Alexander Farnesius his nephew of his base sonne Petrus Aloisius Guido Asâ—anius Fran. Fâ—rza another Nephew of his base daughter Constantia the one sixtene yeares of age the other 14 two tall striplings I wis his fatherhood creates for Cardinals answering those that obiected their tender yeares that himselfe now in his decrepite agâ— would easily recompense in his olde yeares what was therein wanting to them And so to this goodly issue came all this solemne Reformation But perforce at length all is devolved vpon the Councell of Trent an Assembly of many learned Doctors sufficient if any to invent some salue for Babylons sores And they say pretily to it for in that Councell you shall find no lesse then eleven or twelue very solemne and formall Decrees de Reformatione And when all is done nothing is Reformed Thus is verified that of the Prophet Ieremy Wâ— would haue cured Babylon but shee would not be cured Nay to shew her case is desperate that Councell comes with her Index expurgatorius wherewith to expunge and purge out all such bookes as either descry the nature of her diseases or prescribe remedies for the same Thus to this day from the time of Luther we see grievous sores stick close to that whole Pontifician body Although the corruptions of the Church of Rome were not altogether vndiscovered before Luthers time God still raising vp some from time to time to cry out against Babylon as Iohn Wickliffe in his workes writt against her manifold errors and abuses for which they merited the fire at the Councell of Constance but they never came so to be ransacked and ript up as by Luther and since his time He began to search their sores to the quick and laide them open with a witnes that it is impossible so much as ever to drawe the least skin over them to hide or cover them much lesse to cure them As for the bodily sores which fell vpon those of the Church of Rome vpon the pouring forth of this first Viall I list not to touch them Erasmus complaineth of Luther for two things that he touched too much the Bishops Myters and the Monks bellyes And surely a â—rievous sore fell vpon many of them in this kind maâ—y a Bishop lost his Miter and many a Monks fatt belly â—egan now to pinch for it Nor are we willing to touch â—hose Cardinals sore backs being beaten and pitifully 〈◊〉 vp and downe the streets of Rome by the Caesareanâ—ouldiers â—ouldiers who then had surprised it while their head â—as beating his braines how to get out of prison where 〈◊〉 was now pent and all this done within the time â—f the powring out of this Vial. I list not I say bee a â—aile in such sores Enough is said to cleare the powring â—ut the first Viall both when and how by whom and â—pon whom it began to be poured The second Viall powred out out And the second Angell poured out his Viall vpon â—he Sea and it became as the blood of a dead man and â—uery living soule died in the Sea As in the former Viall we haue seene Romes spirituall â—ores so here we are to search for spirituall seas It is vâ—all in Scripture to which for interpretation this Proâ—hecy all along sends vs to shadow out the doctrins of 〈◊〉 word of God by waters As Eze 47.3 4 5. The waters 〈◊〉 the Sanctuary by degrees became a huge OceaÌ„ Esay applies and expounds it Chapter 11.9 speaking of the light of the Gospell in Christs time he sayth The earth shall beâ— full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters couer the Sea So Abac 2.14 And Esay 55.1 In Exod. 15. Yee haue 12. fountaines typing the doctrine of the 12. Patriarchs and 12. Apostles Now as seas are in the good part taken for the doctrines of Christ in the forecited places so here in the evill part for the corrupt doctrines of Antichrist At the blast of the second Trumpet the third part of the sea is turned into blood here the whole Sea Which notes the difference betweene the state of Romes doctrines before the Councell of Trent while as yet they were in their growing and as now they became in and after the Councell of Trent Before the Councell of Trent there was some fresh water to be found in the doctrines of that Church some truth some meanes of â—alvation left for those that could search and find it out and follow it seperating the fresh and cleare water of truth from the blood of her abominable idolatries and other impious doctrines while as yet the rule of faith to wit the Scriptures remained intire but in and after the Councell of Trent wherein the Rule of faith is altered humane Traditions and inventions comming in for an equall share with the Scriptures and shouldering them for the wall and driving them into the very Kennell now the Sea is turned altogether into blood In this Councell the whole doctrine of the Gospell is turned vpside downe The iustifying and saving faith is vtterly excluded abandoned and accursed Iustification by workes takes place The Masse a new propitiatory vnbloody sacrifice for all sinnes for quicke and dead foysted in for Christs onely sacrifice once made yea humane satisfactions in stead thereof All Idolatries are ratified The Sacramentall Cup the liuely resemblance of Christs blood shed for our sinnes without which is no redemption no lifâ— in vs is for ever most sacrilegiously cut off from Christs sacred institution No man must read the Scriptures but the sworne vassalls and that according to the sense of the Church of Rome whose Oracle is the Popes brest and that variable as may best sute to the present occasion and commodity of that Church The vulgar Latine Translation though in comparison but a blundered streame is preferred before the pure originall fountains the Hebrew and Greeke though it containe many absurdities and falsities which may not be corrected The Index Expurgatorius established in that Councell is to quench all truth Therein mans free will is established and Gods free grace abolished Predestination and Election vndermined and overthrowne And the â—ike Thus is that Sea altogether blood yea as the blood of a dead man corrupt filthy gore whereof every living soule in that Sea dieth So that vpon the powring out of the second Viall vpon the Sea of Romes doctrines â—oncluded vpon in the Councell of Trent they are beâ—ome altogether mortall and deadly bainefull to the â—oule yea whereof every living soule in that Church diâ—th This began euidently to appeare by the Learned Chemnitius his Examen and other learned Ministers of â—he Gospell since that time by whose preaching and writings and opening of the word of God that Church 〈◊〉 convinced to be now altogether Apostaticall as King â—ames calls her For in that Councell she hath altogeâ—her denied the faith and that with Anathema so as she 〈◊〉 become worse then an Infidell vtterly excluded from â—ll communion with Christ for
iniquity and profanesse is accounted the best Christian. These vncleane spirits would perswade the world that he is the best Minister that preacheth least that hath most preferments and cures of soules but liues at ease himselfe and playes the good-fellow that the Lords day is best observed but with one Sermon aâ— most and with one Play at least These be the vncleane spirits that revell most in the time of this Viallâ— wherein whose will not ruâ—â—e with the streame of all impurity and impiety thâ—â— blast them with the name of heresie as Pope Paul â— did those thâ—â— studied Academicall learning or as Traian put men to death only because they were Christians So that these vncleane spirits like froggs pollute the waters where they liue with the filthy froth of their frye so causing an vniversall surface of all iniquity in the time of this Viall more then ever The Royall Paraphrast saith of them They are likened to Froggs for that they are bred of an old filthy and corrupt false doctrine which for a long space hath blinded the world before their comming as froggs breed of rotten and slimy coruption or for that they preferrâ— themselues before all other Ecclesiasticall orders preceeding them as vnperfect and vnprofitable hopping and leaping aboue them Againe the frogg hath no othâ—r song but one Koax Koax and therein is very importunate so these vncleane spirits what is all their Croaking but one song The Church The Church the Catholick Church the holy Mother Church of Rome the Apostolicke Sea one supreme Pastor and Iudge of controversies who cannot erre and the like This is their three mans song wherein they goe as in a circle Thus by counterfeiting the froggs they doe as the Aegyptian Magitianâ— seeke thereby even by their very clamarousnesse and obstreperousnes to disgrace Moses and Aaron Gods Ministers in their office who preach the truth Fourthly froggs bring forth their young as the Beare vnformed having only a black head and taile such is the spirituall offspring of these Froggs whose faith is informis or vnformed implicit and even blacke with ignorance Hence the Proverbe Nihilò rana gyriâ—a prudentior no wiser then the young frye of a frogg Which may be applied to all seduced and blind Papists who are not able to render a reason of their faith Fifthly Froggs liue in abundance of waters and of idlenesse Whence the Proverb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou pourest out wine vnto the froggs as we say To poure water into the Sea And in what abundance of voluptuousnesse and ease these froggâ— liue all the world knows Againe the Frogg is a nimble creature and when yoâ— thinke to take her vp in your hand she skips away and hides her in the mudd such are these actiue spirits In a word K. Iames of happy memory in his Premonition to all Christian Monarchs free Princes and States about these froglike spirits hath these words calling them a new sect of Spirits raised vp for the defence of that tottering throne called three in number by reason of their threâ— fold direction being raysed and inspired by the Dragon Satan authorized and maintained by the Beast the Antichrist and instructed by the false Prophet the Apostaticke Church that hath the hâ—rnes like the Lambe but speaketh like the Dragon These spirits indeed thus sent forth by this threefold authority for the defence of their triple-crowned Monarch are well likened to Froggs for they are amphibious and can liue in either element Earth or water for though they be Church men by profession yet can they vse the trade of Politike Statesmen going to the Kings of the earth together them to the battell of that great day of God Almighty What Massacres haue by their perswasion been wrought through many parts of Christendome and how evilly Kings haue sped that haue ben councelled by them all the vnpartiall histories of our time doe beare record And whatsoeuer King or State will not receiue them and follow their advice 〈◊〉 out must that King or State be even with Gunpowder ere it fayle And these froggs had reason indeed to labour to become learned thereby to dissipate that grosse mist of ignorance wherwith the raigne of Antichrist was plagued before their coming forth So farre the judicious King Thus we need goe no farther for a cleare interpretation of these words Hence also we may note the vnaminous spirit of these three the Dragon the Beast and the false Prophet out of whose mouth these three Froglike spirits proceeding may put vs in mind as of their tripple authoritie so of their triple malignity as the crafty cruelty of the Dragon the vsurped power of the Beast and the sophistry of the false Prophet They are called also the spirits of Divells to note their Politicke 〈…〉 going in the habit of illuminate 〈◊〉 Rabbies in the long robes of profound Craftsmasters and expert Statesmen who in the time of this Viall bring into the world new Maxims of state infused into them from those whence they come But they work◠〈◊〉 This may seeme to excuse Priests and Iesuites from being of the number of those spiritâ—â— for what miracles doe they Yes surely great miracles if ye may belâ—eue them Although what true miracles can false Propheâ—â— the spirits of Devils doe But it sufficeth that these Prophets be the only Miracle mongers And aâ— King Iames excellently They doe miracles of deceit for they doe wonderfully deceiue men And doe they not vndertake to do miracles every day while they would make the worshippers of the Beasts Image belieue that they doe a Miracle inâ—uâ—ning a thinne Wafer cake into the very body of Christ flesh blood and bone Only the Apostle tells vs that Antichrists miracles are lying wounders serving only to deceiue them that perish through strong delusion sent them from God that they should belieue a lye and so might be 〈◊〉 And is it not miraculous that they can by their inchanâ—ing spells make of wise men starke ideots offensible men senselesse of reasonable men brutish as to believe that to be a miracle which they see with their eyes to be nothing lesse It is the property of a miracle to put it selfe vpon the triall of a mans infallible sense specially of the eye But here is no such thing to be serue When Christ turned the water into wine it had now both the colour and savour and substance and true spirit of naturall wine Thus it was with a true Miracle the first that Christ wrought in Cana of Galilee It was not such still as the guests could not discerne from water either by their eye or tast or smell but were by the strength of their faith or conceit to imagine it to be wine But the miracle forsooth of Popish Transubstanâ—◠〈◊〉 cannot indure the couch of â—ensâ—â— triall the eye seeâ— nothing but a 〈…〉 Wafer the mouth tasts nothing but a thinne shiver of bâ—ead Where then is the Miracle That must be begged
Lady vertue and Grace ouâ— of her â—ober habit to put on the new fangle fashions of the time or by the impetuous torrent of all lawlesse examples of profuse and prodigious manners of proud and ambitious â—onnes of Belial the only heires apparant to all earthly greatnesse And by watching here is implied that carnall security and beastly â—urquedry all excesse in eating and drinking which are enemies to watching are proper symptomes of this Viall And aboue all drunkennesse For that strips a man of his garment makes him naked and men see his shame Noah was once drunke and he lay vncouered in his Tent that his shame was seene But now he is accounted no man that will not drinke drunke till he lie vnder the Table like a dogg at his vomit or wallow in the kennell like a hogg in the mire Thus it is in this Viall as in the dayes of Noah they eat they dranke noting the excesse of all deboshtnesse In this regard therefore Christ admonisheth his servants to wâ—â—ch and that the more diligently because of the dangerous state of the time of this Viall overgrowne with carnall security and overflowne with that borrowed German sinne of drunkennesse And to incourage his servants least they should be too much dejected with the worlds â—â—omps and affronts as standing too strictly vpon points Christ pronounceth them to be blessed that watch and looke well to their garments of faith and holinesse howsoever the misdeeming world deeme them fooles â—or their labour In the second relaâ—ion Christ here insertâ— this gratious admonition and watchword not only as a preservatiue from the present corruptions but as a preparatiue to fore-arme them against the imminent perill and triall of the great day of God Almighty This is that Panoplyâ— or complete armour recommended vnto vs Eph. 6 which taking vpon vs we may be able to stand fast in the evill day It is saving faith and a good conscience which as an armour of proofe will beare a man out and bid defiance to all worldly feares And vnlesse we renew our Covenant with God of faith and obedience and so set our selues in a way of reformation thus having God reconciled vnto vs and made on our side It may be said to vs as to those in Amos Woe vnto you that desire the day of the Lord To what end is it for you The day of the Lord is darknesse and not light Amos. 5.18 Certainly to all those who appertaine to the confederacy of the Beast and false Prophet to all profane and impenitent persons the great day of God Almighty shall be a darke and dismall day Men may see this if they will in the previous light skirmishes what is like to be their successe in the maine battell No prosperity no successe even to those that professe to stand on Truthes side so long as their face is turned the other way or which is worse while Iulus-like they looke both wayes halting betweene two with prevaricating feet having on the Linsey-Wolsey garment neither hot nor cold and the like What haue these to doe with the great day of God Almighty Certainly such if they repent not of their damnable heresies doe bring vpon themselues swift destruction Forasmuch as by their pernicious wayes which many doe follow the way of truth is evill spoken off whose iudgement therefore now long ago lingreth not and their damnation slumbereth not But on the contrary he that hath on the former armor his garments of justification by faith and of sanctification joyned with repentance desireth nothing more then to see this great day of God Almighty even hastening vnto it as Saint Peter speaketh 2 Pet. 3. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon In which fourth and last clause of this Viall are three things or circumstances very remarkable First of the Person that assembleth or rangeth the Warriours and that is the great Muster-Master even the Lord of Hosts He gathered Secondly of the Persons assembled Them and those are the very enemies of his Church that warre against the Lambe and those on his side who are the Called and chosen and faithfull Thirdly of the Place where the battell is pight and to be fought called here Armageddon We will speak of the last first as most difficult This word Armageddon is diversly taken by Interpreters Some referre it as alluding to that place called Mageddo in the fifth of Iudges where Deborah and Barack discomfited the host of Sisera at the waters of Mageddo Whereupon Deborah in her gratulatory song singeth by a Propheticall spirit So let thine enemyes perish O Lord. And surely if we compare the presumptuous confidence of the enemyes of Gods Church in this Vial to that of Sisera and of the Ladies of his Court against Israell triumphing before the victory it may be a good allusion To which discomfiture also the Prophet Dauid alludes Psal. 82. where he prayeth against all the enemyes of the Church which prowdly say Let vs take to our selues the houses of God in possession Let vs make havocke of these Puritan Gospellers and of the name of Protestants Do thou unto them as to the Madianites as to Sisera as to Iabin at the brooke of Kison to wit at the waters of Mageddo Others apply this place not only to the overthrow of Gods enemies but withall to the valley of Mageddo where King Iosias was slaine which was cause of great lamentation to Iuda But whereas this might make against the destruction of Antichrist and his Confederates here which shal be cause and matter of much joy comfort to Gods people the some Author solues it thus that vpon the fall of Antichrist the whole Nation of the Iewes shal be â—onverted and shall hereupon take vp a bitter lamentation for their long and obdurate obstinacy now in a godly sorrow for their sinne weeping to see him whom they had pierced according to that Zach. 12. Some relate others opinions of Armageddon as either to signifie excidium rivi the cutting off of the River as alluding to Babylons Euphrates or exercitus vastationis the Army of desolation Others deriue it of Har which is Hill and Magedon delightsome or pretious alluding to the Church of God the Mountaine of Gods delight as Psal. 82.1 2. The Royall Paraphrast in his Epistle before his Paraphrase sets downe first his owne opinion deriving the word of Harma or Guarma and Geddon as much as destruction by deceit because saith he it is the name of the place where the wicked being assembled together by the alluring and deceit of Satan and his three spirits of Devills â—o make warre with the faithfull were all destroyed by God and so their destruction came and was procured by deceit To which also he is pleased to adde two opinions of others as first to signify destruction by waters to wit peoples or secondly to allude to Ioshuah's discomfiting of the Kings Gods enemies