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
The Ruine of Rome OR An Exposition upon the whole REVELATION VVherein is plainly shewed and proved that the Popish Religion together with all the power and authority of Rome shall ebbe and decay more and more throughout all the Churches of Europe and come to an utter overthrow even in this life before the end of the World Written especially for the comfort of Protestants and the dancing of Papâ—sts Sâ—minary Priests Jesuâ—tes and all that cursed rabble Published by Arthur Dent Preacher of the word of God at South-Shoobury in Essex To which is added an Epitome of Reverend Mr. Brightman his Exposition upon the Revelation LONDON Printed by T. H. and I. Y. for Jo. Waterson and are to be sold by Charles Greene at his shop in Ivie Lane 1644. TO THE RIGHT Honourable his very good Lord ROBERT Lord RICH everlasting consolation and good hope through Grace TO be a father to the fatherlesse is properly the vertue of the most high and therefore meet for those who beare his name and office upon earth Among whom Right Honourable seeing it hath pleased his Majesty to count your Lordship faithfull and to put you in so high a service it shall I assure my selfe be matter of rejoycing unto your Lordship to take the Patronage of this poore Orphane which knoweth not whither to flye for succour but to you who did so many waies commend your favour to his late deceased Father that if he had lived to the birth of this his last off-spring it was his full purpose as many can witnesse to have committed it unto your Lordships protection as most meete among many to take this Patronage upon you that this young Infant growing up under your roofe may in time effect that indeed whereof it beares the name to be The ruine of Rome To speake of the excellent parts thereof and of what hope it is like to be in the Church of Christ I thinke needlesse and I feare the note of partiality it shall speake for it selfe I doubt will commend to all posterity his worthy fathers memory Now for my selfe right Honorable being so straightly bound to this duty in regard of my neere conjunction with my late Brother Master Dent and great importunity of his poore Widdow was the more willingly drawne hereunto in two respects The one to give some publike testimony of my love towards him and reverence of the rare grace which we all who injoyed his sweete society did continually in our comfort behold in him Whose learning his labours do shew whose diligence yea extreme and unwearied paines in his ministery publikely privately at home and abroade for foure and twenty yeares at least all our Countrey can testifie All which being adorned with so speciall humility do make his name the greater and our losse the more grievous I may not leave out this which I avow to be as certaine as it is singular that besides all other his great labours he had with the Apostle a speciall care of all the Churches night and day by study and fervent Prayer procuring the prosperity of Syon and the ruine of Rome And to end with his blessed end his life was not more profitable to others then his death is peaceable to himself scarce a grone to be heard though his Fever must needes be violent which dispatched him in three dayes And having made a pithy confession of his Faith this Faith said he have I Preached this Faith have I lived in this Faith I do live in and this Faith would I have sealed with my blood if God had so thought it good and tell my brethren so and drawing neere his end he sayd I have fought the good Fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith and now is that Crowne of righteousnesse layd up for mee the which the Lord that righteous Judge shall give me in that day and so gave up his last breath with these words I have seene an end of all perfection but thy Law is exceeding large The other respect my speciall good Lord for the which I am the more willing to come thus upon the Stage though my part be small full sutable to my ability is that I might be as the mouth of many to publish to posterity what high account all that know the truth among us at least do make of your Lordship that I dare say not the loynes onely but the soules of thousands do blesse you and God for you praying for a riâ—h reward to be given you of the Lord and that with your ancient predecessor honourable Nâ—hemiah the Lord would remember you herein and wipe not out all the kindnesse you have shewed on the house of you God and on the Ministers thereof For in the zeale of God and uprightnesse of my heart not to give titles unto men which is not my wont but to provoke all of like honorable condition to follow your Godly practice this I say that as your pure Religion is the Crowne of your nobility so this is the Crowne of your Religion that besides your ordinary presence in the publicke assemblies of the Church your zeale to God and lovâ— to his people hath herein especially bin manifested to the world in your continuall câ—râ— to plant faithfull Preachers in all those livings which have been in your Lordships gift or which by all your friends you could procure What is the worthy fruite thereof cannot indeede be valued much lesse by me now uttered yet this I say with common consent of all found-hearted Protestants that if the true Prophets of God be the chariots and horsemen of Israel then may we refer to this honourable practice of your Lordship and of other like Christian Patrones as to a chiefe meanes under God and under the Religious regiment of our gracious Soveraigne the safety of his Highnesse person this admirable tranquility of the Realme that notable ruine of Rome which is so worthily with us effected and shall be assuredly elsewhere in due time accomplished And to say all in few words to this may we referre the safety of soule and body of many thousands in the Land who though they doe and shall live by faith yet doth their righteousnesse farre exceed the righteousnesse of all Popish hypocrites both in duty to God and to their dread Soveraigne our noble King Whereupon I may conclude that I scarce thinke of any service more honourable to God and profitable to his Church then this care to bring into the Lords Temple such painefull Labourers as both by life and Doctrine do faithfully build up the same Goe on therefore Right Honourable and cease not to shine out in this darke World with such light of good example And withall rest upon his word who cannot lye that you shall shine in the Kingdome of light where into shall enter no uncleane thing neyther whatsoever worketh abomination or lies but they which are written in the Lambs Booke of life To which blessed inheritance immortall undefiled and that
the dayes wherein they lived and both those they did cleerely understand Some things were fulfilled after their dayes as the rising and raigning of the great Antichrist which they did not so cleerely see into Hereupon it commeth to passe that many things which unto them were very obscure are unto us most cleere and manifest 〈◊〉 beeing already fulfilled insomuch that all which are not wilfully blinded may see and understand them yea the most unlearned Bee not therefore discouraged gentle Reader at the darknesse and difficulty of this booke Doe not prejudicially resolve and set downe with thy selfe that the naturall sense of this booke cannot be given nor the tute meaning found out but that we must be faine when we have done all that we can to rest in uncertaine conjectures some following one sense and some another as seemeth most like and profitable But no man can say confidently and precisely this is the meaning of the holy Ghost Oh be not of that minde good Christian brother for if we have not an undoubted certainety for the sense and meaning of this Prophesie we are never the neerer and that is it which the Papists would drive us unto But know for a certainty that the naturall sense of this booke is to be found out as well as of other bookes of the Scripture And that wee might not be left to our selves in the darke and to our uncertaine conjectures and doubtfull interpretations Behold the mercifull goodnesse of God to his Church who himselfe doth expound the darkest and most mysticall things in this Prophesie or at least so many of them and so far as the rest are thereby layd open and made manifest The Lord himselfe expoundeth some things in chap. 1. which give cleare light to the first vision The Angell expoundeth divers other things In the 17. Chapter which is the key of this Prophesie the Angell doth of purpose open and interpret all the greatest doubts of this booke as who is the whore of Babylon who is the Beast what be his seven heads what be his ten Hornes what be the waters which the woman that is the Whoore of Rome sitteth upon Moreover for the better understanding of this Prophesie we must note that the writings of Moses and the Prophets unto which there bee sundry allusions and from the which sundry things are drawne doe cleere divers things in this Revelation The knowledge of antiquities ministreth much aide to the understanding of this Prophesie The knowledge of the Histories of the Church and the particular state thereof in divers ages bringeth great light The observation of the phrases and manner of speech used by the old Prophets doth helpe also not a little The serious and deepe weighing of all the circumstances of the Text and conferring one thing with another the consequents with the antecedents and the antecedents with the consequents furthereth greatly for the bolting out of the true and naturall sense And furthermore as the spirit of God is the Author of the Prophesie so the same spirit is the best interpreter of it and doth open and reveale it to all such as using all other good meanes are earnest and humble suiters unto God for the illumination thereof whereby they may all understand both this and other the mysteries of his will which the Apostle saith God hath revealed unto us by his spirit For the spirit searcheth all things yea the deepe things of God To all this may be added the knowledge of Arts Tongues and the learned writings and interpretations of sundry excellent men which all doe bring great furtherance to the understanding of this Prophesie Sith then there bee so many helpes for the opening and expounding of this Revelation why should any bee discouraged from the reading and study thereof But if any man demand a reason why Saint John writeth this Revelation in such mysticall and allegoricall manner I answere that there may be divers reasons yeelded hereof First that the world being blinded might fulfill the things herein specâ—fied Secondly because John was to publish this Revelation in such manner and forme as he had received it from Jesus Christ which was figurative and allegoricall Thirdly because it was much more wisedome to foretell the destruction of the Romane Empire which all that time bare the sway almost over all the world under covert and figurative speeches then in plaine tearmes lest the Romane Princes should rage more against the Christians even in that respect The like also may bee sayd for Daniels darke manner of delivering his Prophesie For if hee had uttered those things in plaine tearmes which hee spake darkely and allegorically it might have cost him his life For the Heathen enemies would never have endured to heare that all their Empyres glory and renowne should fall one after another and one by another and that the Jewes were the only holy people whom God did defend and to whom in the end God would not onely give a quiet possession of their owne Land and Kingdome but also a Kingdome everlasting and that through their Messias and great deliverer But to grow to a conclusion gentle Reader thou shalt find in this poore travell First an Exposition of the first thirteene Chapters unto the twentieth reduced all to one head which is to prove the five points propounded and last of all the three Chapters following briefely and plainely expounded If any through lazinesse will not or through want of leasure cannot reade over this short travell yet for his comfort let him read chose things onely which are written upon the fourteenth Chapter And thus Christian Reader hoping that thou wilt not neglect that which may be for thine owne good I commend theee to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build further and to give thee an inheritance among all them that are sanctified Thine in the Lord Arthur Dent. Vpon the 14. Chapter of this Booke These five points are handled FIrst that Babylon in this Booke of the Revelation is called Rome Secondly that Rome shall fall and how Thirdly that Rome shall fall finally and come to utter desolation in this life before the last Judgement Fourthly by whom and when it shall be overthrowne Fiftly the causes of the utter ruine and overthrow thereof APOC. 18. verse 4. I heard a voice from Heaven say Goe out of heâ— my People that ye be not partakers of her sinnes and that ye receive not of her Plagues THE RVINE of Rome or an Exposition upon the Revelation Wherein is plainely shewed and proved that the Popish Religion together with all the power and authority of Rome shall ebbe and decay still more and more throughout all the Churches of Europe and come to an utter overthrow even in this life BEfore I enter into the exposition of this Prophesie I thinke it not amisse to handle sixe circumstantiall points which may give some light to the whole matter following and they be these First the instrument that writ
this booke Secondly the time when he writ it Thirdly the place where he received it Fourthly the person to whom he writ it Fiftly the end and use of his writing this Prophesie Lastly the authority of it As touching the first it is agreed upon amongst the soundest Divines that John the Apostle or Evangelist John the Disciple whom Jesus loved was the Author and Instrument of penning this Prophesie as hee himselfe testifieth Apo. 22.8 Apo. 1.19 saying I am John which saw these things and heard them And hee received a commandement from Jesus Christ which hath the keyes of hell and death that hee should write the things which hee had seene and heard and set them all down together in a booke Now we all know that the testimony of John is of great weight Apo. 1.11 though he be but a man for he is such a man as is firmely to be beleeved in all that he speaketh He is an Apostle an Instrument of the holy Ghost and so guided by the Spirit of God that he speaketh and uttreth nothing that is his owne He was well known and approved For we must consider that what an Apostle did utter he did utter it as the instrument of the Spirit which cannot erre For the Prophets and Apostles did not write the holy Scriptures as they were men onely but as they were the immediate and certaine instruments of the holy Ghost of purpose chosen and set apart to pen and publish the holy bookes of God This Saint Peter confirmeth saying 2 Peâ— 1 Verse 21. Prophesie came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they mere moued by the holy Ghost The Apostle Paul also affirmeth the same touching his Gospell which saith Gal. 1.12 Hee was not after man neither received hee it of man but by the revelation of Iesus Christ Therefore when his our Apostle saith I am Iohn which saw these things and heard them he gives us to understand that he was both an eye and an care-witnesse He bringeth not matters which he hath heard by uncertain report hee delivereth this Booke to the Churches they which received it at his hands did know him to bee a most faithfull servant of the Lord even a great Apostle which delivereth not any thing but that which hee had received of the Lord and therefore he testifieth â—hat he saw and heard all the things which â—e hath written in this booke Moreover he â—estifieth of himselfe that he was called and authority by Iesus Christ to write this Prophesie and did nothing herein of his owne braine For saith hee I John heard behind me a great voice as it had been of a trumpet saying I am Alpha and Omega the first and the last and that which thou seest write in a booke and send it unto the Churches Heere we see how Iohn is called by Alpha and Omega that is Jesus Christ to write this doctrine of the Apocalyps But may some man say was not John cald before was he not one of the Lambs 12. Apostles had he not many years executed the office of the Apostleship must he now have a new calling and a second calling what needs he being an Apostle to bee called and authorised againe To this I answere that this matter now in hand was a new worke and therefore requires a new and speciall calling It is a strange revelation and therefore requires a new authority to meddle in it For in this Prophesie God dealeth with John as hee did with the old Prophets For when he would foreshew unto any of them especiall matters he called them by glorious visions as wee may reade what a goodly vision Esay had what a vision full of glory Ezechiel and Daniel had even in majesty like unto this of John Thus then it is to bee considered Iohn now is as one of the old Prophets to foreshew things to come therefore the Lord appeareth unto him in a vision and calleth him thereunto as he appeared unto them and called them Let this then suffice for a reason of Johns now calling to his new Worke and office And thus much touching the first circumstance Now followeth the second circumstance which is the time when Iohn received this Prophesie which is noted to bee upon the Lords day It is the day which S. Paul to the Corinthians calleth the first day of the weeke in which the Churches did meete for the holy exercises in Religion which is also evident because he sayth they came together to breake bread Now the observation of a seventh day is of divine institution Acts 20.7 even from the beginning It is naturall morall and perpetuall for God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it We are therefore to thinke that although Iohn now in his exile was absent in body from the Church assemblies yet he was present with them in spirit commending them most earnestly unto God in his holy prayers and meditations and therefore it is sayd that he was ravished in the Spirit upon the Lords day So we read that the like befell unto Daniel when he was prisoner in Babylon the like befell unto Ezechiel who was taken by the Spirit in the visions of God Act. 10.10 and carried to Ierusalem the like to Peter the like to Paul But the speciall reason of Iohns ravishment in the spirit at this time was that thereby he might be made more fit and capable to receive and understand all those great mysteries and heavenly visions which now should be shewed unto him And withall let us observe that all men are alwaies most capable of heavenly things when they are most in the Spirit For God doth evermore most reveale himselfe to such as are most in prayer reading and meditation and to such as make greatest conscience to spend his Sabaoths Christianly and religiously according to his great commandement And let us alwayes be sure of this that the more fervent and zealous we are in religious duties the more familier acquaintaince wee shall find with God and he will at all times be the more open-harted unto us and will hide nothing from us that may be for his glory and our good For such as are much in heavenly contemplation he doth reckon not amongst his servants Ioh. 15.15 but amongst his dearest friends to whom he will make known all things that he hath heard of his Father But now let us proceed to the third circumstance The third circumstance is the place where Iohn received this Prophesie and that is set downe to bee the Isle of Pathmos which as the Geographers write is a little desart Island lying in the Aegean Sea wherein it is reported that Iohn the Apostle was banished by the Emperour Domitian about the yeare of our Lord 96. and there received and writ this Booke of the Apocalyps where note by the way that there is no place so obscure or vast wherein a Godly minde may not aspire up vnto heaven
little strength and hast kept my word and hast not denyed my name that is thou art very constant in the profession and practice of Christian Religion and thereupon Christ promised to blesse his labours For saith hee I will make them of the synagogue of Sathan which call themselves Jewes and are not but doe lie Behold I say I will make them that they shall come and worship before thy feete and shall know that I have loved thee Here we doe plainly see how Christ promiseth to blesse this mans Ministery for his painfulnesse and diligence although he was not of the greatest gifts For men of greatest gifts are not alwayes most blessed in their labours For God doth commonly worke the greatest things by weake meanes that all glory might redound unto him and no flesh might boast in his sight For otherwise if men of greatest gifts should alwayes bee most blessed in their labours and win most soules unto God then wee would be ready to ascribe that to men and their gifts which is proper to God and so his praise and glory should be somewhat ecclipsed Thus we see what excellent men the Ministers of Smyrna and Philadelphia were and what excellent people they had in their charges But on the contrary the Pastor and the people of Sardis and Laodicea are discommended for all things and commended for nothing Indeed the Minister of Sardis had a great name for learning and other good gifts but he was grown very idle and negligent and did little good with his gifts Of whom it is said Thou hast a name that thou livest but thou art dead That is there was no spirit in him no life of grace his gifts waxed rusty for want of use he was fallen asleepe he was fallen away from the grace of God he was nothing the man which he had been Therefore he is admonished to awake and strengthen the things which remaine which were ready to dye The Minister of Laodicea and the people also were growne luke-warme neither hot nor cold they were become carelesse and secure not caring greatly which end went forward in GODS matters so they might enjoy the present profits and pleasures of this life Concerning the Pastors and people of Ephesus Pergamus and Thyatyra they are partly commended and partly discommended These three were reasonable good Ministers and had many good parts in them and tooke paines in their charges although there be some faults found with them For the Minister of Ephesus is commended for six things for labour for patience for zeal for wisdome for sincerity and for courage but discommended for leaving his first love that is for revolting or somewhat going backe or rather indeed for cooling in the love and zeale of God The Minister of Pergamus and people also are greatly commended for their constant profession of the truth in the middest of manifold troubles and the very heat of persecution For the rage of the enemies grew so fierce against the profession and professors of the Gospel that Antipas the Pastor of Pergamus as some suppose was put to death For Christ saith thus of his Church Thou dwellest where Satans throne is and yet thou keepest my name Apo. 2.13 and hast not denyed my faith even in those dayes when Antipas my faithfull martyr was slaine among you where Satan dwelleth But yet notwithstanding this Church is found fault withall for some few things that is two grosse faults the one for suffering the doctrine of Balaam to be broched there by the instruments of Satan the other that they maintained the doctrine of Nicolaitans The doctrine of Balaam did uphold the lawfulnesse of eating things sacrificed to Idols Apo. 2.14 and of committing fornication for he taught Balac the King of Moab thus to put a stumbling blocke before the children of Israel The doctrine of the Nicolaitans did uphold the common use of women that is that women might be made common These two most grosse and absurd doctrines were suffered and maintained in the Church of Pergamus As concerning the Church of Thyatira they are greatly commended for theiâ— love and service to the Church for theiâ— faith patience and manifold workes anâ— especially for their constant proceeding iâ— Religion and Godlinesse and that with increase Apo. 2.19 For of this Church it is said I knoâ— thy love and service and faith and thy patience and thy workes and that they are moe aâ— the last then at the first But this Church iâ— discommended for suffering the wicked woman Jezabel that is a false Prophetesse who was craftily crept into this Church to teach and seduce the people of God in that congregation teaching the same false doctrine that Balaam did at Pergamus which was Apo. 2.10 that it was lawfull to commit fornication and to eat meats sacrificed unto Idols Hitherto concerning the praises and dispraises of the Churches Now followeth to speake of the admonitions First the Church of Ephesus having fallen from their first love is admonished to remember from whence they were fallen to repent and to doe their first works Also the Church of Smyrna is admonished and exhorted to stand fast in the midst of those persecutions and troubles which should be raised up against it by the Emperor Trajanus and continue for the space often yeare They are therefore exhorted incouraged by our Lord Jesus not to feare the things which they should suffer for although the Divell and his Instruments should have scope to persecute and imprison them for ten dayes that is ten years according to the Propheticall account yet if they had continued faithfull to the death they should have had the Crowne of life The Church of Pergamus suffering and maintaining the doctrine of Balaam and the Nicolaitans is admonished to repent and amend The Church of Thyatyra which suffered the false doctrine of Jezabel is admonished to look to her selfe and to hold fast the truth of Religion Sardis being dull and dead is admonished to awake and strengthen the things which remain that were ready to dye Philadelphia is admonished to hold that which they had that no man take their Crowne Laodicea being neither hot nor cold but luke-warme is admonished to be zealous and amend And although they thought their state good enough being puft up with conceitednesse yet they are charged to bee poore naked and blinde and thereupon counselled and admonished to buy spirituall Gold that they may bee rich and spirituall garments to hide their nakednesse and spirituall eye-salve to anoint their eyes that they may see Concerning reprehensions Ephesus is reproved for going backward Pergamus and Thyatyra for suffering and maintaining corrupt doctrine as formerly hath beene shewed Sardis for dulnesse deafnesse and unsoundnesse in their manner of worshipping God Laodicea for luke-warmenesse and conceitednesse Touching threats Ephesus is threatned that except they repent and doe their first workes their Candlesticke should be removed out of his place that is the Church should be translated to some
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
see afterward ch 16. signifieth the power wealth and authority which that City Rome even this Westerne Babel hath to defend it selfe Then it followeth that in this power authority and strength of Rome the Divels lye bound for they waited through the power of Rome to work yet far greater mischiefe and therefore are said to be bound so long as they were restrained The mischiefe which they plotted and purposed to bring to passe by the Authority and power of Rome was the hatching and bringing forth of the Mahometish Religion which in very deed did spring from the darknesse of Rome as from his proper root and originall cause The Divells did fore-see that out of the superstitions and Idolatries of Rome defended by their great power and authority Mahometish Religion might very well be framed and therefore not being content to plague the West part of the World with Popery and Idolatry they doe greedily desire also to plague the East part of the World with the false Religion of Mahomet They are not satisfied with plagueing and poysoning all Europe with abominable Idolatries except also they plague and infect all Asia and Africa with the Turkes most execrable Religion so insatiable are the devills in working mischiefe Now in the meane time they thinke themselves too much straightned bound and tyed up in Rome and Romish Religion except they may be loosed and proceed further to overspread the whole World with all impieties and horrible abominations A man would thinke that when the Divell had prevailed so farre as to place Antichrist in his cursed Chaire and to breed the swarmes of Locusts out of the smoake of Hell they might have been satisfied for then as we may say hell seemed to be broke loose But yet all this cannot satisfie the unsatiable Devill but they will have the Religion of Mahomet established to poyson and plague all the East parts of the World in their soules and also they will have the most huge cruell and savage Armies of the Turkes raised up to murther and massacre millions of men in their bodies in the West part of the World as presently we shall heare Now till all this be effected they are said to lye bound at Rome But here we see that this sixth Angell hath a precise commandement from JESVS CHRIST to loose these Devils which lay bound at the great River Euphrates that they might plague the whole World farre and neare at their pleasure so now all the Divells of hell are let loose and let us heare what followeth ver 15. And the foure Angels were loosed which were prepared at an houre at a day at a month and at a yeare to slay the third part of men Now the Divels being loosed and unbound by a speciall commandement from Christ were in a readinesse to execute their mischiefe This ascending by degrees from a short time unto longer and longer From an houre to a day c. doth signifie that as the Divels were prest and at hand at an houres warning as we say to put in practice whatsoever they had plotted so they were as forward to continew the same From as houre to a day from a day to a month and from a month to a yeare that is from time to time untill the date of their commission was out for their time was limited and their commission bounded as afterward wee shall see And this is our comfort that both the Papacie is limited to five months and the Turcisme to houres dayes months and yeares The divers power is limitted though it greiveth them full sore They cannot do what they list they cannot continue as long as they would After the number of Horse-men of warre were twenty thousand times tenne thousand ver 16. for I heard the number of them Now upon the loosing of these Divels here followeth the description of a most horrible plague which they raised up and it is a huge army a murthering army an army in number exceeding great for he saith They were twenty thousand times tenne thousand that is two hundred millions or two hundred thousand thousands But we may not thinke that this Army was ever all at one time or in any one age but here are the armys of many ages reckoned up and the full plague of many yeares set forth How could Saint John number such an Army may some man say He answereth this doubt and saith He heard the number of them He did not number them but the number was told him Moreover it is to be noted that as this Army did exceed in number so also in terror and strength and therefore they are said to be all horsemen For an Army of horsemen are both more strong and more terrible than any army of footmen And thus I saw the horses in a vision ver 17. and them that sate on them having fiery Habergions and of Jacinth and of Brimstone and the heads of the Horses were as the heads of Lions and out of their mouths went forth fire and smoke and Brimstone Here is the description of the horse-men and horses as they appeared to John in a vision First touching the horse-men it is said that they were very well armed with Habbergions that is Coates of Male Corslets or Curets and that of a fiery colour and of the colour of Jacinth that is of smoake as appeareth in the last clause of this verse and also of the colour of Brimstone For as horse-men in compleate armour were wont to weare in their Breast-plates and Targets certaine ensignes and colours whereby they might be made terrible to their enemies So these Turkish warriours and horse-men do hold out their colours of fire smoak and Brimstone as it were flagges of defiance against the whole world threatning present death to all that should with-stand them or as if they meant to spit fire and flame at them or to choake them with smoake and Brimstone and then burne them up with fire and Brimstone All this their colours and ensignes in their Breast plates and Habbergions did portend Now as concerning Horses no doubt they were as fierce as the Horse-men They weare great Lances they had heads like Lions that is they were full of stomacke and fiercenesse ver 18. and out of their mouths went forth fire and smoake and Brimstone that is they had the same colours and ensignes upon them that riders had Of these three was the third part of men killed that is of the fire and of the smoake and of the Brimstone which came out of their mouthes Here is set downe the great slaughters and massacres which these martial horse-men and Turkish armies made thorowout the most part of Europe For he sayth the third part of men that is great numbers in Europe were slaine by the fire the smoake and the Brimstone which came out of their mouths that is by their bloody cruelty and barbarous immanity some being murthered in their bodies by cruell death and others violently drawne to
these things fulfilled For when the Pope and his Clergie had murthered Gerbardus Dulcimus Navarrensis Waldus Nicholaus Orem John Picus John Zisca Visilus Groningensis Armerias Wickliffe Husse Jerome of Prague and many Preachers in Suevia and one hundred holy Christians in the Country of Alsatia and many other Countries and of all conditions of men yet for all that spight of their hearts God raised up others in their stead as Luther Calvin Zuinglius Peter Martyr Peter Viret Melancthon Bucer Bullinger and their successors yea the thousands of excellent Ministers and Preachers which are dispersed over all Europe at this day in whom all the former witnesses doe revive and as it were stand upon their feet againe And now a great feare is come upon the Pope and his Clergie and all his favourites for they did never so much as dreame of such an alteration but this is the Lords doing and it is marvellous in our eyes And they shall heare a great voyce from him saying unto them vers 12. Come up hither and they shall ascend up to Heaven in a Cloud and their enemies shall see them Here the Lords witnesses whom Antichrist had murdered and called and taken up into heaven that they may be crowned with glory and immortality having in the earth fought so excellent a fight of faith as they had for even as Christ their head was taken up in a cloud to the Heavens even so his faithfull members are here taken up in a cloud to raigne with him for ever Moreover it is here said that their enemies shall see them ascending up they shall as it were ascend up in their fight for from the fire and faggot swords and speares of their enemies they went directly unto God and the very consciences of their persecutors did witnesse so much nay some of them being in horrible convulsions of conscience did not stick to utter it avouching the innocency of Gods Martyrs as sometimes Pilate and the Centurion did of Christ But though they had not beene justified by their enemies yet are here justified by a great testimony for the voyce from Heaven the voyce of God doth justifie them and cleare them accounting them worthy to bee called up from the Earth to Heaven and received to eternall glory For howsoever the Pope and his Clergie condemned them for Heretickes and Schismatickes yet here they are justified and cleared by a voyce from Heaven which is more than the voyces suffrages and approbations of all men in the World And the same houre there shall bee a great earth-quake and the tenth part of the City shall fall and in the earth-quake shall be slaine in number seven thousand and the remnant were sore feared and gave glory to the God of Heaven As he hath shewed before that the world was very joyfull and jocond when they had made dispatch of Gods witnesses but afterward full of feare and terrour when they saw what followed So here in this Verse is shewed that at the same houre that is about the same time when they have persecuted the Saints see thousands of others raised up in their stead and as it were out of their bloud that there should immediately follow a great earth-quake that is horrible commotions seditions tumults and open warres among the Kingdomes and Nations of the world and amongst all people which should live after the breaking forth of the light of the Gospell as this day we see with our eyes For who now in these dayes doth not see and feele this Earthquake Who knoweth not what stirres there have beene and are every where about Religion Who is ignorant that all the warres seditions treacheries treasons rebellions that are this day in Europe betwixt one Kingdome another are especially concerning the matter of Religion But mark what followeth Behold the effect of this Earth-quake It is said that the tenth part of the Citty shall fall By the City here hee meaneth the great City of Rome mentioned before vers 8. which is therefore called the great City because it was the chief city of the Roman Empire and the very seat of Antichrist Now then the sense and meaning of the holy Ghost is that when there once beginneth to be an earth-quake that is broyles contentions alterations questions and disputations about religion and that the Popish doctrine which had so long prevailed in the world should be called in question yea openly preached against convicted and condemned that then Rome shall begin to fall and Romish religion to suffer a great eclipse yea the tenth part that is some part of the city of Rome I mean the doctrine and authority of Rome shall bee overthrown Now this falling of the tenth part of Rome was fulfilled within some few yeers after the broaching of the Gospel by Luther and his immediate successors but since it is gone back many degrees and hereafter it shall still ebb and consume away by degrees even till it come to nothing as God willing shall be plainly proved hereafter Moreover here is set downe another effect of this earth-quake which is that thereby shall bee slaine in number seven thousand that is many thousands for the number of seven is a perfect and universall number as formerly hath been declared But the sense of this clause is that all such as will not yeeld to the Gospel after matters once come in question and the light thereof breaketh forth but continue still in their blindnesse and hardnesse standing out sturdily against the truth shall feel the heavie judgement of God upon them and come to miserable and wretched ends as did here in England Stephen Gardiner bloudy Bonner and many other such open persecuters in other nations and countries as the book of Martyrs doth plentifully witnesse Last of all it is said that the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven that is the elect of God seeing these horrible judgments upon the persecuters of the Gospel and having their eyes opened through these contentions and broyles about religion should repent of their former idolatries blindnesse and ignorance should yeeld to the truth and give glory to the God of heaven Chap. 9. as at this day we see thousands doe God be thanked Wee heard before in the time of the Turks murthering army when the third part of men were slain that the rest repented not of their idolatry But now God be praised for it many doe repent every day and turne from dumb idols to serve the living God And therefore although the times wherein we live be sinfull and troublesome yet are they golden times and dayes in comparison of former ages wherein Antichrist did reign and rule over all Moreover from this place may plainly and strongly be concluded that the Gospel shall prevail more and more in all the kingdomes of Europe even untill the end of the world For here wee see it fore-told and prophesied that in the very last age of the world and even
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
worldlings their ears and eyes are sealed and shut up they cannot understand them but doe still worship the beast ascribing unto him divine power and honour In the tenth verse the judgment and vengeance of God is denounced against the Roman Monarchy both former and later which as it hath long oppressed the Church with cruell bondage and drawne thousands into perpetuall captivity so it selfe also should be cast down with all the adherents thereof both in this life and that which is to come For as the Roman Empire did tyrannize over the world led millions into spirituall captivity and bondage so here it is avouched that according to the just law of quittance it should be brought to the same lore And as this beast had murdered many by the sword so hee himself must be murdered by the sword also as the Apostle saith 2 Thes 1.6 God is just and therefore will recompence tribulation to them that trouble his Church Now all this seemeth unto mee to be a cleer prophesie of the fall and finall destruction of the Roman Empire which indeed considering the pitch that it was at may seem a thing strange and incredible and therefore the holy Ghost stirreth us up to attention in the 9th verse as to a thing of great wonderment and admiration for if the Roman Monarchy fall the Papacy must of necessity fall with it For the Roman Empire is that beast which beareth up the whore of Babylon as appeareth in the seventeenth chapter of this Prophesie where wee shall God willing plainly and at large hear of the joint destruction of them both together It is added Here is the patience and the faith of the saints That is here is required great patience of all Gods children to wait tarry till the performance and accomplishment of those things and also faith and full assurance to beleeve that they shall in Gods appointed time come to passe For few do beleeve these things therfore wait not with patience for the accomplishment thereof And I beheld another beast coming out of the earth which had two horns like a lamb Verse 11. but he spake like the dragon Having described the first beast which is the Roman Empire now the holy Ghost cometh to describe the second beast which is the Papacy or the kingdome of the great Antichrist for although he be described before in regard of his Monarchy that is the civill jurisdiction which he exercised as he was the seventh head of the beast and head of the Empire yet here he is described after another sort that is according to this ecclesiasticall authority and therefore he is called another beast or a beast differing from the former in that he exerciseth another power beside the power of the heathen Emperors of Rome which is his spirituall jurisdiction in which respect he is called the false prophet The second beast riseth out of the earth as the former rose out of the sea then it appeareth that Antichrist is by his breed a son of the earth obscurely born and by little little creeping up out of his abject estate as did the Turk It is here most truly said that the kingdome of Antichrist ariseth out of the earth and is the very breed of the earth for assuredly it never came from heaven It was first hatched out of covetousnesse ambition pride murders treasons poysoning sorceries enchantments and such like For all stories do shew that from these roots the Papacy grew to his exceeding height and altitude This second beast hath two horns like the Lamb Whereby is meant his Civil and Ecclesiastical power or his Kingdom Priesthood which hee falsly pretended to come from the Lamb and therefore he giveth in his armes two keyes and hath two swords carried before him So Boniface the eighth shewed himself one day in apparel as a Pope and the next day in armour as the Emperor and the two horns in the Popes Mitre are signes hereof But the holy Ghost here telleth us that these two hornes are not the horns of the Lamb but only like the horns of the Lamb for he received not his power from the Lamb Christ but from the Divell that is the Dragon with ten hornes Then thus it is The Papacy is the seventh head of the first beast that is the Empire and yet a beast by it selfe with two horns like the Lamb in respect of his joint power and authority both Ecclesiasticall and Civill in which respect he is called even the Eighth and one of the seven chap. 17.11 Although this second beast have two horns like the Lambe yet he spake like the Dragon that is all his words and works practises and proceedings lawes and decrees are for the Dragon of whom hee hath his power and throne and great authority So that whatsoever he pretendeth in religion and matters of Gods worship as though hee would be like the Lamb yet assuredly hee is altogether for the Dragon and the Divell hee is assured unto them as all experience doth manifestly witnesse Verse 12. And he did all that the first beast could do before him and he caused the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast whose deadly wound was healed Here is shewed that this second beast was as mighty and strong as the first beast and could doe as much as hee even in his presence Whereby is noted the great power and authority of the Papacy in performing as much in the service of the Dragon against God and his Church as ever the Empire of the heathen and those wicked Emperors could doe yea hee did much more against Christ and his religion then ever the persecuting Emperors could doe even then when they were at their highest pitch And all this hee did in his presence that is in the sight and open view of the whole Empire or whole world And he caused the earth and them that dwell therein that is all Papists and worldlings to worship the first beast that is to receive the worship and religion of the old Roman tyranny which set up and maintained idolatry so then although the power in the Papacy came under the name of Christ yet in truth it was the same with the power of the persecuting Empire for the heathen Emperors condemned the true worship of God and set up false worship even the worship of Divels which is idolatry so do the Popes also So then wee see that this second beast is all for the first beast that is he levyeth all his power and authority to set up the worship and religion of the old Roman tyrants and to force all men by cruell lawes and decrees to receive and embrace the same So this second beast is nothing better then the first nay in truth a great deale worse And he did great wonders Ver. 13 14. so that hee made fire to come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men And deceiveth them that dwell on
Here is shewed that this image of the beast was not a dead image but a living image for Antichrist put a spirit into it that is life and power and great authority insomuch that this image could speake and not only speak but speak with great authority and terror so as whosoever would not worship this image that is submit himself to the Popish Hierarchie should be put to death But may some man say How did this image speak I answer by the Popes Clergy For the Romish rabble of Cardinals Abbots Monks Priests Friars and all that cursed corporation were the very breath life and spirit of this image I mean that the life-bloud of their externall regiment did lie in the execution thereof by the Clergy as it were in certaine arteries and veines For what was their outward form of government without this cruell execution of their stinging Clergy-men but as a dead image without life But when Antichrist had once consecrated and erected his Romish Priesthood then did hee put life into his image which before he had caused to be made and erected Then we do plainly see that the Popish Hierarchy is not a bare resemblance of the old Roman policy to stand as a picture on a wall but hath a spirit put into it by the false prophet and speaketh with such power and terrour in all kingdoms that it causeth all to be put to death that will not submit themselves unto it and fall down and worship the beast Who knoweth not this that as many in the countries as would not imbrace Popery and the old Roman tyranny the Popish Clergy their Inquisitors and other Officers did condemne them in their Courts as hereticks schismaticks and delivered them over being condemned to the secular power to be put to death Vers 16 17. And he made all both small and great rich and poor bond and free to receive a mark in their right-hand or in their foreheads And that no man might buy or sell save hee that had the marke or the name of the beast or the number of his name Antichrist is not content to murder and massacre in all countries which wil not worship the image of the beast that is stoup to his government and authority but he will go yet a step further and will have all sorts of people brought in bondage unto him as his marked servants For as men use to set a brand upon their sheep and other cattel and to ear-marke them that it might openly and manifestly appeare to whom they appertaine so doth Antichrist this Romish beast cause all men in all kingdoms to carry in open view his mark or brand whereby all men see that they doe appertain unto him It is here said that all the vassals of Antichrist of what degree estate or condition soever must receive this mark in their right hand or in their forehead that is they must openly professe and practise the worship and religion of the beast For the forehead is put for the profession and the right hand for the action so that in one of them at the least every man must openly declare that he acknowledgeth the Pope of Rome to be lord of his faith Moreover it is added That no man might buy or sell save hee that had the marke or the name of the beast or the number of his name the meaning is that no man might traffique in the world or have any doings amongst men nay hee might not be suffered to live except hee had the mark of the beast in his forehead or in his right-hand that is unlesse he did professe and practise the worship the religion laws decrees of the Pope For the marke of the beast is put for his worship religion lawes decrees regiments and policy Moreover the Popes vassals have not only his mark upon them whereby they may be known but also the name of the beast for they must be named after him even as children bear the name of their fathers and must be called of the Pope or Papa Papists And not only so but also they have another privie mark upon them and that is the number of his name which is Latinos or professors of the Latine religion Latine kingdome and Italian Church as shall by and by appear Now then to grow to conclusion and to make a brief recapitulation of all things here spoken concerning the second beast which is Antichrist Let us consider what increasings and proceedings he hath made as it were by degrees First although hee hath two horns like the Lambe that is Civill and Ecclesiasticall power yet hee speaketh like the Dragon that is he bendeth all his power and authority words and works for the Divell Secondly hee doth as much as the first beast could do in the service of the Dragon Thirdly he causeth the first beast to be worshipped that is established the substance of his religion Fourthly hee maketh the image of the beast that is addeth a forme to the substance Fifthly he putteth life into his image by his Clergy Sixthly he will have his image worshipped and yeelded unto on pain of death Lastly he will have all men of all conditions to wear his livery and to receive his mark as it were his hired and covenant servants Here is wisdome Verse 1â— Let him that hath wit count the number of the beast for it is the number of a man and his number is six hundred threescore and six Now last of all the holy Ghost telleth us that it is a very high point of wisdome and understanding to count the number of the beast and requireth a sharp and pregnant wit and withall telleth us that it is the number of a man that is such as a man endued with Gods Spirit may find out Then wee are incouraged to search into it sith it is within the compasse of mans reach It is no impossible thing If therefore we could find out his name we would desire no more then the field were won for his name would discover him and descry him to all the world and quite stop the mouthes of the Papists so as they should never have any thing more to say For if Saint John had said expressely and in plain termes that the Popes of Rome are this second beast and the very Antichrist himselfe then the Papists had beene put to perpetuall silence all matters quasht and all controversies ended betwixt them and us for ever But here the holy Ghost doth not tell us his name plainly but mystically as many other things in this booke that the worldlings which should fulfill them might be blinded whilest the eys of Gods elect are opened to see into the truth of all these matters Well to come to the point S. John doth only here set down the numerative letters of the beasts name Hee wrote in Greek and hee only setteth downe three Greek letters or characters which in Greek numeration make six hundred sixty six Now further we are to note the
hel-hounds against all such as set the Gospel abroach whereby their Babylon began to shake For at the first when the Gospel began to peep forth they did despise it as a thing which they could easily suppresse but within a short time they found that neither by excommunication wherewith in former times they had even as it were with lightning and thunder caused kings and nations to tremble neither by force of wars and bloudy slaughters neither by any skill in learning nor by treacheries they could any thing prevaile but that the Gospel did still more and more lay open their filthinesse and shame then did they become and so do they continue unto this day even as mad-men in sorrow and rage which the holy Ghost expresseth in saying Chap. 16.11 that they gnawed their tongues for sorrow and blasphemed God c. whereby it is evident that the beast and all that received his mark are full of fiery hatred and malice and cannot tell which way to be revenged For the more they strive the more they lose Faine would they have Popery restored to his ancient credit and dignity and they devise what they can to bring it about but it will not be For their kingdome waxeth darker and darker weaker and weaker and that is a dagger unto them and a griefe of all griefe which maketh them gnaw their tongues and gnash their teeth for sorrow Chap. 16.11 But yet for all this they repented not of their works saith Saint John and therefore God is more incensed against them and causeth the sixth Angel to powr out another viall upon the great river Euphrates and the water thereof dryed up as wee have heard Now then observe carefully Note this and note it diligently that the frogs came forth upon the darkning of the kingdome of the beast and the drying up of their Euphrates For who knoweth not the Pope and his complices perceiving the weakening and diminishing of their kingdom have sent out these Jesuits and seminary Priests into all parts of Europe to repair the ruines of Rome if it were possible and this is one circumstantiall reason to prove these three frogs to be understood of the Jesuites But let us proceed to open the whole description of the holy Ghost that it may yet more plainly appear First Chap. 16.13 these frogs are called unclean spirits because they are the very limbs of the Divell full of all filthinesse and uncleannesse Secondly they are called spirits because they come out of the mouth of the Dragon the beast and the false prophet Thirdly they are called three in number being in truth neerer three thousand because they proceed out of three severall mouthes the Dragon the beast and the false prophet that is the Divell the Roman Empire and the Papacy three horrible monsters three terrible bug bears which with one consent conspire together against the Gospel to uphold their Babylon and to stop the leak of their Euphrates Now these three frogs are said to come out of the mouth of the Dragon the beast and the false prophet because they come with the very minde and message of the Pope and the Roman Empire and so consequently with the very mind and spirit of the Dragon For they are the very breath of the Pope and the spirits of the Divels as like him as if they had been spit out of his mouth They are sent on the Divels errand and the Popes embassage into all countries and kingdomes and are taught their lesson what they shall say and instructed what they shall doe and what courses they shall take with men both kings Nobles and the meaner sort and for this cause the holy Ghost saith they came out of the very mouth the very heart and the very bowels of the Pope and of the Divell And although these Jesuits and seminary Priests are called of the favourites Catholick Doctors The holy Ghost calleth the Jesuits the spirits of Divels Chap. 16.14 holy Fathers c. yet the holy Ghost saith flatly they are the spirits of Divels working false and fained miracles and with great efficacy of error deluding and deceiving the simple and blind multitude We see then that the holy Ghost in all this description doth plainly note out the Jesuites and seminary Priests for to whom can these things here spoken of agree but onely to them And do not wee which live in these dayes sensibly see and discern the fulfilling of all these things Surely wee cannot but see and feel them unlesse wee be wilfully blind and do of purpose blind-fold hoodwink our selves But the holy Ghost goeth yer further and doth more fully and as it were demonstratively point them out unto us describing them by their office which is to go unto the kings of the earth Verse 14. and of the whole world to gather them to the battell of that great day of God almighty Who is ignorant that the Jesuites and seminary Priests are sent out to all Kings and Nobles of the whole world that favour them and their proceedings Are they not croaking in corners thick and threefold in all parts of this land Are they not practising of treacheries and treasons against our most gracious King and the whole state Are they not plotting the destruction and subversion of this Church common-wealth Nay as the holy Ghost saith the chiefe end of their coming abroad is to solicite gather the kings of the earth unto battell against God against Christ and against all true professors of religion The battell betwixt them is here called The battell of the great day of God almighty that is that battell wherein the Almighty God will have the day and goe away with the victory For it followeth The Jesuites by their crafty perswasions shall bring the popish kings and their armies to a place where they shall be destroyed that the Jesuites and seminary Priests did prevaile with the seduced kings of the earth so far as to gather them together to a place which in Hebrew is called Armageddon that is to say a place where they shall be destroyed and that with such an horrible slaughter that the place shall take a name thereof For it was an usuall thing among the Hebrews to call the place where any famous thing fell out by a name which did report the same to all posterity as Kibroth Hataavah Numb 11. the graves of Concupiscence Hamon Gog Ezek. 39. the multitude of Gog and divers such like And so here Armageddon the destruction of an army because the kings of the earth and their armies which shall fight against the Church at the instigation of the Jesuites shall come to a place where they shall have a notable overthrow This word Armageddon may fitly be derived of two Hebrew words that is to say Cherem which signifieth destruction and Gedudh which signifieth an army that is the destruction of an army or as some say and that very judicially it may come