they shall fall before us although â—â—r victories bee never so great therefore 〈…〉 for mine own part till I can perceiv â—â—at wee who pretend to bee in the first â—â—nk of the Lamb's followers can make â—â—tter use of these spiritual weapons then therto wee have don and can in the â—ommunion of Saints join our forces â—â—gether otherwise then now wee do 〈…〉 imitate the Captain of our Salvation I shall bee a man of no great exspectation yet becaus I believ that these things shall com to pass and that by the armor of light the Children of light will at last prevail therefore I do speak and because I both believ and speak therefore I am noâ— inclined to make haste as som who take the shadows of their own conceits for the substance of Christ's Kingdom aâ—â— inclined to do for this caus although 〈…〉 will not contradict the appearances oâ— Hopes which the autor of this Treatiâ—â— doth give unto the Protestant Caus to rise within a few years in a considerable Posture against Poperie yet I must take lâ—â—â— to confess that although the splendor oâ— the Whore and her influence upon thâ— Kings of the Earth and the power of the Papal Sea as it is Hierarchical were utterâ—â— consumed and abolished by the brightnesâ— of Christ's appearing in the Spirit on thâ— one hand and by the hatred of the whore Lovers and the turning of their hearts â— gainst her on the other hand yet that tâ—â— war with the beast aud with the fals Prophet and with the Kings of the Eartâ— shall continue and that the beast and thâ— â—als Prophet with the Kings of the earth will bee found to have their friends not onely amongst those who are called Papists but even amongst those that are most â—erce enemies to Poperie and count themselvs the best of Christians and reformed Protestants It is one thing to bee no friend â—â— the State and predominant power and â—â—aftiness of the Whore as shee appear's â—â—om without and in another place at a 〈…〉 istance from us and another thing it is 〈…〉 renounce the beastlie nature and the deâ—eitfulness by which wee are led to embrace the Image the mark the name and 〈…〉 e number of the name of the Beast within â—ur selvs that is for our own interest and â—e concernments of flesh and blood I â—o not finde in the last battel the Whore â—amed at all I finde onely as leaders of â—he partie opposite to Christ the Beast and â—he Kings of the earth which I take to bee â—he Beast with his horns for the Horns which are in the heads of the Beast are the Kings of the Earth which â—ake use of the Bodie of the â—east and of her strength and â—re made use of by the heads of the Beast to war against the Lamb and I finde that these horns although they fight against the Lamb yet that they are not alwayes friends with the Whore and for their own interest 's sake not onely rob her of her ornaments but feed upon her flesh although for a season whiles it was their supposed advantage they suffered her to ride upon them aud govern them with the bridle of her autoritie but when shee is cast off from the beast's back the Beast and his horns are as strong as ever and more fit to fight in their brutal waie against the Lamb then before I believ therefore that the Whore as shee is alreadie little considerable in comparison of what shee hath been may vanish and bee made desolate by her own beastlie complices before the last battel but I believ not that wee shall have anie great earthlie Potentates at all ever to appear for the Lamb in this battel but that they shall all join alwayes with the beastlie nature of men against the Lamb-like holie nature of the Saints to discountenance to oppose and to destroie it but wee have a promise that although the two Witnesses of the Lamb shall bee killed by the Beast when they have finished their prophesying in Sackcloth yet that the Lamb when hee shall com in his own appearance with more witnesses then two or three even with a whole armie of witnesses not in Sackcloth upon earth but in their fine linnen white and clean and upon their white horses in their spiritual emploiments as Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven following their leader against the powers of the earth when I saie the Lamb shall â—om thus attended the promise is that the Beast and all his horns shall bee overâ—om by him for there is no power in the world able to resist the united strength of the holie ones and the dints of the sword which hath two edges which â—eeing able to divide between the soul and the Spirit and to discern the â—ubtilest thoughts and the deceitfullest â—ntents of the beastlie heart of man it shall â—ndoubted slaie them therefore although â— finde not the fals Prophet here mentiâ—ned as active in leading on the war whereunto certainly for the contrivance of it on the Beast's part hee cannot bee wanting yet hee is found to bee taken prisoner with the Beast and with him cast into the Lake which burneth with fire and Brimstone The Whore and the fals Prophet are cleerly distinct Mysteries and have their several waies of Acting though with a concurrence for so long as the Mysterie of the Whore doth last which the fals Prophet who is the intellectual subtiltie of the Serpent's nature in man as the Beast is his brutish sensualitie and strength fed with prosperitie and delicacies did beget and set upon the beast's back the said fals Prophet doth make use of her that by her baits and allurements hee may draw the Inhabitants of the earth to drink out of the cup of her fornications but when prosperitie and delicacies ceas by reason of the Phials of God's wrath upon the Beast and the distress of Nations then shee is not of use any more but the fals Prophet which begat her will to serv the Beast's interest destroie her also and will bee active in another waie against the Lamb without her And thus I conceiv the battel will bee or is alreadie formed on the side of the beastlie partie which fight 's onely to maintein the interest of flesh and blood which is self-greatness and the conveniences of pleasure with all outward force and deceit against the interest of the Spirit which is self-denial and the conveniences of serving others in the Kingdom of Christ
EXPOSITION of the XI and XVI Chapters is shewed What in these our present times 1. Hitherto hath been fulfilled 2. At this present is effectually brought to pass 3. And henceforth is to bee exspected in the years neer at hand REVEL Chap. 22. v. 12. Behold I com quickly and my reward is with mee to give everie man according as his work shall bee LONDON Printed in the year 1650. THE REVELATION OF S t JOHN DEscribeth the State of the Christian Church in the New Testament and also the things which shall com to pass in the Romane Empire or in the fourth Monarchie under which the Church of God doth subsist This description comprehendeth three periods or three sorts of times The first Period containeth Regnum Draconis Ethnicum the time of the Dragon until the three hundred nintie fifth year of our Lord. This is the time in which the seven Crowns stood upon the seven heads of the Dragon Revelations 12. vers 3. and the Dragon himself under the Heathenish Emperors was publickly adored and worshipped but the Christians persecuted banished and put to death till at last Constantine the Great came to the Imperial seat whereby the reign of the Dragon came to an end the Dragon was cast out of the Church Heaven the Church prevailed and triumphed until the death of the Emperor Theodosius at which time the Devil left his shape of a Dragon and resigned his Host his residence and seat with his great autoritie unto the Beast with ten horns when it rose up out of the sea Revel 13. vers 2. The second Period comprehendeth vicariatum Draconis Antichristianum or the time from the three hundred ninetie fifth until the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year of our Lord in which the Pope at Rome as the Antichrist and installed Lievtenant of the Dragon blasphemeth God and his name and persecuteth his Saints for the space of one thousand two hundred sixtie years Revel 13. vers 2. when the Dragon was overcom and cast out of the Church-Heaven hee did cast out of his mouth water as a stood after the woman Revel 12. vers 15. that is hee stirred up the Septentrional Nations to invade the Romane Empire intending thereby to root ouâ— and destroie the Church But the Earth swallowed up the flood in regard these Nations imbraced the Christian Faith remained in the Romane Empire and erected several Kingdoms in it Seeing then the Dragon saw that hee could not maintain the Heathenism wherein hee openly was worshipped and served hee resigneth to the Beast which riseth up out of the sea Revelations 13. vers 1. and is ridden and governed by the great Whore of Babylon 17. vers 3. c. that is to the Antichrist who in the time of these wars doth creep out in the Romane Empire his power and his seat and great autoritie chapter 13. vers 2. and so make's him his Vicar and Lievtenant by giving over to him his seat and residence the Citie of Rome and the whole Romane Empire Whence â—â— came to pass that about this time the Bishops of Rome begun to oppose the marriage of Priests and to seek to have the Primacie and preeminencie both in Church and State The Dragon doth resigne to his Lievtenant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his whole Host for in this sens the LXX Interpreters do use this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Exodus 14. vers 14. and 15. vers 4. and in other places as Matthew 24. vers 29 30. c. The host of the Dragon are his Angels or Devils and the Idols in which the Dragon and the Devils are worshipped and served by the Heathen These viz. Idols the Antichristian Popedome hath received and worshipped under the name and shape of Saints the Dragon and his Vicegerent as hereof the text in the words following vers 3. and 4. doth speak The whole Earth did wonder at the Beast and they worshipped the Dragon which gave power unto the Beast and they worshipped the Beast c. The Dragon doth give also unto him great Autoritie and make's him a Headover great Countries whereof David did prophesie in the Psal 110. vers 6. The time of this Lievtenantship shall continue fortie two moneths that is one thousand two hundred sixtie years since then it did begin in the three hundred ninetie fifth year of our Lord therefore it doth end in the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year shortly to com Upon this followeth the third Period which bringeth Statum Ecclesiae tranquillum the true peace and quiet condition of the Church here on earth Seeing at the sound of the trumpet of the seventh Angel the seventh â—lague or the third woe doth com upon the Romane Empire and at the same time the seventh Vial of God's wrath is poured out wherewith the Enemies of the Church are wholly cut off and destroied yea even the Devil himself shut up in the bottomless pit Revel 20. vers 1 2 3. therefore now nothing but a true and constant peace can ensue Whence it is that the Church of God â—ejoiceth with a great voice Revel 11. vers 15. saying The Kingdoms of this world are becom the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Church and hee shall reign for ever and ever And in the v. 17. Shee giveth also thanks to the Lord God Almightie becaus hee hath taken to himself his great power and reigneth Unto these three times all the three parts of the Revelation of S t Iohn are directed For the Son of God describeth in this Revelation the state of the Christian Church and the things befalling to the Romane Empire in a threefold manner as 1. By seven Epistles chap. 2. and 3. 2. By a book sealed chap. 4 5 6 7. 3. By a little book open chap. 10. And following Hee doth appear also to John everie time in an other shape As 1. In the likeness of a son of man chapter 1. who suffereth in the first period 2. As a Beast in the shape of a Lamb having seven horns and seven eies ch 5. which doth fight in the second period 3. As a mightie strong Angel clothed with a cloud chapter 10. who in the third period hath all things put under his feet and reigneth 1. In the likeness of a Son of man in the midst of the seven Candlesticks c. chapter 1. vers 12 13 14 15 16. Hee declareth the condition of the Church in general by seven Epistles whereof the first and second belong to the first period the third fourth fifth sixth and seventh to the second and the promises chap. 2. and 3. to the third 2. As a beast in the shape of a Lamb with seven horns and seven eies â—ee openeth the book sealed the secret and hidden Decree of God and intiâ—ateth thereby the things befalling to the Romane Empire under which the Church is built up and preserved chap. â— 5 6 7 8 9. and distinctly how things shall bee carried In the Political State In the
or the beginning of the Apocalyptical one thousand two hundred sixtie years bee rightly referred to the three hundred ninetie fifth year of our Lord In the Prophetical keie certain characters and marks have been set down and applied whereby the certaintie doth appear which wee shall here repeat and confirm with more proofs As 1. First becaus the Epocha of the one thousand two hundred ninetie years of the Prophet Daniel chapter 12. vers 11. is exactly incident into the three hundred sixtie fifth year it followeth that the one thousand two hundred sixtie years must com thirtie years later and so begin Anno three hundred ninetie five becaus they end together 2. Secondly becaus by the division of the old Romane Empire into two parts in the three hundred ninetie fifth year the Romane Eagle got two wings and becaus in the verie same year the Septentrional Barbarous Nations invaded the Romane Empire whereby the Woman the Christian Church fled into the Wilderness wherein shee should bee preserved and nourished during the space of one thousand two hundred sixtie years or 3½ times chap. 12. vers 6. till the 14. 3. Thirdly Becaus with the beginning of the invasion of these Barbarous Nations in the three hundred ninetie fifth year the treading under foot of the holie Citie begun which should continue fortie and two moneths Revelations 11. vers 2. 4. Fourthly becaus by this invasion the Beast with ten horns rose up out of the Sea That is becaus by this war which began in the three hundred ninetie fifth year the Romane Empire was by little and little so divided that in the four hundred third year alreadie som horns and in the four hundred fiftie fifth year fully ten horns or Kingdoms appeared in it 5. All the Historians generally do agree that the ruine of the Romane Empire did begin in the three hundred ninetie fifth year as som of them were quoted in Elavi Apocalypt Now both the antient and later Teachers of the Church do conclude by the words of the Apostle Paul 2 Thessalonians 2. vers 6 7 8. That the Antichrist should then com when the Romane Empire should begin to fall As wee read in Tertulliano in Apologetico c. 32. Item de resurrect carnis Irenaeo lib. 5. adversus Haereses Hieronymo quaest 2. ad Algasiam Chrysost Homil. 4. in Thes 2. Hence it is that Joannes Cluverius in Comentario posthumo in Apol. Tom. III. writeth thus Totius Negotii cardo versatur in inveniendo exordio Antichristi quod in ruinam Imperii Romani incidere ostendimus 6. The Beast with two horns the Antichristian Pope of Rome came out of the Earth quietly about the time of the three hundred ninetie fifth year Revelations 13. vers 11. when hee arrogated unto himself the Primacie and preeminencie over the Ecclesiastical and civil State Before the Nicene Synod which was held in three hundred twentie fifth year of our Lord the preeminencie of the Bishop of Rome over other Churches was not known Wherefore Aeneas Sylvius in Epistola 288. writeth Ante Nicaenum Concilium quisque sibi vivebat ad Romanam sedem parvus habebatur respectus Besides the succeeding Popes Liberius I. Felix II. and Damasus did not seek anie such matter Nay in the three hundred ninetieth year in the third Council of Carthage Can. 26. this Canon was made Ut primae sedis Episcopus non appelletur Princeps Sacerdotum aut summus Sacerdos aut aliquid hujusmodi sed tantùm primae sedis Episcopus Tom. Concil p. 544. Innocent the first who in the four hundred second year of our Lord succeeded Anastasius at Rome was the first that made an Act that the Hereticks should bee compelled to imbrace the Catholick faith And hath also attributed unto himself Autoritie and power not onely over the common people but also over the Highest Civil Autoritie in Christendom in that hee excommunicated Arcadius the Emperor at Constantinople when hee removed Chrysostome from his function In like manner hee did vehemently bestir himself to obtain the Primacie for the Romane Church and especially hee endevored to get the Government of the Bishops and Churches in Africa The like was practised also by Zosimus Bonifacius 1. Celestine 1. whereof Daniel Paraeus in Medullâ Hist Eccles universali pag. 200. Whence it is that Socrates lib. 7. Hist. Eccles cap. 3. where relating how in the time of Celistine the 1. it fared with the Novatians hee addeth these words Episcopatus Romanus non aliter atque Alexandrinus quasi extra Sacerdotii fines egressus ad secularem Principatum jam antè delapsus erat In like manner Sericius who after Damasus from the three hundred eightie fifth until the three hundred ninetie eighth year was Bishop of Rome was the first who held the Priests who companied with their married wives uncapable of the Ministerie As wee read hereof in his first Epistle chap. 7. and Epist 4. c. 6. Tom. 1. Concil page 530. 534. In Jure Canonico Distin 82. And in concilio Taurinatensi in the three hundred ninetie seventh year of our Lord was determined chap. 7. qui in Ministerio genuerunt filios nè ad majores gradus ordinum permittantur Synodi decrevit autoritas In Concilio Carthaginensi in the three hundred ninetie eighth year sub Anastasio was concluded on Cap. 3. Placuit Episcopos Presbyteros Diaconos secundùm propria priora vel prima statuta etiam ab â—xoribus continere Quod nisi fecerint ab Ecclesiastico removeantur officio Tom. 1. Concil p. 517. Vid. Distinct 84. cap. 3 4 5. 7. In the eleventh chapter wee have seen that the two Witnesses at the end of the one thousand two hundred sixtie years shall bee fought against overcom and killed which as hath been proved above is hitherto com to pass The last Act is now shortly to bee exspected in the Province of Silesia Whether now this bee performed in this or in the next following year thereupon their raising again will follow after 3½ years And becaus the seventh Trumpet shall sound in the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year and between it and the raising again of the two Witnesses two accidents happen as 1. The destruction of the Citie of Rome 2. And the ending of the second Wo therefore the two Witnesses may well bee raised again before the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year shall begin For Modicum nec Praetor cur at nec Propheta Unto this may also bee added these following reasons as secondarie Arguments 1. The Prophesie of the Apostle Peter whereof Augustin lib. 18. c. 53. and 54. de Civit. Dei. writeth That the Gentiles in his time did report that the Apostle Peter had thought that the Christian Religion should continue but three hundred sixtie five years Which Augustine holdeth to bee a Fiction wherewith the Heathen would cast a reproch upon the Christian Religion But if this bee well considered it may well prove so indeed that Peter did declare that the Christian
Religion should for three hundred sixtie five years without interruption bee propagated untill the three hundred ninetie fifth year of our Lord in which the Antichrist should com who should suppress the same For in the thirtieth year of his age was the Son of God baptized whereon hee entred into the Ministerie and began to preach These thirtie years beeing added unto the three hundred sixtie five years make up the three hundred ninetie fifth year in which the Antichrist came forth the holie Citie was trodden under foot the two Witnesses were cloathed with sackcloth and the woman the Church fled into the Wilderness 2. That the six thousand years from the Creation of the world do exspire with the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year as was made apparent in Clavi Apocalypt 3. That also the number of years which were from the beginning of the world until the deluge and in the time of the New Testament since the Birth of our Lord reckoned thus far do end alike So as there the wicked world was punished and cut off by the Deluge so here the enemies of the Church shall bee destroied with fire and brimstone Revelations 19. vers 20. Dan. 7. vers 11. 4. The Romane Monarchie began at that time when the Eccentricitas Solis was the greatest and whereby som Astrologers conclude cum Georgio Joachimo Rhetico that the same shall decaie and end when the said Eccentricitas shall bee least And becaus som Astronomers do reâ—er that to the one thousand six hundred fiftie third year which com's verie nigh to our term I thought good to make here mention of it leaving vim probandi to the trial of the Reader Dolingius conclude's in suo Antichristo Tymbogeronte verie well out of the Prophet Daniel chapter 6. vers 27. that by this revolution the Saints of the most High shall possess the Kingdom 5. Two Prophesies of the Turks concerning the Turkish Empire according to which this present young Turkish Emperor is the last and so hee under whom the Turkish Empire shall have it's final period Of the first Prophecic doth Franciscus Sansoninus make mention in a little book which hee Anno 1570. published in Print wherein hee made a collection of som Prophesies among which also this is set down as Joannes Wolfius Tom. 2. lect memor p. 803. writeth That under the fifteenth Turkish Emperor the Turkish Empire shall have an end Antonius Torquatus Medec D. Professor Ferrariensis Astrologus insignis maketh also mention hereof among his Prophesies which hee adscribed to Matthias King of Hungaria in the one thousand four hundred eightâ—eth year when hee writeth thus The Ottoman hous shall in 13. 14. or 15. heads Wolfius Tom. 2. pag. 896. calleth it ramum that is branch or bought diminish and decaâ—e and shall not go beyond that number For after this shall hee by a terrible chance bee defeated and cut off After this Turkish Emperor's death there shall arise among their Princes and those that relate to the Ottoman Familie such a dissention and combustion that they shall pitifully cut one another's throats and afterwards bee horribly spoiled and destroied by forreign Nations c. This number of 15 heads must bee computed from the first Ottoman not according to the heads of the Turkish Emperors who have reigned for there are a great manie more of them but according to the members or branches of the Ottoman Familie Ottomannus or Ozman Gazi is the root and Origine of this house and so stipes communis Hee was by the King of Persia established in the possession of Carmania and dignified with the roial title From this did spring 1. Urchan Gasi who died in the one thousand three hundred fiftieth year 2. Murat who took Adrianople in the one thousand three hundred sixtieth year and died Anno 1390. 3. Bajazet 1. whom Tamerlan carried away prisoner 4. Solyman 1. otherwise called Calepinus After him reigned his two brothers namely Musa who was killed by Mahomet Mahomet 1. died Anno 1422. These three Brothers belong to one Member or branch nay som do not compute Solyman and Musa at all becaus Solyman was Musa and Musa by Mahomet suddenly dispossest of the Imperial Government 5. Murat 2 d died Anno 1450. 6. Mahomet 2 d who took Constantinople Anno 1453. and died 1481. 7. Bajazet 2 d was poisoned by his son Selim in the one thousand five hundred twelfth year 8. Selim 1. died Anno 1520. 9. Solyman 2 d died at Ziget in Hungaria in the one thousand five hundred sixtie six year 10. Selim 2d died Anno 1575. 11. Murat 3 d born of a Jewish woman Solomon Swiccard in his Itinerarie relateth died Anno 1595. 12. Maâ—omet 3 d died Anno 1603. 13. Achmet 1. died Anno 1617. Whereupon was Mustaff brother of this Achmet chosen Anno 1617. And becaus hee was found to bee of so soft a disposition that hee was unfit to govern the Muâ—ties and the principal Bassas partly by fair means and partly by threatnings wrought so far with him that hee resigned the Empire 14. These set up Osman or Ottoman 2d the Son of Achmet This same caused not Mustaff to bee strangled as it is usual but onely restrained him Wherefore when Anno 1622. this Osman was in a tumult thrust out of the Imperial Seat and strangled and the Janizaries found this Mustaff under restraint it happened that they exalted him the second time unto the Imperial Crown But becaus hee liked not the the emploiment hee resigned it to Osman his brother So that Murath the second Son of Achmet came to the Imperial dignitie Anno 1622 and died in the beginning of the one thousand six hundred fortieth year To him succeeded Ibrahim the third son of Achmet the 20 th of Februarie 1640. Hee and his brother Osman had the same misfortune they were both strangled with three of his Sultanaes in Sept. Anno 1648. by the rebellious Janizaries These three brothers Sons of Achmet belong to one branch 15. Achmet second Son of Ibrahim an uncircumcised child of six years of age was set upon the Imperial Seat in Sept 1648. and made the Head over manie barbarous Nations and will bee if this Prophesie hold's the last Emperor of the Ottoman Government The second Prophesie is described by Bartholomew Georgieviez in his Epitome and after him by Philippus Lonicerus in his Turkish Chronicl lib. 3. in the beginning pag. 204. As also by Adam Nachen Moser in Prognostico Theolog. lib. 3. pag. 65. seqq Wolfius Tom. 2. lect mem pag. 293. Christoph. Besolâ—us in consider legis Sectae Sarac pag. 47. which is to this effect Our Turkish Emperor shall com and take from a Heathenish so they call the Christians Emperor King or Prince his Kingdom hee will bring under his power and conquer a red Apple In case the Christians in the seventh year shall not draw their swords hee shall reign over them twelv years build houses plant Vineyards hedg in gardens beget
who dwelt in Egypt Exod. 12. vers 40. and when the seed of Abraham was a stranger in a Land that was not their's and served them and was afflicted there Genesis 15. vers 13. are to begin their supputation from the one hundred thirtieth year of Jacob and his entrance into Egypt unto which must bee added here two hundred fifteen years 4. One hundred years from going forth out of Egypt until the building of the Temple of Solomon Aera vulgaris doth reckon in this period of time four hundred eightie years as they are plainly set down 1 Kings 6. vers 1. But by the book of Iudges and other places of the Scripture it doth appear that they were five hundred eightie years As Fortie years in the Wilderness Deut. 1. vers 3. Acts 13. 18. Seven years of Ioshua in the taking of possession and division of the Land of Canaan Ioshua 14. vers 10. Four hundred fiftie years until Samuel Acts 13. vers 2. As namely Eight under King Chushan Rishathaïm Iudges 3. vers 8. Fortie under Othniel vers 11. Eighteen under Eglon. vers 14. Eightie under Ehud vers 30. Twentie under Iabin chap. 4. vers 3. Fortie under Deborah and Barak Chapter 5. vers 31. Seven under the Midianites chap. 6. vers 1. Fortie under Gideon chap. 8. vers 28. Three under Abimeleck the Tyrant chap. 9. vers 22. Twentie three under Tola chap. 2. vers 3. Twentie two under Iair vers 3. Sa. Three hundred one as Iephthah saith Three hundred chap. 11. vers 26. Eighteen under the Philistines ch 10. vers 8. Six under Iephthah chap. 12. v. 7. Seven under Ibzan vers 10. Ten under Elon vers 11. Eight under Abdon vers 14. Fortie under the Philistines chap. 13. vers 1. Twentie under Sampson c. 16. v. 31. Fortie under Eli. 1 Sam. chap. 4. vers 18. Sa. Four hundred fiftie as above Acts Chap. 13. vers 20. Fortie years under Samuel and Saul Acts 13. vers 21. Fortie under David first of Kings chap. 2. vers 11. Three under Solomon first of Kings chap. 6. vers 1. Sa. Five hundred eightie years from the going out of Egypt until the building of the Temple of Solomon Here do concur two Characters as in the three hundred years whereof Iephthah speaketh Iudges 11. vers 26. Four hundred fiftie years of the Iudges until the Prophet Samuel whereof S t Paul Acts 13. vers 2. Which in the vulgar supputation whereby are numbred but four hundred eightie years are not found 5. Eleven years of Ezekiah the last King of Iudah In the vulgar supputation indeed are reckoned up from the building of the Temple until the destruction of â—f the same four hundred seventeen years But there must bee eleven years â—aken off again in respect the beginning â—f the Captivitie of Babylon is counted â—he eleventh year of Iechoniah that was King immediately before instead it should bee upon good ground referred â—o the eleventh year of Ezekiah at which time the Temple was destroied As you may read hereof Michaël Mestâ—â—num quaest 7. Chronolog pag. 67. seqq Etiam Reusnerum de supput annoâ—um mundi pag. 28. Iohannem Piscaâ—orem in suo Chronol Indice pag. 15. with som others more 6. Seven years in the times of the Kings of Persia as of Cyrus six years â—nd of Xerxes the second one year 2. Whereof Mestlinus Quaest. Chronol pag. 35. 38. 7. Two years which Scaliger Calvisius and Helvicus do refer to the supputation of years since the birth of Christ Now these mentioned years which together amount to three hundred ninetie six years beeing added to the five thousand six hundred four years since the Creätion of the world according to the supputation of one thousand six hundred fiftie five years of our Lord it will bee manifest that the six thousand years since the Creation of the world do exspire with the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year since the Birth of Christ 3. In the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year since the Birth of Christ doth also exspire the period and time from the beginning of the world until the Flood The Flood came when the one thousand six hundred fiftie sixth year from the Creätion of the world was exspired The end of the one thousand six hundred fiftie sixth year since the birth of Christ is according to the vulgar supputation incident into the end of one thousand six hundred fiftie fourth or begining of one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year Now the conjectures of som famous learned men have been these that at the end of these years great revolutions and changes may bee looked for as especially do mention hereof Leonard Krentheim in suis conject p. 53. Euchstadius in discursu de conjunct M. pag. H. 3. Wenceflaus Budowez in circulo Horol c. pag. 15. Paulus Crellius in Prompt Biblico under the word Burse or title of repentance pag. 119. Seeing the mystical numbers which are expressed in the Prophet Daniel and in the Revelation of S t John the six thousand years since the Creätion of the world and also the period since the beginning of the world until the Flood do meet with the ending of the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year of our Lord which draweth neer It is very likelie that for certain som great things are at the door and that wee may look for fearful and terrible revolutions For now it is the time wherein the Son of God doth call upon us Watch praie look up and lift up your heads becaus your redemption is at hand But the result of it is this which hee declareth Luke 18. vers 8. When the Son of man cometh shall hee finde faith on the earth namely that Faith which the widow had and used against the unjust Iudg by her importunitie praiers and supplications until shee was avenged of her adversaries Surely this faith is not found among them that dwell on the earth The poor Woman put to flight and wandring in the Wilderness Revel 12. vers 14. onely maketh use of this weapon against her Adversarie and continueth in the same with crying without intermission to God the righteous Judg. And shall hee not avenge her Shall hee not avenge his own elect which crie daie and night unto him though hee bear long with them I tell you that hee will avenge them speedily But those that live in securitie and persist in their malice and wickedness when they shall saie Peace and safetie then sudden destruction shall com upon them as travail upon a woman with child and they shall not escape 1 Thes 5. vers 2 3. For the daie of the Lord shall com as a â—hief in the night Wherefore watch and praie Apocalypsis Reserata OR THE REVELATION OF S t IOHN OPENED Wherein the distribution of the times of the New Testament being made Into The Kingdom of the Dragon The Lievtenantship of Antichrist The quiet state of the Church in the Kingdom of Christ By the